I didn’t get to see Bethany or Ben before the ceremony, but now they come up to Josh and me, both of them flushed, their eyes sparkling like…
Bethany holds up her hand, and there it is, a tiny sliver of a diamond winking on her ring finger. For a second, I can only stare.
“Oh, my goodness…” I finally manage faintly while Josh springs to action, clapping Ben on the back, his smile genuine although his eyes looked a little dazed. I think we’d both lulled ourselves into thinking the proposal wasn’t happening anytime soon, after all, yet here we are.
“Ben took me to Sandstone Falls in New River Gorge Park,” she explains. “And he proposed right there on the overlook.”
“Oh, my goodness,” I say again, truly at a loss for words. New River Gorge National Park is about an hour south of us and is the main attraction of the area. We did a hike there early on, but I’m sorry to say I haven’t been back.
“It was so romantic,” Bethany says, her eyes shining, her fingers laced with Ben’s.
I’m still feeling shell-shocked, and I’m pretty sure Josh is, too.
“Well, this certainly calls for a celebration!” he exclaims. “I don’t think there’s any champagne, but let’s toast you with lemonade!”
They laugh, and Josh goes to fetch us all lemonade. I look around for Emmy, wondering if she knew today was the day. I feel happy—mostly—but also a little worried. I want to ask Bethany if she’s absolutely sure about this, but it doesn’t feel like the right time. In fact, I’m pretty sure it absolutelyisn’tthe right time.
Josh returns with a tray of plastic cups of lemonade, and we all duly take one and heft it high.
“To Bethany and Ben! May you have a long, happy, and fruitful life together!” Josh says, and although he hides it well, as his wife, I can tell he’s choking a little on the words. As onboard as we’ve tried to be about this engagement, it still feels like a scary and precipitous step.
Later, after we’ve toasted and talked—hearing the details of how Ben got down on one knee and nearly fell over, and Bethany thought he’d tripped and tried to tug him up before he stammered out his proposal; a story for the annals, to be sure—Josh and I drift away.
“Okay, I wasn’tblindsidedthis time,” he confesses with a wry smile. “But almost. Even though I shouldn’t have been.”
“I know.” I nod and take a sip of lukewarm lemonade. “I felt the same.”
“But Ben is a great guy, and the Wilsons are great people,” he continues, sounding a little like he’s trying to convince himself. “It’s all going to be great.”
“Yep.” I nod, a little mechanically. “Great.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “I guess it just feels fast. And likewe’renot old enough, never mind Bethany. How can we have a daughter who’s engaged?”
I pat my bump. “And another one on the way.”
“Crazy.” Josh shakes his head again, his expression turning reflective. “Ben’s a good guy,” he says again.
I nod. Ben is a very good guy, but I think there is part of both of us that wishes Bethany had had the chance to experience a little more of life before deciding to get married.
We can’t separate ourselves from the festivities for long, and as the dancing starts in earnest, Josh is called away to dance with Bethany and then Rose. I refuse to dance, because if it doesn’t cause me to go into labor right there in the fellowship hall, it will almost certainly make me pee myself.
Emmy finds me as I sip my second cup of lemonade on the side of the dance floor. “Well, I guess you’ve heard,” she says, looking ebullient. “He finally popped the question!”
“He did,” I confirm, widening my smile because I know Emmy will sense even an iota of hesitation on my part. “And he surprised us all! Amazing.”
“It is, isn’t it?” she agrees in satisfaction. “They’re thinking they’ll get married in May.”
Something Bethany has yet to tell me. I do my best to hide the needling sense of hurt that Emmy knows a potential wedding date before I do, even thoughI’mthe mother of the bride.
“That seems like a good length of engagement,” I remark.
“And we’re going to be in-laws!” Emmy exclaims with a hoot. “How funny is that?”
“Very funny,” I agree, and she looks at me closely.
“Abby…” Her voice holds a warning note. “Why aren’t you happy about this?”
“I am,” I insist. “I’m thrilled. Ben is an amazing guy, and I think he and Bethany will be very happy together.”
