Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 61 - Jasmine

To say that Jasmine had been shocked that Ethan had proposed would be an understatement. Jasmine was still reeling from not only the fact that Ethan had done so, but that he had also set up one of the most dream worthy proposals that she'd ever seen in her life.

When Ethan had dropped to one knee, and she'd seen one of the most beautiful rings that she'd ever seen, she couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes. To see the man that she was in love with on one knee as he'd asked her to spend the rest of her life with him was something that she never thought she'd experience in her life. Although she'd loved Marcus, when he'd proposed, she'd felt apprehension and anxiety at the thought of spending the rest of her life with him. But seeing Ethan on one knee in front of her, Jasmine felt nothing but joy and an immense and overwhelming love for him that she had believed would burst through every cell in her body. There were no doubts, and not one ounce of hesitation as she'd said, "Yes! I will marry you, Ethan!" Seeing the tears that spilled from his eyes had surprised her, and she'd wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him with all of the love that she felt for him as she wiped them away.

Jasmine jerked when she heard excited and cheering voices behind her and Ethan. "Congratulations!", and "Yay!" could be heard coming from behind them, and when she turned her head, she noticed the large screen that had been dark moments before, was suddenly lit with the faces of her friends and family. But when she saw the faces of her brother Chris and his wife Brianna, Jasmine broke down and cried, and a second later, she felt the warm comforting arms of Ethan embrace her in a hug from behind.

When she saw her parents' smiling faces, Jasmine said, "Mom?! Dad?!" and being unable to believe that her parents and everyone that she loved and cared about had been there to share in the happiest moment of her life, Jasmine covered her face and cried. A moment after she felt Ethan's arms release her, she caught the familiar and soothing scent of her mom's perfume as she pulled Jasmine into her arms and held her as they cried together. Feeling the warm hand of her mom as she stroked her back always gave Jasmine a sense of peace, and in that moment, it was definitely welcomed and very much needed.

"I'm so happy for you Pudd. Ethan is a very good man baby." When she raised her head, she met the light brown eyes of her mother, which were the same color as her own, and she said, "I know, and I love him so much mom." Nodding her head, as she wiped Jasmine's tears away, her mom said, "I know baby, and he most definitely loves you just as much." Sniffling, Jasmine smiled, when she met the brown eyes of her father as he cupped her face and said, "He's definitely one of the good ones Ray." Jasmine's tears ran down her face once more, and pulling both she and her mom in his arms, her father kissed her forehead.

A few moments later, she glanced up at the screen and still seeing the smiling faces of her friends, Ethan's sister Carmen and his father Patrick, Jasmine smiled up at everyone and waved at them. Somehow Ethan had arranged for her friends to be a part of his proposal, and when she glanced over at him, he smiled and mouthed the words, "I love you." Her heart melted, and blinking back the tears that were forming, she mouthed the words, "I love you more." Smiling up at her brother Chris and her sister-in-law Brianna, she wiped her tears away as they brought the twins to the screen for her to see. Her twin nieces were beautiful, and when she said, "Oh my goodness you guys, they are getting so big", she felt Ethan's hard body as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his front before he kissed the top of her head. Smiling up at him, she said, "Those are my one-year-old nieces, Gabriella and Isabelle." After speaking to her brother for a few minutes, she blew them a goodbye kiss before she and Ethan turned to smile at her soon to be father and sister in-law, and when Patrick Daniels blew her a kiss, and told her that he already considered her to be his daughter, tears streamed down her cheeks once more. Carmen shared her father's sentiment, as she said, "I finally have a sister! I'm so happy for you both!" Jasmine had then laughed with her friends as they'd shared how Ethan had spoken to them days before and had asked for their blessing to marry her. She had been surprised, and when she'd turned to glance up at Ethan, he'd smiled and winked at her. When Candace's boyfriend Brent joined her on the call, she had introduced him to Ethan. And right on cue Caden had walked up with a huge smile as he stared at Candace's image on the screen. A moment later, his smile had faded when Candace introduced Brenton as her boyfriend. Ethan chuckled and patted his brother on the back and dropping his head, Caden laughed before he whispered low enough so that only she and Ethan could hear, as he'd said, "Yeah, he's okay looking.... if you like that type. But I'm waaaaay better looking."

