I wanted to stand beside her while she continued becoming the person she wanted to be.
So I bought a ring.
Then I spent three weeks trying to figure out how to propose without making the whole thing awkward.
Daniel offered suggestions.
Most were terrible.
“Do it at the bookstore,” he said. “Everyone will be there. Mom loves that place.”
“That’s public.”
“Exactly.”
“She might say no.”
“Then at least you’ll be embarrassed in front of customers. Very memorable.”
I ignored him.
Eventually, I decided to ask Karen at the place where everything had begun.
The city overlook.
The following Thursday, I told her I wanted to take her somewhere.
She looked suspicious.
“Should I be worried?”
“Probably not.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
I drove us through the city as the evening lights began to appear. When we reached the overlook, the rain had stopped, and the clouds were breaking apart above the horizon.
