by Rachel Burns
“Those belong to the young lady,” the guy at the cash register said.
“I know. She’s my girlfriend.” He smiled at the guy who was around her age. Tonight she may just become my fiancée, he thought to himself.
The man at the cash register looked disappointed. Yep, she’s taken, Scott thought.
Cathy rolled her eyes as she stood way back in line. She wished she had a boyfriend too, then maybe she wouldn’t be so bitter, and she could be happy for them.
Scott took the girls to get bus passes. They would be doing most everything with the bus here. His car would stay parked in the garage that came with the apartment. It would be there if they needed it for an emergency.
“Say Brianna, do you want to go out to eat tonight. That way we could have a chance to go out before the pressure from school sets in. You know just the two of us.” Scott knew that Cathy wouldn’t be pleased about that, but he couldn’t very well propose with his sister sitting next to them.
Brianna looked at Cathy. “Are you all right with that?”
“That’s fine. Go ahead. He knows I may be meeting a doctor soon.” She sounded hopeful.
“At a nurse’s college?” Scott didn’t want her rushing into the next bad relationship.
He just had to burst her bubble, Cathy thought. “Practical experience is done in hospitals. You know, where doctors are.”
They went grocery shopping after that. Fights started to flare up about what they should eat. The discussion of a fruit bowl and what fruits should go into it also had them arguing. At the cash register, the next discussion come about who should pay.
“I could just pay this time and then save receipts and work things out at the end of the month,” Brianna suggested.
“Good idea, but I’ll pay today.” Scott whipped out his wallet and paid a worried looking check out girl. She looked relieved that someone did pay. He loaded the bags into the truck of his car by their books and drove them home. They all unloaded the bags out of the trunk. Scott had made one extra light so Brianna could carry one up too. She didn’t like to be left out; he knew that. He wanted her in a good mood for this evening.
They put away their food while Brianna reheated the left over noodles from yesterday in a frying pan with and an onion and chopped ham. She reheated the sauce too and served up a variation from yesterday with a salad.
Scott was impressed with her again. She even did it while she was unpacking the groceries. Scott went back to the car to get their books. Cathy was setting the table again. Scott was looking forward to the nights that Brianna cooked.
He looked at his class schedule. They had each hung a copy on the refrigerator. He had the most classes. Finding a night for him to cook would be difficult. Maybe on Mondays? Weekends they wanted to cook together. He wanted to enjoy his time with Brianna, playing house.
Scott wanted to finish school in the two years that Brianna was also here. He wanted to always be wherever she was. He didn’t want a long distance relationship. The two and a half weeks she had been in Minnesota had been torture on him.
They would have to sit down and discuss who had to do what, or this could all end up in a fight like at the grocery store. Brianna had been the adult in that situation. Cathy and him had argued that they couldn’t just eat pasta two years long. Brianna just kept on throwing the basics in the cart, ignoring them mostly.
They sat down to eat when Brianna put the frying pan on the table. Cathy looked at the food like there were worms in the pan instead of noodles.
“Fried spaghetti? Does that even taste good?” Cathy sat and made a face.
“Try it, and you’ll see.” Brianna sat down straight and looked over at Scott.
He was still smiling at how motherly she had sounded. Then he realized why she was looking at him. He folded his hands, bowed his head and blessed the people sitting at this table and the food that his baby sister was scowling at. He raised his head, and Brianna smiled at him again. She sure did have a way of making him feel like the man of the house.
Cathy found out that she loved fried noodles. Scott enjoyed the simple meal too. He felt satisfied when it was over.
Scott looked over at Brianna, who was clearing off the table and putting things away. He carried a couple of dishes over to the sink too. Brianna thanked him and took the dishes from him. She seemed to be doing the lion’s share of the work. He would watch out for that.
After they were finished eating, everyone looked through their new books in the living room. They were being very quiet. The neighbors would have no reason to complain.
Chapter 16 – Will You Marry Me?
At five, Scott got up and stretched. “I’m going to go get polished up for our date.”
Brianna looked up at him confused. “You look just fine.”
“This is our first date here. I kind of want it to be something special.” He went off to his room and a couple of minutes later they heard the shower.
Brianna went to shower too. She would put on a pretty dress. This could be fun. She didn’t know when he wanted to go, so she hurried. He still wasn’t finished when she came out. Her father had also rented a piano for her. It would be here for her for the next two years. She sat down and played while she waited for him.
Scott heard the music as he stood in front of his mirror proposing to himself again and again. He was starting to get nervous. He was giving himself pep talks.
Scott had also decided that if she said no, that it would probably just be a no for now. They talked about a wedding and marriage often. That would just mean a lost battle but not a lost war.
He shook his head. He couldn’t be comparing their engagement to military stuff.
Scott practiced his speech again and again before he went out to check if Brianna was wearing something nice enough. He would have to admit that they were going to a finer restaurant if she wasn’t.
