1 July 2012
-TIFFANY-
"Happy birthday gorgeous" Nate said, walking into my room with a single box.
"Morning" I said, turning over and smiling at him. The past four days had been spent apart, guarding my mother from the news that was lingering around the Hamptons, the news of my engagement and pregnancy. Without a ring it had been easier to pretend it wasn't happening, as I didn't have a constant reminder on my left ring finger, but it was still hard. I wanted to celebrate, but I felt I couldn't as not everyone had been told.
"What's this?" I asked, gesturing for him to sit down on the bed.
"Get up a minute" he said, stepping back.
"Nate, I'm tired" I moaned, sinking into the pillows.
"No, trust me you'll want to get up for this" he said, looking me deep in the eyes and convincing me.
"Fine" I said begrudgingly. He stood in front of me and took both of my hands, as his sling had been removed. He kissed me once, and whipped out the box that he'd placed in his pocket moments before. "No, no way!" I said, realising what was happening, and regretting the fact that I was wearing nothing but a silk dressing gown. "Oh Nate!"
He got down on one knee, still holding my hands and not once losing eye contact. "Tiffany," he began "You are my one true love. The one girl that I've always wanted to marry, and the girl I've always wanted to be with for the rest of my life. You're the most beautiful thing, and you have a true heart of gold, and I love you so much" at this point, my eyes were welling up with tears. "And I know you've already said yes, and I've already proposed, but I don't feel we did it right. So," he said, flipping open the small egg shell blue box "Will you marry me?"
Inside the box, nestled in the blue-white ribbon cushion was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. It was platinum with a single diamond on the front. From a rough glance I'd value it at around $50,000, so he'd obviously gone all out at Tiffany's yesterday. The diamond sparkled like glistening water, and the platinum shone radiantly.
"Nate, it's so beautiful" I said, putting my hand on my heart. "I love it"
"You're so beautiful, and I love you" he said. "Just one thing: I'm still a bit achy, and I didn't envisage having to kneel here for this long. So will you marry me or not?"
"Yes, yes yes yes of course I will" I exclaimed, a tear trickling down my face as I outstretched my left hand in front of him.
"I love you" he said, as he pushed the ring into the position it would stay forever.
"I love you too" I replied, offering him my hand so I could help to pull him up. As soon as he was stood up, he wrapped his arms around my hips, and planted a single tender kiss on my lips. My hands made their way up onto his chest, but as I tried to close my eyes, all I could look at was the ring that was sparkling on my finger.
"Close your eyes already! I'm not losing my magic touch am I?" Nate said, whining slightly.
"Shh husband" I said, gazing at my ring further.
"Call me that again"
"What, husband?"
"Oh my god you have no idea how long I've waited for you to call me that" he said, beginning to kiss me ferociously.
From the bedside cabinet, my phone buzzed.
"Get that for me? I need to start showering" I said, stepping back across the room towards the shower.
"Fine" Nate said, begrudgingly. "It's your mother"
"I'll answer it!" I called, running back around to grab my phone. "Hello mother" I said, in my calmest tone possible.
"Tiffany, darling, happy birthday" she said, sounding equally as calm as me.
"Thank you" I said, buzzing inside every time I glanced at the ring.
"Now, why don't you come round at about 2pm and I'll give you your present?" she said.
"Sure, that'll be great!" I said, knowing exactly what it would be.
"Lovely, I'll see you then" she said, hanging up instantly.
"Trust fund at 2pm," I said to Nate, but I felt he already knew.
"That means we've got about 5 hours" he said, trailing off a little at the end and looking over at me mischievously.
"Hey!" I cried, throwing a pillow at him. "I think we should save that for marriage!"
"We need to set a date" he said, looking at me seriously.
"Before the baby's born" I said
"Before we go back to school?" he asked.
"I don't mind really, depends when we can get everything booked for"
"When do you think the baby's due?" Nate asked. To be fair, I hadn't asked myself that question yet.
"I'm not sure" I said, putting my hands on my stomach. "Well, let's just say 9 months after July, so that's about March I think"
Nate shuffled across on the bed and sat up so he could put his hands on mine. "I really can't wait until we've told your mother. Then we can finally celebrate!"
"I can't drink for nine months remember?" I said, looking up at him.
"I know"
"And you'll have to be attending to my every need for that period?"
"Don't I already?"
"Yeah I suppose you do" I said, smiling and kissing him. "Right, I'm going to shower" I said, "Do you think I need to take my ring off?"
"I don't know" he replied. "Be safe, just leave it with me"
I handed over my ring, knowing he wouldn't lose it, and I headed into the shower, looking back at my fiancée before closing the door. His bruises were fading, and the scars that were left we're starting to diminish. I was starting to see the old Nate back again, and I couldn't be happier.
Love You Too: PART THIRTY FIVE • Opuss № I