“Montana, where are you ever going to find another man that’s willing to take you around the world, buy you diamonds, and make a commitment?”

I walked over to the window and stared into the night.

“I’m trying to think of somebody and I can’t think of nobody,” Gail said, thinking out loud. “How ’bout you Sam? Can you think of anybody?”

Shaking his head, “Nope.”

“William!”

“William what?” Gail asked.

“William asked me to marry him and travel with him tonight to Venice.”

“William? When it’s Wright, it’s right, William?”

“Yep.”

“And what did you say?” Sam asked.

“I laughed. I thought he was joking.”

“You thought he was joking? Did he have a ‘Def Comedy Jam’ T-shirt on? Why would you think he was joking?”

“Because we always joke like that.”

“Well where is he now?” Gail asked.

“I don’t know. He walked out while I was waiting for Quinton to show up at the engagement party.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“Nope. He came by earlier and dropped off a gift and that was it. Then I saw him tonight at the engagement party but we didn’t speak. I was at the podium pouring my heart out to him, but he had already left.”

“Well, where is the gift?”

“It’s over there.”

“What was it?”

“I didn’t open it up. I was going to open it earlier, but after I told him about my plans, he made another joke and said that whatever was in the box had already expired.”

“After you told him about your plans?”

“Yeah, I told him after he asked me to marry him and travel to—”

We all looked at each other with our mouths hanging wide open. We rushed to the box, yanked it open, and shredded the wrapping paper. Inside the oversized box was an envelope with a red bow on top. I opened it slowly, pulling out something that seemed to be shaped like a card or a ticket or a—oh my God!!! It’s a ticket.

“It’s a ticket.”

“Girl, it’s a ticket to Italy!” Sam yelped.

“He was serious.”

“Girl, what time does the ticket say the flight is scheduled to leave?”

“Eleven forty-five.”

“Eleven forty-five?”

“Eleven forty-five?!” All three of us looked at the clock on the wall that read 11:15.

“That’s in thirty minutes.”

“We can’t get to the airport in thirty minutes.”

“Sure we can, if we leave right now. Come on, Montana, we have thirty minutes of magic left!”

We ran around the apartment nearly in circles trying to digest all that was happening. “Okay, but I have to pack.” I rushed to my bedroom but almost immediately Sam grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“Montana, forget about packing. Girl, for once, it’s time you left your baggage behind and claimed your future!!!”