Page 119 of This Memory
“Of course. Now, return to the table, take the shot I had sent over, and relax. It’s going to be magical. Look outside.”
I glanced out the windows to see snow falling.
Shooing me away, Janice said, “Go! We’re on a timeline with the sunset and all.”
“Right!” I said as I turned and hustled back to the table. Right on time, because Brystol rounded the corner and made her way over to me.
“Did you just do a shot?” she asked as she sat back down.
I laughed slightly. “Yeah, Toni Senior brought it out to me, so I thought, why not?”
She huffed. “God, I wish I could take a shot. When it’s time for me to drink again, this girl is having the biggest margarita ever!”
“I’ll be right there with ya, babe.”
A waitress we hadn’t seen yet walked up and set the garlic knots on the table. “Here you go. Enjoy!”
“Thank you,” we said together. Brystol immediately picked up her fork, stabbed a garlic knot, and put it on her small plate. She cut it in half and took a bite.
“Oh,” she moaned. “That’s good.”
I glanced out the window toward the sun before grabbing a garlic knot. It took everything I had to keep my hands from shaking. I took a bite and nearly moaned as well. Brystol was right; it was delicious.
We both ate two more before Janice approached. Brystol and I both glanced up at her.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt your dinner.”
Brystol wiped her mouth and smiled. “You’re not interrupting at all.”
Smiling back, Janice pointed outside. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful sunset…and I couldn’t help noticing you’re pregnant.”
When her cheeks turned pink, Brystol placed her hands on them. “Yep. I sure am.”
“You have such a beautiful glow, and that sweater dress is stunning. I’m a photographer, and I know it’s cold outside but…would you be willing to let me shoot a few pictures of you? It would be quick, and if we go now, hopefully, your food won’t come out just yet.”
The food wouldn’t be coming out because I’d made sure of it.
Brystol glanced out the window then back at Janice. “Sure. Why not? It could be fun!”
“Wonderful! I’ll get my camera!”
Brystol stood, and I followed. A couple minutes later, the four of us were walking through the door and out to the deck. I was carrying our coats, and Dan put his and Janice’s over a chair.
“The light snow is going to make this even more beautiful,” Janice stated.
The view was breathtaking. The mountains in the back were covered with snow, and the lake was still mostly frozen over, but bits and pieces weren’t, the sun was hitting those spots on the water, making them shimmer.
She positioned Brystol a few different ways and took several pictures.
“Now, can you face the lake and let me get a behind shot? And then we’re done.”
“Sure,” Brystol said, turning and looking out toward the west. “My gosh, look at the sunset, Gavin. Have you ever seen it look so beautiful?”
I moved into position and got down on one knee, opening the ring box. My heart kicked at the memory of Denny helping me pick out the ring right before Christmas. It was an emerald-cut diamond with two round diamonds on either side, all set in a platinum band.
Janice was busy snapping pictures. “Okay, I’m going to keep shooting while you turn around on three. One. Two. Three!”
Brystol turned—and sucked in a breath when she saw me. Her hands flew to her mouth…and she instantly started to cry.
