Outrageous Proposal

Chapter 3

     The rest of the day dragged on and on for Craig. He didn't have a watch, like who wears one anymore, honestly? So when the day was finally over, he skipped over to the mall to the store where he originally purchased his phone. Alex was already there and looking at new models. He had already explained what had happened to the clerk working in the storefront and his brother was also right about him being due for an upgrade. So with a new contract and fifty bucks, Craig was able to get a newer model. He considered this a moral victory given all the tragedies that had occurred so far. It was nice to catch a break before he went home to face Sandy. It was the longest bus ride of Craig's life. He was so concerned about the talk he was about to have with his new fiance, that he was too distracted to look at his new phone. Craig was so nervous about speaking with her that he got off the bus a stop early to have more time to think when walking home. As he finally walked in the door to their apartment, Sandy came rushing to the door to greet him.

     "I've been texting you all afternoon!" she called out, "Why haven't you been answering."

     Craig took a deep breath and pulled the new phone out of his pocket. "I don't have your number on my new cell yet."

     "When did you get that?" Sandy quickly asked. "How much did that cost?"

     "Not much," Craig answered, "I was due for an upgrade but considering what happened to the other, a lot was covered by insurance."

     "What happened to the other?" Sandy then quickly asked.

     "Well, I was walking back from the bathroom," Craig started as he had been rehearsing it the entire ride and walk home, "And I slipped on a floor that had just been waxed. I was carrying my phone at the time and it fell out of my hand. The elevator doors were open cause the crew were fixing something and the phone slid right through the doors and fell four floors to the bottom of the shaft and shattered into a million pieces."

     "When did that happen?" Sandy asked, shocked from what she had just heard.

     "Just before lunch," Craig answered, "Around twelve."

     "I was so concerned," Sandy said, putting her arms around Craig's shoulders. She leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "We'll have the rest of our lives to laugh that off, now won't we?"

     "I guess so," Craig said as he smiled, "Can I burrow your phone?"

     She looked at him weirdly. "What for?"

     "Just want to grab a few numbers to program them back into my new phone.:" Craig replied, "Saves me the time of looking it up online."

     "Sure," Sandy said, pulling her phone out of her pocket, "Dinner is almost ready, I'm making butter chicken."

     "My favorite," Craig noted.

     "I'm aware of that," Sandy said, handing him her cell, "Get that done in five minutes and then wash up for supper."

     "Will do," Craig said as he watched her walk back into the kitchen.

     The truth was he already gotten most of the numbers he needed from Alex, what he really wanted to see was the text messages that were sent from his stolen phone that morning. He wanted to see what was said between Sandy and the thief, just in case she questioned him about it during supper. He looked up his number and then started to read the texts. As he suspected, Sandy had texted him first to start up another conversation about commitment. They had this discussion before, but this time the person with his phone was more willing to discuss it. Craig read everything that was said a few times, that way if Sandy asked about it he wouldn't be caught like a deer in the headlights. Then he tossed in a few numbers on his own phone to back up his excuse before taking off to the bathroom to wash up. As he walked back into the kitchen, he could smell the amazing food she had just cooked. There was rice, with orange butter chicken beside it, along with some hot Naan bread and even a bottle of white wine.

     "I don't know if I deserve all this," Craig noted, taking a seat at the table. "After all we went through today," Sandy said, as she couldn't believe how modest her fiance was being, "I think you deserve it."

     "Thanks," Craig said, as he waited for her to sit as well. He also placed her cell phone back on the table on her side. "Thanks for letting me life a few numbers, it's amazing how we don't memorize phone numbers anymore."

     "I know, right?" Sandy agreed, sitting down on her side of the table. "I talked to my mom about this a few times. She always reminds me of how she had every number memorized for all her friends."

     "We also will never know the satisfaction of slamming the phone down angrily," Craig added, taking his first bit of supper, "I think we're missing out there. Hitting disconnect just isn't the same."

     "Well, what do you think?" Sandy said, watching him as he ate his food.

     "It's fantastic, as usual." Craig said, smiling.

     "Can I ask you something?" Sandy then asked.

     "Anything," Craig said without looking up. He knew where this was going and he just had to ride it out.

     "Why today?" Sandy asked, "We discussed this so often but this time you just stepped up. What changed?"

     Craig put his fork down and paused for a moment. "Something happened to me earlier today; something that scared me. It made me look back at everything I had done so far and suddenly the excuses I was making began to look weak when staring at them from a distance. I began to think of the big picture, so I asked."

     "What happened earlier today?" Sandy asked, sounding quite concerned.

     "It's still quite fresh," Craig said, getting all choked up, "I'd rather not considering we're at the table."

     "I'm sorry," Sandy said as she resumed eating herself.

     They sat there at the table, eating silently but for different reasons. Sandy wanted to talk about the conversation they had and Craig wanted to talk about anything but their conversation. Finally after eating quietly for a few moments, Sandy decided to bring something new up.

     "I'm sorry for posting the engagement on facebook," Sandy started, "I was just excited and t never occurred to me that we might have wanted to tell our parents first before telling the world."

     "It's all right," Craig replied, "I'm happy to see that you're excited. I would actually be concerned if you weren't."

     "Well," Sandy said, putting down her fork. "I'd like to ask you something."

     "Sure," Craig said, trying to win as much brownie points as he could, "I'm all ears, fire away."

     "I'd like to have an engagement party." Sandy said as she seemed excited, "Nothing out of hand, just friends and family. No more than twenty. It will be a small thing with food and wine, just to celebrate and announce for those who don't know yet. Are you okay with that, Craig?"

     Craig thought about it but it didn't seem think that was a bad idea. Have the people they care for there to celebrate, have a few drinks. "Sure," he said, smiling back at her. "Sounds like a great idea. What time were you thinking?"

     "Just after work," Sandy answered, "I have tomorrow off so I'll be able to clean up while you're downtown."

     "Just don't invite too many people," Craig said to her, "Just friends and family and nothing else."

     "Sounds like a plan." Sandy said as she stood up and took his hand.

     "What's going on?" Craig said as he didn't know what she was up to.

     "It's time for desert," Sandy said, leaning over to give him another kids. Craig had no idea what she was talking about until he realized that she was leading him off into the bedroom, where they would share a desert which was metaphorical rather than something they could actually eat. Craig had a wide smile on his face as she led him off to the room upstairs, where they would celebrate their engagement by making love.