“By all means.” She studied his face. “Is everything okay?”
“Very much so.” Taking her hands, he smiled into her eyes. “Besides being National Noodle Day, do you know what else today is?”
“If it’s not National Alfredo Sauce Day, that’s a missed marketing opportunity.”
He chuckled and threaded his fingers through hers. “It’s the one-year anniversary of the first time we said ‘I love you’ to each other.”
“I love that you remember the date.” Not just for that milestone, either. Adam had reminders on his calendar to text her each month on the date of their first kiss, their first official date, the day they moved in together?—
“I know we’ve talked about marriage,” he said, and Jenna sat up straight in her chair. “And you’ve made it clear you’re not interested in a formal proposal.”
“I—” Her mouth went dry. “That’s right.” She hated to steal his fun, but she had to be honest. “I don’t like surprises, not even the good kind. I think something as big as marriage should be entered into with a series of thoughtful conversations and discussions.”
She watched for the flash of disappointment in his eyes, but Adam just grinned. “I agree one-hundred percent.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely. As someone who’s been down that path before, I’m determined to do things better this time.”
This time? Did he mean?—
“So broaching the subject of marriage right now shouldn’t bet be a surprise to you, right?”
“Of course not.” They’d discussed it a lot, even in the office of a couples’ therapist specializing in Compassionate Communication. But something seemed different this time. As Jenna’s pulse raced, she struggled to figure out what it was. “I’m not surprised. I’m just . . .” She did her best to find the right words. “Guarded? Nervous? Not sure what you’re thinking?”
Naming her emotions like that felt like a big step. She’d spent so much of her life bottling them up, trying to keep everything under control.
But she’d also come to recognize the incredible relief of ceding control to someone else. Someone she trusted to have her best interest at heart. Someone she loved more than anyone else in the world.
Someone exactly like Adam.
“I don’t mean to make you nervous.” He paused to say thanks to the waitress who set down the wine, then scurried away. “But I do have one small gift I’d like to give you. And it might be a bit of a surprise because—well, it was a surprise to me, too. And even though we’re being surprised with it at different times, I want you to know we’re in this together. You’re my best friend and partner, Jenna. There’s no one else on earth I’d like to go through life with. I love seeing your face every morning and watching the passion and competence you devote to your work. I love how sweet you are with Mia’s kids, and what a good friend you’ve been to her. I admire your relationship with Gertie, who—by the way, full-disclosure—knows about this gift. She wants me to tell you she fully approves.”
“Adam?” Her voice sounded quivery, and Jenna’s hands trembled in his.
“Yes?”
“I really appreciate what you’re trying to do. And everything you’re saying is so wonderful and sweet and I feel the exact same way about you.” She drew in a shuddery breath. “But if you don’t get to the point pretty quickly, I’m going to jump out of my skin.”
He laughed and pulled back his hands. “Sorry about that. I might have gone a little overboard in trying to put you at ease.”
“It’s okay.” She loved how gently he handled her. “What’s going on here?”
“Gramps pulled me aside the other night after we went to the cemetery.”
“Oh?” They’d all gone to Seattle together to commemorate their first year without Adam’s grandma. “Is everything okay?”
“Very much so. Gramps told me how much he’s loved getting to know you. How he sees a spark between us that he never saw between me and—” He paused, probably deciding this moment would not be enhanced by bringing up his ex-wife. “Gramps recognized the connection you and I have and said it reminds him so much of what he and Nana shared for all those years. He said the love we have for each other fills his heart with happiness, just watching us create the kind of caring, compassionate connection he and Nana had.” Adam paused, slipping a hand into his pocket. “And he told me he knew Nana would have wanted you to have this.”
Jenna gasped as he pulled out a ring with a sparkling diamond at the center. A circle of smaller stones surrounded it, setting off flashes of silvery light as Adam held it out to her. “Oh my God,” she gasped. “Is that your grandmother’s ring?”
“It is,” he said softly. “And I won’t get down on one knee if that’s not what you want. But I will promise to cherish you and love you and be the best possible partner to you for the rest of my life if you’ll let me.”
Dragging her eyes off the beautiful ring, she met Adam’s gaze with tears hazing her vision. “I promise the same.” Her voice sounded shaky, but so full of joy. “This past year with you has been the best of my life. You make me a better person, Adam. When I’m with you, I don’t feel like I need to control everything. I can let go and breathe easier, knowing whatever comes at us, we can handle together.”
Smiling, he captured her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit so perfectly she had to wonder when he’d found time to have it sized.
Or maybe it just fit—exactly like they did.
