Page 59 of Finding Parker

Holy. Shit.

“Oh my fucking God, Parker. Yes. Yes. Yes!” I screamed and dove into him, knocking him to the floor.

As we embraced into a long passionate kiss on the floor, Parker held his arm out to his side, still holding what I was assuming was the engagement ring. I had yet to actually see it, but I didn’t care. I heard the words, and that’s all that mattered. He could produce an aluminum foil ring, and I’d happily be his wife forever.

“Karen, hold the meal,” Kenton sobbed loudly.

The tone of his voice raised into what became a broken shout, “Bring…champagne.”

As our lips parted, I arched my back to look into the face of the one man I truly ever loved. As I did, he moved his hand between us and held the ring in front of me. Immediately, a lump developed in my throat, and I felt as if I were going to be sick. I attempted to swallow twice. My throat felt as if it were filled with sand.

“Place it on her finger, son.” Kenton coughed.

I spread the fingers of my shaking hand and watched as Parker slid a ring onto my finger that every woman on this earth would soon envy almost as much as they envied my fiancé.

I looked down at the ring, “Its…”

“It’s…perfect.”

“Well…get up…off the…floor,” Kenton said between sobs.

We both stood from the floor at the same time, covered with smiles from ear to ear. There is probably not much on this earth that can be said to truly drive a girl to a point of immediately going numb. The type of numb she’ll feel once in a lifetime, and never feel again. I now know, having been through what I just went through, what has the ability to make every nerve in your body go useless.

Four simple words.

Will. You. Marry. Me.

“Let me see it,” Kenton said as he stretched his arm over the table.

I held my hand over the table proudly and raised it to meet Kenton’s. Downes stepped into the light of the chandelier and shaded his eyes as if he were being blinded. As Kenton’s hand met mine and raised it slightly, I felt as if he were my father, approving my engagement to my lover.

“I’m so happy for both of you. For us all, actually,” he said as he wiped tears from his face with is free hand.

“I’d also have to say, Victoria, that has to be a first,” he chuckled.

“What’s that?” I asked, still feeling like I was in shock.

“Oh my fucking God, Parker. Yes. Yes. Yes,” Kenton whispered.

“I did not,” I gasped.

Kenton nodded.

I looked up at Downes.

He nodded.

And at Parker.

He nodded.

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” I pushed my lower lip out for sympathy.

“I wouldn’t have expected anything less,” Parker laughed as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Nor would I,” Kenton sighed.

“Nor I,” Downes agreed.