“Brian, if we’re not fishing, what in the world are we doing here?”

He looked at her and let her think for an uncomfortable minute. Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box and bent one knee onto the blanket.

Melissa’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”

He opened the box and pulled out the ring with a small stone in it and spoke to the ring. “I don’t know how to do this. I’m not good at speeches. I’ve seen it in movies, I guess.” He looked up at her and held the ring out. “I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy and provide for you. I’m asking you to marry me.”

She put both hands over her mouth.

“Are you going to take it?” he said.

In tears now, she reached out and took the ring and held it in front of her face. Then she looked at him and smiled. “I say yes. I’ll marry you.”

They sat together on the blanket with Melissa staring at the ring on her finger and Brian opening the box of chicken. He was so hungry and figured she would be, but all she could do was look at the ring and then look him and repeat.

Finally she took some chicken and coleslaw and a biscuit and they talked about when they’d have the ceremony and who they’d invite and who they wouldn’t. Brian asked how much it would cost.

“People spend thousands,” Melissa said. “The bride’s parents pay most of it, but that’s not going to happen with us.”

“Maybe we just go alone?”

“You mean to a justice of the peace?”

Brian nodded. “We could have anybody you want go with us.”

She held the ring up, the light fading on the horizon. “When do you think we should do it?”

“After the baby,” he said. “It’ll give you time to recover.”

“What about a honeymoon?” she said, smiling. “There will be snow on the ground if we get married in January.”

“We could come here and ice-skate.”

She laughed and they agreed they would get through her pregnancy and then decide on when and where and how and all the other questions about the wedding.

When Brian came to bed, Melissa was asleep. Before he turned out the light, he saw her with her left hand on her stomach, the engagement ring on her finger. It was a rough start to their lives together, no question. But he was sure things would work out now. The love they both felt would keep them together.

CHAPTER 9