Emily met her with a look of mock affront.
“Fine then. I’ll get going. Just let me know how everything goes,” Emily flung the words casually over her shoulder as she strode towards the door.
“I love you. Can you flip the closed sign on your way out?” Brooke called after her.
“I love you, too.” Emily flipped the sign and disappeared into the parking lot.
Brooke was happy to find that the tea box was the perfect fit for her ring box. She slipped the lid closed on the tea box just as Drew pushed the store’s door open.
“Hey, sweetie. How was your day?” Brooke called.
“Pretty good. I had a full line up today,” Drew answered.
Drew leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips, their bodies were separated by the store’s counter.
“You ready for tea?” Brooke asked.
“I am,” Drew answered. There were no words for the mounting anxiety deep inside of Brooke.
They walked to the back. The ring box added some heft to the tea. The weight settled into Brooke’s hand reminding her of what she was about to do.
“Do you mind taking the tea and getting it ready? I need to set something up in the back room,” Brooke tried her best to toss the words out casually. Drew took the box and gave it a second glance. She could feel the heaviness inside as well.
“Of course. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll have the tea ready when you get back.”
“You’re the best,” Brooke leaned up and gave Drew another kiss on the lips.
Brooke pretended to walk away. She waited until Drew turned towards the coffee maker where the hot water could be found. Brooke dropped to one knee and waited. Drew opened the box and stood almost frozen staring inside.
“Hey, Brooke,” Drew turned to call. When she turned around and saw Brooke on one knee her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
“Drew, you have been more than I ever expected from a partner. You’re kind when I’m grumpy. You’re patient when I’m bossy. You’re funny and supportive. You’re the longest list of good things I could ever say about someone. I want you to be here with me for the rest of our lives. I don’t want to imagine ever going through another week or year without you here. Will you marry me?”
Brooke watched as a smile spread wide across Drew’s face. Tears rolled like tiny rivers down Drew’s cheeks and for a long moment she didn’t answer. Brooke rose to her feet and took Drew’s hands in her own. It wasn’t often that she saw Drew speechless, so Brooke knew this was a big moment.
“I don’t know what to say,” Drew answered.
“A yes or no would be a good place to start. Though I would be partial to a yes,” Brooke grinned.
“You already know my answer is yes,” Drew laughed.
“How would I have known that?” Brooke chuckled. A lone tear had floated down her own face and Brooke wiped it away.
“How could my answer be anything but yes? Brooke, you have my whole heart, scars and all. I wouldn’t want to spend a day without you in it. We have nothing but things to look forward to ahead of us,” Drew answered.
“So, a yes then?”
“My answer is an absolute yes,” Drew laughed. Her hands wound around Brooke’s waist, pulling her in close.
“Good, I can’t wait to start our lives together,” Brooke smiled.
“Sweetheart, we already have,” Drew responded.
They leaned in giving one another a kiss. Brooke could feel Drew smiling against her mouth and let a smile of her own form.
“How did I get this lucky?” Brooke answered.
“We’re both pretty lucky.”
