“Three.”
People around the pool laughed again.
Then Henry opened the velvet box.
Inside was a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond.
My breath caught.
Melissa stepped forward.
“This is insane.”
Henry lifted one hand.
“I’m not asking her to marry me today.”
I blinked.
He smiled.
“I’m asking her something much more reasonable.”
He turned fully toward me.
“Would you allow me to take you to dinner tonight?”
I started laughing.
“Henry!”
He grinned.
“And if dinner goes well, breakfast tomorrow.”
I shook my head, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
“And if breakfast goes well?”
“Lunch.”
Everyone laughed.
Then Henry became serious.
“And if a lot of dinners, breakfasts, and lunches go well…”
He looked at the ring.
“This belonged to my mother. My late wife knew how much it meant to me and once told me something before she became sick.”
His eyes filled.
“She said, ‘If life ever gives you another person who makes you want to live again, don’t waste time being afraid of what people will think.’”
I covered my mouth.
Henry swallowed hard.
“I’m not proposing marriage today.”
Then he looked directly at Melissa.
“But if this woman lets me stay in her life, I hope one day I’ll earn the right to.”
The pool became completely silent.
Melissa looked like she wanted the concrete beneath her feet to swallow her.
And suddenly, I understood.
Henry hadn’t embarrassed her.
He hadn’t insulted her.
He had simply treated me with the dignity she had tried to take away.
That hurt her more than any cruel reply could have.
I squeezed his hand.
“Dinner sounds nice.”
