We got to the top, a workout in itself. The view across New York was incredible, the size of everything, the scope. The land of the free.
“I meant what I said.” I kept the words quiet. “I love you and I want to marry you. Even if you don’t want to say yes right now I’ll ask again in a year or ten years’ time.”
She wrapped her arm around the small of my back, pulling me closer, her eyes shining and bright, and she was still smiling.
“Ask me again now.”
I frowned. “Now?”
She nodded. “Now.”
Hope bloomed. My chest filled. I dropped again to one knee, aware that we had more eyes on us now. I laughed, seeing her face light up, nodding ever so slightly.
“Marie Green, for the second time today, will you marry me?” Time stopped still. The audience we’d acquired held their collective breath. My heart missed several beats.
Her nodding became more pronounced, her smile even wider and more tears fell.
“Yes, this is probably the maddest thing I’ve ever done, but I will marry you, Grant Callaghan.”
There was a cheer and I was up on my feet, pulling her into my arms and tipping her back for a kiss that wasn’t just for show, although I knew our audience was loving it. When it ended, she was laughing, shaking her head.
“I can’t believe you asked – I can’t believe I said yes. This is mad, Grant.”
“Is it? I know it might be a few months before we can be together again and I’m asking a lot with you moving over and the kids - ”
“I want it. I want that. I want you and them – although they might not want me.” For the first time she looked worried. “They might not like me.”
“They will. I think you’re just what we all need. I just hope we’re what you need.”
Her hand lifted to my jaw. She cupped it, her hand soft and warm. I put mine over hers and moved it so I could kiss her palm.
“I love you.” Her words were a balm. “It feels scary to say that, but I realised it a few days ago, or rather my sister did.”
“Thank god for that.” I kissed her again, wishing I’d proposed somewhere closer to a bed and privacy. “I don’t know how I’d have felt on that flight home if you didn’t.”
Her smile was soft, the way she was looking at me making me feel like the man I wanted to be.
“You don’t have to worry about that, because I love you back.” Another kiss and another, until someone tapped my shoulder.
It was one of the tour employees. “Sorry, but we got a complaint sayin' lewd behaviour in front on the kids, as if they don't see worse right out there on Fifth Avenue after sunset.” He looked rightly embarrassed. “You might want to, you know, tone it down. You’s have just gotten engaged?”
Marie nodded, trying not to laugh.
“You's got a camera? You gotta have a photo of this. Show your kids one day and tell them how there was a complaint about your lewd behaviour.” His grin was wide and friendly. “My missus is going to love this story.”
Marie handed him the camera from her bag, wrapping her arms back round me as we both looked at the lens for aphoto, New York behind us. A rush of hope filled me as our photographer suggested one morelewdmoment, a kiss, short this time in duration, but captured on film.
I hoped I’d be looking at it in forty years’ time, telling my grandkids about the day I proposed twice to Marie and how she didn’t say no.
We headed back to her apartment afterwards, laughing and touching and teasing until we landed on her big bed with the full sized windows looking out over the city. I’d have to leave early in the morning to collect my luggage, but I didn’t want to leave her now. I couldn’t leave her twice.
“When shall we tell our parents?” I’d bought her a ring on the way back, taking her to a jewellers she liked so she could pick her setting herself. It was already the right size, a happy coincidence and now sat on her ring finger.
It would be hard for anyone to miss and by the sounds of it, she wasn’t going to be hiding it.
Marie pulled the covers back over us, then tucked herself around me. “I’d say now with my parents, but they’re away in Cape Cod for a long weekend. I’ll tell them when they get back.”
“My dad’s flying to Singapore now so I’ll have to speak to him when I get back to London. Looks like it’s just us knowing for a couple of days.” I kissed her head, hating the fact that I’d be away from her for weeks if not months after tonight. “As soon as you tell someone, let me know. I don’t have many people to tell.”
