We were snowed in. Patrick's family wasn't coming for Christmas day, so the usual course of Christmas day business was put on hold. Not in small part because of the kid. A 14 month-old requires naps. In multiples.
Stockings "opened," bacon eaten, coffee drunk...at about 3 pm Christmas gifts still hadn't been distributed or opened. The kid and Patrick's dad were napping (again). So I suggested that we take a nap too.
In retrospect, I now recall the frustration in Patrick's voice and body language.
But suddenly the dad and the kid were awake. So began the gift opening!
I got a coat from Patrick. I gave him a fedora, a wallet and a pair of nice black leather gloves.
Other things were exchanged. I don't really remember what at this point.
The last gift was for me.
I unwrapped, unknowingly, the box Patrick had prepared...
As I opened the lid, a sheet of tissue paper rose and revealed a ring box. I gasped and looked at Patrick. "Read the caaaaarrrrrrdddd fiiiirrrrrssssttttt...!"
As tears welled in my eyes, I restrained myself and calmly opened the envelope. The 14 month-old had become attached to me and was now concerned that I was crying. His parents forcefully restrained him. I would later find out that his mother, Laney, Patrick's sister was heard to have said: What's he doing? Is he doing what I think he's doing? Oh, my god! And her husband, Roland, was heard to have answered: Shhhh...! He's DOING IT!
A plain card with the fortune from that fortune cookie from Buddha Ruksa just three weeks earlier:
"You or a close friend will be happily married."
And then he spoke. "Now that you've met my family, I'm hoping you want to become a part of it. Officially. Tracey, will you marry me?"
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
I nodded, cried, said yes. Or said yes, nodded and cried. Or cried, said yes and nodded.
And so it began.