She was playing a classical piece. Her back was to him. Her long hair was piled high on her head. Little curls had escaped, or more likely, she had done it on purpose because it looked so romantic. Her shoulders were bare except for spaghetti straps. The dress was light pink with tiny white flowers sewed in the top half. The bottom half had a free flowing pink chiffon skirt over the pink satin skirt.
He laid his hands on her shoulders. He was so happy that she was here with him.
She leaned into his warm hands and enjoyed being so close to him. As she leaned back towards him, she continued to play for him.
Scott sat down next to her and cuddled up on her. He leaned in and kissed her neck. She was surprised that he would do that.
She smiled at him. He was being playful again. He did that every once in a while, but then he would stop before it went too far.
No one from back at school would believe her if she told them how he was now. She liked him better this way. He was a lot easier to talk to.
He went back to kissing her neck.
Brianna found it harder and harder to concentrate on what she was playing. She stopped playing and turned to him. He looked like the cat that swallowed the canary.
Brianna smiled at him and leaned away. “Are you up to something?”
“Who me?” he asked again so playfully.
She shrugged and went back to playing. “Do we have to go yet?”
“No, we have a bit of time. Play something where you sing along.”
“Like what?”
“Anything you want, baby.” He leaned in towards her again.
“Scott, you are acting weird.” She took her fingers away from the keys and laid them on her lap. Did he think that – just because they were living together – that they could – “I think we need to talk.”
“What about?” He was still snuggling up to her.
“I still want to wait. Twenty is just too young. I know that you are a lot older and – But I’m not ready for that, yet.”
He laughed at her again. He was doing that a lot lately, she thought. “I know, sweetheart. I only wanted
to cuddle with you. Why don’t we take off?”
She gave him a look showing him that she wasn’t finished talking about this.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I’m looking forward to our wedding night. That will be our first time. No more worries?”
She blushed and nodded.
He stood and took her by her hand. “Goodbye, Cathy,” he called out to his sister. His hand went to his chest pocket. He wanted to make sure that the ring was still there.
It was.
Scott brought her down to his car and opened the door for her. He stared at her legs as she got in again. Then he went to his side and got in. He looked over at her, thinking that she looked so pretty. He collected himself and drove off.
Scott drove into the city and parked a ways off from the restaurant. He got her out of the car and walked with her on his arm again. Lots of people turned to look at them. They looked as if they were on their way to the prom or the opera. Brianna’s skirt was moving with each step she took. She was turning lots of heads. Scott felt he had earned the right to be her boyfriend. He had already proved that he would be with her in sickness and in health.
Brianna noticed several women looking at Scott too. He was wearing a nice suit, and he did look polished. She just wasn’t the only one who noticed. Brianna wanted to shoo the other women away with a broom. He was with her. His arm was held out to her. He wouldn’t have a problem finding someone new one day when she was gone. She almost stumbled as she thought of that. He reached out to her and grabbed her and held her tightly.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t walk in heels that often. I guess I’m out of practice. The last time was when we went to the coffeehouse together.” That felt like a lifetime away. She laid her head on his shoulder as they walked on.
“Um Brianna. I’m not sure how to put this, but I thought our first time would be on our wedding night,” he joked.
“I just want to cuddle, baby,” she teased him right back. “Besides, your shoulders are fully clothed. Mine aren’t.”
They arrived at the restaurant. Scott opened the door for her and held it as she walked in. A waiter asked if they had a reservation.
“Yes, a party of two under the name Greene.” He said it in a way that one could think that they were already married.
The waiter led them up the stairs to a table by the window. They could look out over the city here. The waiter helped Brianna with her chair. She thanked him and looked over to Scott. The waiter was still looking at her. Scott cleared his throat loudly to get rid of him.
The waiter frowned and left. He came back quickly with water and menus. Brianna thanked him again, and he smiled back at her too. Then he caught Scott’s eye and left again.
Brianna’s shoulders were shaking slightly. So she did notice that guys looked at her, Scott shoved that information to the side. He trusted her beyond a doubt. She would be faithful to him. He was sure of that. “What would you like to have, sweetheart?”
“I’m still looking, but I can tell you already that I feel like sinning. What are you going to have?”
“I feel like steak.” He looked for it on the menu.
“Me too, but with French fries instead of the baked potato.”
“That is really sinful.” He thought about the effect of French fries on her arteries. “I suppose you can have that. Just this once.”
The waiter was back. He had heard Scott give permission for French fries. He looked like he wanted to kill Scott. The waiter was even shaking his head at him. “Are you ready to order?” He said it in a mean way.
Brianna was back to shaking. She was trying so hard to hide the laughter.
“Yes, we are. The lady would like a steak, but instead of the baked potato, she would prefer French fries. Does a salad or vegetable come with that?”
“She can choose which she would rather have.” He emphasized the word ‘she.’
