My morning routine of breakfast and swimming laps went well, I came back inside to find Dad going through a shoe box.
"Hey dad whats up?" I asked as I am curious as to what he is looking for, "ah here it is!, your grandmothers engagement and wedding rings" what? does he know I was going to ask those kind of questions?, "son, I saw the way you two were at the party, I have seen the flirting before the friendship grew, I saw you be there for her, we all love her like family and I think last night you realized it too, the way you held her, so if my dad sense is right, it's time you have these."
"Wow, I was going to ask how you knew you wanted to marry mom, but I feel like this is the answer, she does fit well with us all, do you think maybe it is some lust? I mean I haven't been with anyone so, I am a little confused, is it to fast? is it because I flatlined a few times?"
"Would you like some tea son, maybe we should get out the photo albums, and I will try to answers your questions but I think you already know what your heart is telling you" he pours the water into the tea pot and goes over to get some albums out.
I look over the rings in the meantime, there's a charm to them that I can't pin point, wasn't sure which grandma it was, both sets of my grandparents had passed away just a little before mom got diagnosed, seems it's a family history of it, it's why I don't really drink achool or much caffeine, tea or hot chocolate are my drink of choice, I do my best to be fit, so being toned has it's appeals to the ladies a side effect I didn't really act on till now, the feeling of these rings in my hand, had me picturing what her face would look like when asked and would she say yes.
I poured the tea into the mugs added honey and looked through the rest of the shoe box, some hospital bands, jewelry, keys, old newspaper clippings, sentimental treasures, "Dad, I think we should build shadow boxes, show their stories", he comes with albums to the kitchen table, "I like that idea".
"Which album first? or should we pick albums based on your questions?" dad inquired "how about which grandma had this ring set?" seemed a good place to start.
"My mom's, she loved these rings, my dad designed them, based on celitc roots, he was first generation born over here, he worked hard and paid for it to be customized, proposed with them on st Patrick's day party."
"Did your dad tell you how he knew grandma was the one?" taking a sip of tea and setting the box items out, dad grinning "said she was feisty and exciting, knew if she would have him, his life would never be dull"
"What's this newspaper clipping?" I pass it to dad, "that was the announcement".
We went through one item at a time, all the stories I don't remember hearing before, drinking tea and looking over albums, every one seemed to go by gut,
some didn't date long before getting married others engaged a year or two saving money.
The best part was losing track of time, when Tony and his wife got back they joined in, family time.
"So I guess, you all approve if I propose to Amber?, my gut is shy with more racing instect then matters of the heart I guess, but I did feel like I want to always hold her like at the holiday party" I still hold that wedding set in my hands, hoping the will fit.
"Amber's already like family, she's great with our girl's, we noticed just being with her has made you happy" my observation of Tony and his wife, their both glowing, sweetly cuddling, part of me feels like telling them to go to their room, "I know I wouldn't change a thing bro, love my life, hot wife, sweet daughters, have had some travels, just want you happy".
"I am", I almost felt like everything would be ok, even though my career was still uncertain and awaiting further test in mid January, financially I will be fine for some time, the only thing that had truly missing in my life was love and the accident seems to have brought me to it, I didn't go looking, love found me.
"Is it to cheesy, the small wrapped present in the tree idea, the last gift opened?"
Everyone was silent and thinking, doubt returned to my mind, no serious conversations had occurred at all about futures, we mainly talked here and now, maybe this is rushing it.
My mind wondered to much, all the what ifs, all that could go wrong, but a smile across my face about all that could go right, that's when Tony spoke up, "bro that smile tells me a yes would be your best Christmas present yet, go for it", "Thanks bro, I do, I would like to make it a very special Christmas, for all of us".
"How can we help?" Dad asks, "not sure yet,I will let you know when I have more of a plan", right now I had rings, the urges to ask and a girl friend my family already loves, how do I make it more special to propose Christmas morning at present time?
I have a week, to get ideas, I need to find out her favorites for Breakfast maybe start with the Christmas eve dinner, create a series of small gifts in the tree with me already down on one knee to find the last small box, first maybe earrings, then a necklace and last one the rings, keep it together as a set.
The rest of the evening, I look back though everything for more inspiration and find myself more resolved in my decision to ask "Will you Marry Me?", hopefully one word will change the rest of my life, will she say yes?.