future?â
âBoth, actually.â And thanks for playing along . Maybe this would be easier than Iâd guessed. âCasey, I just wondered if maybe youâve given any thought to, well, the future.â I mustered a smile and prayed he would take the hint.
An odd expression overtook him and a moment later he nodded. âKatie, I think about the future every day.â
âReally?â A hopeful spark ignited within. âMe too. So letâs compare notes, okay?â
âO-okay.â
âWhere do you see yourself in five years?â
âIn five years?â He rolled his eyes. âOut of this town, for sure.â
âW-what?â In all the years Iâd known him, I hadnât heardhim talk about leaving. âYou mean, like, the outskirts of town? In a different house? Different property?â
âNo. I mean, like, way out of town. Another state, even. If a manâs gonna have a careerâa real careerâitâs going to be in someplace bigger than Fairfield, Texas.â
âBut I thought you planned to live here someday. On this land, I mean.â
âThatâs my parentsâ plan for me. Theyâve said it a thousand times. And Iâve done my best to play along because I didnât want to hurt their feelings. Heck, I even thought I could talk myself into it. But Iâm not really into all of that, Katie. I thought you knew that. Sometimes I think my father loaded me up with ideas that were really his, not mine. I want something bigger than a few acres of land and a garden. You know?â
No, I didnât know. My response was stuck in my throat, however, and refused to dislodge itself.
He rose and paced the kitchen, finally coming to a stop in front of the refrigerator, where he turned back to face me. âKatie, Iâm glad you asked me about the future, because thereâs something I need to talk to you about. Iâve been praying about this for days. Just didnât know how to come out and say it, but youâve given me the perfect segue.â
âOh? Have I now?â I tried not to let the little giggle in my heart escape. Oh, hallelujah! He was going to propose right here, in his kitchen! Perfection! Iâd always joked about getting engaged on a random weekday. What a story to tell our kiddos: âMama got her proposal on a Monday afternoon over a glass of sweet tea at your grandmaâs kitchen table, the one that was passed down from one generation to another.â Lovely!
âJust say it, Casey.â I smiled. âWonât hurt a bit, I promise.â
He nodded, walked over, and stopped right in front of me, taking my hand. My left hand. With his free hand he reachedinto his back pocket. My heart skip-skip-skipped, and I wanted to sing a funny little ditty just to celebrate this glorious moment. He pulled out a small box, just the right size for a ring.
Praise the Lord! Thank you, Queenie! Your suggestion worked like a charm. Weâre talking about the future now, arenât we?
âKatie, youâre the sweetest girl I know. So understanding.â
âTh-thank you. I feel the same about you.â But this would be better if you dropped to one knee. That would make for a better story.
My sweetieâs smile lit the room, and I stared into his handsome face, a face lit with joy as he spoke. âYou asked about my future, and I honestly believe itâs going to be great. Better than great, actually.â
âMe too!â This time the giggle escaped. âI can see it now.â
âI can too.â A contented look came over him. âAnd I like what I see. A lot.â
A delicious sigh wriggled its way up inside of me as I whispered, âSo do I.â
âAnd because Iâm so sure the futureâs going to be bright, I need to show you something that might come as a bit of a surprise.â
Maybe not as much of a surprise as you think. Iâve been
Wendy Vella
Devan Sagliani
Simone Elkeles
Selene Chardou
Tillie Cole
Jim Lehrer
Jennifer Mathieu
Kelly Favor
Julie Kramer
Natasha Mac a'Bháird