The Proposal

CHLOE

 

August 1,2016.

 

 

I was running late. I checked my dashboard again to make sure I was still driving under the approved 40 km/hr limit since this was a residential area. It wouldn't do to be pulled over and delay getting to Alicia.

That little menace had called me up a few minutes ago and demanded I come over. Immediately. Apparently she was injured in the gazebo. She had fallen down when climbing to the top of the gazebo. Why she would do something as dumb as that,I had no idea.

I found it strange though that she called me and not Kyle. I swear that girl had been following Kyle around since she could walk.

 

I rolled to a stop at the huge black gates,rolled my window down and waved at the guard on duty. I waited for him to identify me on camera before he pressed a button prompting the gates to open.

I drove up to the house, bypassing the garage beside it. I got out hurriedly and went around the Crane house to the gazebo located on the other side. The gazebo was a whimsical wish of Mrs Crane.

She saw it in a magazine and must have one. So she did. I wasn't sure the gazebo went well with the ranch style of the house but to each his own.

The gazebo was a huge white structure located at the very edge of the house. Considering the fact that the Crane house spanned several acres,it took some time before I was able to see the shape of the structure that was my destination.

Everywhere was dark and no one was about. There should have been guards walking the grounds. This night was getting weirder and weirder.

Some meters ahead was a shape in the gazebo. I hurried towards Alicia, hoping she wasn't severely injured. Alicia was not in the gazebo.

 

I was momentarily blinded by the sudden bright lights. When I could see again, the gazebo was decorated in a way I hadn't seen before.

There were flowers everywhere. Roses, wildflowers, impatiens, sunflowers. It was as if a flower shop had burst open here.

The lights were all placed to highlight the beauty of the flowers. It had a romantic feel to it. I turned around and was greeted by the sight of my entire family all dressed up.

 

Even Uncle Sylvester had been dragged from his office. I found that fact more odd than the fact that everyone was dressed in their finery.

They were not the only ones here though. The Crane family was here too,all dressed up. Including Alicia, the little imp that tricked me here.

 

"My love"I squeaked and turned to the voice behind me. James Crane was the shape I'd seen in the distance.

 

He was also dressed and looking handsome in a black tux. His blue eyes were piercing in their intensity. The love in them stole the breath from my lungs. I wondered why Alicia had lied to me. I wanted to ask why people were here,but I didn't ask any of those questions. I just watched James drop to his knee.

Oh my God. It was happening.

 

"You are the most important person in my life. I don't want to live another day without you. At the risk of being sappy,you complete me. Please marry me."

 

I scoffed at him, doing my best to hide my smile."I thought you were supposed to ask not beg"I couldn't resist needling him.

 

James was not particularly romantic but he knew how much I wanted a traditional proposal. It wasn't so much the proposal but I needed to know that I was worth the asking; I needed to see that I was the one he would risk his pride for.

 

James scowled at me indignantly,eyes unsure at my continued silence. It was a mean thing to do but I just wanted to make him doubt my answer.

 

"If he faints you're gonna carry him" My cousin, Kyle hollered, garnering laughter from our audience.

 

I mirrored James' position on the floor"Of course I'll marry you darling" James' sigh of relief was eclipsed only by the happy screams of our family. Hoots trailed our kiss.

 

The proposal was magical in it's simplicity.