It really was a beautiful moment… until Kyleruinedit.
“Kenzie, get your buttouthere.”
Oh, god, Dude! I’d had so much faith in him until then. You don’t start a proposal that way. But then again, maybe you did if you were Kyle since Kenzie appeared to eat that shit up, laughing her way across the stage to meetherman.
Once she arrived, the song cut out, and Kyle said to his beloved possibly the most romantic thing I think I’d everheard.
“Thanks forcoming.”
Again, I cringed, Kenzie laughed, and the audience responded with riotous applause. Okay, so apparently Kyle was doing things his way, and it appeared to beworking.
Kenzie’s smile lit up the already bright stage. “You’rewelcome.”
Taking her hands in his, Kyle stared deeply into her eyes, and I knew this was the moment of truth. My stomach was tied up in knots for him. Kyle wasn’t just my younger brother, he was my best friend, and I wanted this to be perfect for him. So I hung on his every word, hoping he didn’t mess it up, until it occurred to me that Kyle wasn’t aiming for perfection. Unlike me, he’d never required it. He recognized life for what it was and lived it well. He accepted people for who they were and withheld judgment. So it made sense that a proposal from an unpretentious guy like Kyle should be no different. It wasn’t going to be polished, or even grammatically correct, but it was going to be heartfelt, loving, and full of humor. ThatwasKyle.
“On paper, Kenzie, you and I are an odd pairing. You being the pasty white, big Bambi-eyed Northern Californian who says ‘Hella’ way too often. And me being the sun-kissed, devastatingly handsome Southern California boy who speaks in proper slang. But sometimes, you know, when the stars align, a girl like you getslucky.”
Finding Kyle’s opening insults wildly entertaining, Kenzie’s face was alive with excitement as she shook her head inamusement.
“Who am I kidding? Of course I’m the lucky one. I’m actually not even sure how I managed to snag a woman like you but I can only assume it had something to do with starvation and disease carrying mosquitos. I’m convinced if we’d met anywhere other than a deserted island, you would’ve taken a pass on me. But we didn’t, and you didn’t, and here we are today. I keep waiting for you to come to your senses but thank god you never have because you’re my dream girl, Kenz. The day I woke up and realized I was in love with you was the best day of my life. There’s no one I’d rather grow old with than you… well, except Jake, but he’s taken already. Anyway, you know I’m not a flashy guy and big gestures are something I leave to others, but tonight I make an exception –foryou.”
Kyle dropped to his knee to a chorus of oohs and aahs from the crowd. He flipped open the ring box. “Tonight, I’m going big – Mackenzie Ann Williams, will youmarryme?”
Shesaidyes.
* * *
The time had cometo say goodbye to the kids, and as much as I was happy to get back to normal, I was going to miss them; more than I thought I would. The thing about kids was, they didn’t care who you were. In their eyes, adults were nothing more than snack bitches. And in my spoiled world, it was a refreshing changeofpace.
“Where’s your bag?” I asked. Both the kids’ luggage had been sitting at the door moments ago, and now only Riley’sremained.
Sydney crossed her arms. “I put it back. I’m notgoing.”
My eyes widened. “You’renot?”
“Nope. I’m staying withyouguys.”
I immediately sought out Casey, who appeared just as perplexed asIwas.
“No, sweetie, you are going back,” she said, stepping into the conversation. “You, me, Luke, and Riley are leaving for the airport in a few minutes. Go getyourbag.”
“You’re not listening,” she answered, stubbornly. “I’m notgoing.”
“Me neither,” Riley said, standing by his big sister, even though he had noideawhy.
Casey, Luke, and I stared at one another. No one knew how to tackle the situation, as all of us were pathetic newbies with no life skills when it came to defiantchildren.
“Luke, would you take Riley for a short walk? I’ll text you when the cargetshere.”
Looking immensely relieved, Luke ducked out of the bus with a protestingRiley.
Casey addressed Sydney. “Where’s this coming from? Why don’t you want to go home? You have so much to look forward to. You have horseback riding camp and swim lessons and playdates.”
“I don’t care about any of that.” Sydney bowed her head, her shoulders trembling. “I don’t want to go back to thathouse.”
“Your house?” Casey asked, glancing back at me as if I had some explanation for Sydney’s suddenemotion.
I shrugged, as in the darkasher.