After introducing Ethan to Van's husband Mike, and then to Candace's parents, Jasmine was excited to see NJ's beautiful face as Mackenzie sat him on her lap so he could see Jasmine on the screen. It was way past her godson's bedtime and seeing his wild mass of curls and his favorite baseball theme jammies that she'd bought him for his birthday several months prior, Jasmine fought back the tears that threatened once again to fall. And as if knowing that she needed him to, Ethan kissed her temple and said, "You will see him soon baby. I promise." Jasmine leaned against him and said, "Thanks baby. I just miss him so much." When Mackenzie pointed to her image on the screen, Jasmine smiled as she said, "Hey Lovebug." Rubbing sleep from his eyes, NJ gave her a sleepy grin when he heard her voice. Finally focusing on her image, his face morphed into a huge smile, and in that instance, Jasmine could tell that he had a tooth missing in the front. "Hey Auntie Jazz!" After introducing Ethan to NJ and promising to come back soon so that she could play with him, Jasmine ended her call with Mack. When Jasmine had turned around, she'd caught the forlorn look of Shane as he'd dropped his head and rubbed his neck. It was clear that Shane had deep feelings for Mack, and Jasmine decided in that moment to help her best friend to take a chance on love again.

Turning, Jasmine saw the smiling face of Kim Daniels, and the tears that she'd been holding at bay began to stream down her face. Pulling Jasmine into her arms, Kim said, "Oh...none of that love. I'm incredibly happy that my son found you Jasmine." And pulling back to cup Jasmine's face in both hands, she said, "You are an answered prayer sweetheart. One that I prayed for my son a long time ago." It was those words that had Jasmine's tears streaming down her face in earnest as she said, "Thank you Kim. Ethan is an answered prayer of mine as well." Feeling Ethan's hard and warm body standing behind her, Jasmine reached back and as if sensing what she needed, as he always seemed to do, Ethan laced their fingers and placed a comforting hand on her lower back.

Leaning down to whisper in her ear, Ethan said, "Are you ready to take a spin on the carousel?" A huge smile spread across her face and Jasmine said, "Yes! I'd love that." Chuckling, Ethan announced, "Jasmine and I are going to take a ride on the carousel. Anyone else want to take a ride?" Caden laughed as he said, "Heck yeah! I've got dibs on the white and gold horse!" Shaking her head, Jasmine laughed as she said, "Hey! That's the one that I wanted!"

Thirty minutes later, and after they'd hugged her parents and Ethan's mom and brother, Jasmine told Shane that she would do whatever she could to help get him in contact with Mackenzie, and with a brief thank you to the onsite crew of people that had helped Ethan to put everything together, Jasmine and Ethan headed back to their SUV. Once inside, Jasmine turned and smiled over at Ethan as she said, "When and how did you set all of this up Ethan Daniels?" Chuckling, Ethan said, "It's been in the makings for about a week, but things didn't really lock into place until I spoke to your dad and got his blessing." Surprised by his statement, Jasmine said, "You asked my dad for his blessing?" Smiling, Ethan said, "Of course. I know how important your father is to you, and I would never do anything to cause a rift in your relationship with him." Smiling, she said, "When did you speak to my dad?" Returning the smile Ethan said, "That morning that you and your mom were making breakfast. He and I spoke then." Chuckling, Ethan said, "It wasn't the way I wanted to do it, but it sort of worked itself out." Jasmine laughed and said, "Oh... that's what you two were discussing that morning?" Nodding his head, Ethan said, "Yeah....and it went surprisingly well. Better than I could've ever expected."

Shaking her head, Jasmine lifted her hand and admired the gorgeous diamond ring that Ethan had placed on her finger, and said, "Ethan.... this ring is gorgeous and absolutely perfect." Placing his hand beneath hers as he stroked the ring adorned with a flawless, 2 ½ carat, princess cut amethyst center stone ring with cascading diamond baguettes on either side of the band, Ethan said, "I wanted a ring that came as close to matching your beauty as possible, but since I couldn't find one, I had this one made for you instead." Surprised by his words, Jasmine said, "Ethan.... you had this ring made for me? When?" Smiling, he said, "When we got back to Chicago, and after I'd spoken to my parents. My mom and Carmen helped some, but when you mentioned that your favorite color was purple, I knew that I wanted your ring to be not only unique, but something that you'd like as well." Tears filled her eyes as she said, "Ethan...I love you so much." His eyes softened as he said, "Nowhere near as much as I love you, Mrs. Jasmine Daniels." Leaning forward to place her forehead against his, Jasmine said, "I love how that sounds, Mr. Ethan Daniels."

Once they'd arrived back at their hotel, Jasmine and her fiancé spent the rest of the night making love and making plans for their future.