Page 136 of That Fake Feeling
“Seethe kids painting the word ‘Beer’ on the side of the big vat thing?”
“Mashtun,”Walkercalls out behind me.
I’mon this path now and won’t be sidetracked by any distractions, soIignore him and plow on. “Anyway, they represent all the childrenRosehas helped learn to read and write and all the ones she’ll go on to help.”
Sheraises her eyebrows at me.IhopeI’mnot going too far and this isn’t all too much for her.Themic slips down inside my sweaty hand.
“Seethose flowers growing outside the red brick pub on the right?It’skind of hard to make out from this distance, but they’re not really flowers.They’retomatoes that have been carved tolook likeflowers.”
Achuckle runs through the crowd.Theyprobably think that’s aToastedTomatothing as well.Ifthey only knew.
“That’sa story for another time too.”
“Couldyou stop?”Rosewhispers behind her hand. “Thisshouldn’t be all about me.”
Igive her a quick nod, run my hand down her smooth, bare arm, and turn back to the crowd.I’min too deep now.There’sno going back.
“Justone last thingIwant to point out, thenI’llleave you all to enjoy the rest of the evening.Seethe area down in the right-hand corner?That’sa patch of muddy, weedy, rocky ground.Ifyou look closely, you’ll see something shiny partly buried in it.”
Awhole bunch of necks crane to try to see.
Rosescrews up her eyes and strains to look, then turns back to me and shakes her head. “Whatare you talking about?”
“That, ladies and gentlemen, is a diamond in the rough.”
Itake my arm from aroundRose’sshoulders and switch the mic into that hand.Iwipe the other one down my pants before reaching into my pocket to palm the small box that’s been hiding in there for hours.
“Ihope that’s whatIwas whenRosemet me.Shesure as hell polished me up and made me brighter and shinier thanI’veever been in my life.”
Shedrops her face into her hands, shakes her head and groans.Ijust about make out the muffled words, “Soembarrassed.Pleasestop.”
Nota chance.
Iturn to her.
“Rose,Iwant to give you something to symbolize that.Somethingtangible and real.”Ipause. “Butyou’ll have to uncover your face to see it.”
Shedrops her hands, revealing heroh, for goodness’ sake expression. “What?”
Ihold up the ring box.
Herhead stays stock still as her eyes dart from me to it and back to me, her face turning almost the color of her dress.
“What?Whatis that?Whatare you doing?”She’sshocked.Soshocked she’s probably about to tell me not to be ridiculous, then run away.
Myfingers, though, are now rock steady.Everytwitch, every tremble, every nervous flutter is gone.Iwant this woman, andI’mnot giving up.
There’sa sharp intake of breath from the crowd asIpop the box open.
“RoseBellamore, you’ve changed my life.Wouldyou please go on changing it forever and marry me?”
Shelooks into the box, her eyes as wide as one of those cute little animals that needs to see in the dark. “Oh, myGod.Isthis serious?Areyou serious?”
Iput the mic down and take out the three-stone ring.
“Doyou need to think about it?”Asa chuckle runs through the crowd,Idrop my voice to a whisper onlyRosecan hear. “Areyou upset thatI’veasked you in front of all these people?Doyou need to say no?”
“Oh,God, no!No, no, no!”Shescrews up her eyes and shakes her head. “Imean, no,I’mnot upset.Andyes.Yes.Yes, of courseIwant to marry you.”