“She’ll take the vegetable.”
“And what would she like to drink?” He looked at Scott meanly. He looked ready to asked him to step outside.
“She’ll stay with water. Lots of water for both of us. I’ll be having the steak too, but I would prefer the baked potato with lots of sour cream and the vegetable.” He handed him their menus without looking at him. He looked at Brianna. She was enjoying the show.
The waiter smiled at Brianna with pity before he left.
“Scott, that was just mean. What are you up to? He is probably going to spit on your food, and I will end up with a huge portion of French fries.” She smiled at him brightly.
He was awe-struck for a moment. “You had salad for lunch so I figured that vegetables would be healthier for you.”
“I agree, but we both know that you were – marking your territory.” She was still smiling as she scolded him.
“Damn right, I was.” He laughed too then. He was going to mark it even more tonight. A ring on her finger would keep types like him away from her.
They talked about the city and what they wanted to all see while they were living here. Scott was thinking that maybe he should join some sort of sport team to stay in shape and make friends. He wasn’t sure which one.
“Not football.”
“Why not?” His eyes danced with delight.
“One: I don’t get it, and two: it’s dangerous. If I can only have French fries as an exception, then you can’t play football.”
Their food arrived in that moment. Her plate was piled high with French fries. Scott eyed his plate for spit. He looked satisfied that there wasn’t any.
The waiter left. He probably thought that they were so odd that they deserved each other.
“Which sport would I be allowed to play?”
“Baseball or basketball. It would depend if you wanted to play inside or out.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
They ate on in silence. Brianna made little ‘hmm’ noises that she didn’t even know that she was making. Scott was melting at how adorable she was. The time was almost here. The sun would be setting soon. Scott was starting to get cold feet. Was this restaurant special enough? Was this moment special enough? Did he have something in between his teeth? Maybe he should hurry off to the bathroom and check?
Brianna had finished eating and given him her plate to finish off. The routine of that was so familiar that Scott had been waiting to get a couple of French fries. “These French fries are really good.”
Brianna leaned in and whispered to him. “Yes, I think they were made with love.”
He laughed too and quickly cleaned her plate. He was hoping the dishes would be off the table before he proposed. It looked like he would have to decide between a cleaned up table and the setting sun.
If he chose the clean table, that gave him some more time to get up his nerve, but if he picked the sun, he would have to go now.
He decided to go with the setting sun. It was more romantic. He sighed and looked at the sun. It was time to get it over with. He gulped and stood up and went to stand next to her. She had turned to look at the setting sun when he had turned to look at it.
“Brianna?”
She turned back to him. He dropped to one knee and looked at her so serious that she knew what was coming. Tears were pouring out of her eyes. He took her hands in his. “I love you so much. So much more than I could ever put into words.” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, but I honestly forgot my speech.” He looked down at the floor and then back into her eyes. “Brianna, we have talked a lot about marriage. I want to take this opportunity to really ask you. You can answer any way you want. I want to ask you if you would be my wife? I have a ring with me and everything.”
He fished it out of his pocket. “I can’t believe how nervous I am.” He muttered under his breath. He fumbled with the box and opened it.
“This ring is a symbol of my love for you. It’s a circle that will never end just like my love for you. I want you in my life every day, forever. I love y
ou, Brianna. Please, say you will marry me.” He looked at her sobbing. “Is that happy crying?” he asked.
She sniffled and laughed. “Yes.”
“Yes, to happy crying or yes, to getting married?” He wasn’t so sure.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him. “I love you too.” He stood up, and the whole room started clapping.
The owner came over and offered them champagne. Scott politely refused. They would be toasting with water.
“Let’s get the ring on you. I have been so afraid that something could happen to it. I’ve had it since before your birthday. I had wanted to ask you then. This was better.” He had tears in his eyes as he slipped the ring on her finger. “Imagine how much I would have embarrassed myself with the others watching.” He hugged her and kissed her on her cheek.
“Give her a real kiss,” someone called out.
Scott smiled at her and pulled her in close and gave her a kiss that left her breathless. He sat her down on her spot again and knelt in front of her again. “I remember my speech now. Do you want to hear it?”
She nodded still too emotional to talk. “I promise if you will have me, that I will love you forever. I will cherish you always, and I will never leave your side. I will be faithful to you, and I will take care of you. I will continue to be there for you when you need me. I can’t remember the rest. I get lost when I look in your eyes.”
“You can’t get lost if we’re together,” she whispered and pulled him in closely again.
He held her tight to his heart. “I love you, Brianna. Thank you for saying, yes.”
Cathy came out of her room and saw them kissing on the sofa. Brianna was sitting on Scott’s lap.
“Umm – Hey you two. This is why I also live here – So you can’t do that. Knock it off.” Cathy felt very uncomfortable watching the two of them.
Brianna raised her left hand in the air so Cathy could see the ring. She continued to kiss Scott.