He nodded.
“Give her the ring, Dad.” Annie nudged him with her elbow.
Righto. The ring.
The girls helped him pick out the ring since he knew nothing about rings. His girls had fancy tastes, turned out. Emmaline would probably like it. He hoped. Especially since it was a whole group effort.
He couldn’t help but notice that Fiona had moved to behind her mom and stood conspicuously there. Apparently, she was to stop Emmaline if she fled.
Not a good omen.
He took a breath. Reached into his pocket, and dammit, he was going to do this right.
Ring box in his hand, he flipped it open and knelt on one knee.
Emmaline’s eyes got wider.
Annie moved quickly beside Fiona, apparently prepared to offer defense, and not let Emmaline through should she decide to flee.
His throat was super dry. His fingers numb. His tongue not really working.
“I love you,” he said. “Nothing changes, except some paperwork. And we get to have a party.”
“Dad!” Annie gasped. “That’s your proposal?”
“That’s what he’s been working on?” Fiona said out of the side of her mouth.
Emmaline scrunched her face with what looked like an abundance of questions.
He took another crack at it. “I love you. When I think I can’t love you more, you surprise me, and it just keeps growing. I love how you adore my daughter, like she’s your own. I love how you love me back. I love your daughter like she’s my own. And… I don’t want to go through life without you. Will you marry me, Em?”
A tear fell down her cheek. Then she let out a chuckle from deep in her belly.
“Okay.” He nodded, about to stand up. They’d still get s’mores. “It’s okay. I knew it was a long shot.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll marry you, Ethan,” Em said, grabbing his arm before he could turn away. “But—”
“But?” he asked.
“It’s not just a party. It’s important that you know that,” she said urgently, as she reached out to touch the diamond in the center of the ring. “Before we get to the vows. Because they matter. It’s not just a party.”
Righto.
“Okay,” he said again.
“He’s seriously got to up his game,” Annie whispered to Fiona.
He pulled the ring from the silk and slipped it on her finger. He stood. Kissed her. Disregarded the girls and their gagging noises.
“Glad that’s settled. What’s next?” Emmaline asked.
He lifted a shoulder. “I mean we could do the cliché thing and get married.”
He touched the tip of his nose to hers, and she melted into his arms. Totally melted. “I could be down with that.”
So could he.
“Something simple? Nothing over the top,” she went on.
