“We had a drink last week and Avery gave me aheads up he’d be popping the question soon. I had a feeling that’s what your news was.”
Hailey turned to Avery, “You asked his permission?”
Avery looked a little sheepish as he looked between the three of them.
“Not really. It was more like a warning. I wanted to prepare him. We just talked about it while we were out for drinks watching the Phillies game.”
Barbara may have shown lots of love for Gage, but Avery and Bruce got along to the point they actually had drinks together every once in awhile.
She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. That whole “asking the dad for permission” thing was so outdated, but a heads up was probably a good idea so her dad could mentally prepare for whatever her mom’s reaction turned out to be.
“Let me see the ring!” her mom demanded with a giant smile while pulling Hailey’s hand toward her. She used her other hand to slap her husband’s arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“Surprises are fun, though,” her dad laughed.
“Oh, wow. Avery, this is beautiful. How did you even afford it?”
Aaaaand there it is.
“Mom, wrong response. Try again, please.”
Barbara looked around at everyone’s faces as Hailey saw something click in her mom’s head.
“Right. I mean, I love it! I’m so happy for you both.”
She grabbed Avery in a big hug and then hugged Hailey again before bringing her focus back to the ring.
“The ring was actually my grandmother’s and her mother’s before that. My mom gave it to me as soon as she found out Hailey and I were dating since she knew how much I love her. I added the diamonds on each side to make it a little more modern.”
Barbara’s gaze snapped back to Avery and then darted between the two of them, her eyes looking a bit misty.
“That’s so sweet. Oh we need to have an engagement party to tell everyone! Wait until the rest of the family hears. Let’s see, we’ll need a caterer and we’ll want to plan it around your cousin’s baby shower…”
Hailey let her mom go off on a tangent as she grew more and more excited about having a reason to throw a party. She loved entertaining and spreading good news. If she was this excited about an engagement party, Hailey shuddered at how she’d be with an actual wedding. That’s when she was struck with the best idea she had ever had in her entire life, besides saying yes to Avery, of course.
———————————
Later that night after toasting their engagement with a bottle of champagne and some fancy cheese and crackers her parents had in the pantry, Hailey and Avery were back at his house relaxing on the couch.
She turned to him with a playful smile.
“So, what kind of wedding were you thinking of having. Any preferences?”
Avery smiled before heaving a big sigh.
“I’ve always wanted a small wedding since they seem like such a waste of money, but I know my mom would be crazy excited and try to invite everyone she knows. Your mom seems like she’s in the same boat.”
“This is accurate. I’ve always wanted a small wedding, too. Bridget’s wedding was so much work, so much money, and afterward she just wished they saved more money to spend on the honeymoon.”
“Yeah, it seems like a lot for just one day. I don’t really care about all that. I would marry you at city hall with just our closest friends and family if it were up to me, but I just want you to be happy.”
“Same,” Hailey said as a big grin took over her face. “I have an idea.”
27
“CARE FOR ANOTHER SPIDERMANHATTAN, my future wife?”
Hailey spun to see Avery holding an amber cocktail garnished with cherries impaled on a toothpick.
