Edge of the Ravine

50

Chapter Fifty

On Vlad's twenty-sixth birthday, I asked him to marry me.

We both knew it was a long time coming. Three years earlier, when I'd returned from settling Amelia's things, I'd confessed to him how I was beginning to get the urge to settle down. He didn't bat an eyelash. Simply asked me what I wanted and told me we'd make it work.

My demands were easy enough to ensure, if the world wasn't completely biased. Basically, I wanted what everyone else did when that need for family set in. But we began with what was mostly easily accomplished.

First on the list was to purchase a home of our own. A place we could always come back to. Only the country of choice was up for debate—though my unwillingness to settle in the land of our birth was palpable.

Since France had always seemed more widely accepting of gay couples than other places, it seemed an easy choice. Especially since it allowed for both of us to continue working but closer to home. And only a week after my suggestion, in a small village south of Paris, Vlad fell in love with an exquisite little chateau. We signed our names to it within a month.

After being settled for about a year, it seemed nothing could keep us from creating the perfect life. We had already discussed it and I was at the point in my life where I was truly considering becoming a father. Vlad was completely supportive of the idea and even a little more enthusiastic than myself. Together, we approached adoption counsellors on the subject to try and gauge the obstructions that would surely stand in the way. When we were informed that France was in the process of opening many different rights for the gay community, we decided to put it on hold for a little while longer.

Two long years of waiting over, the French government finally legalized gay marriage and made joint adoption legal. I was so incredibly happy with the verdict that it was almost impossible to wait for Vlad's birthday. And I actually went out and bought the ring that day.

For a while, I believed my motives to be unclear when I asked Vlad what he wanted to do for his birthday. When he replied that he didn't really know, I could barely stop my smug smile. Announcing it casually, I informed him, that I had actually already made dinner reservations at his favorite restaurant in Paris. His reaction was exactly what I had hoped for. No more and no less.

Our reservation wasn't until seven, so it took me a full hour to get ready for it. I probably searched through every expensive tuxedo I owned in order to find one that would perfectly fit the occasion. If I didn't know that Vlad was having an equally hard time with the same decision, I'd have felt completely foolish. At last, fully dressed, I sought the approval of my boyfriend.

The widening of his eyes was enough consent for me, but I barely noticed. Much as his expression suggested, I was completely stunned. Vlad was wearing the tuxedo I most loved him in. It was beautiful designed by itself. On Vlad, it was stunning.

Of course, I wasn't allowed to admire for long. Reminding me of the time, my very punctual boyfriend ushered me out of the house with absolutely no delay. Which meant we were seated at our table promptly at seven.

It felt like the butterflies in my stomach were on steroids. Knowing what I was about to do, it suddenly felt hard to breathe. To speak was asking too much.

Luckily, we had a whole meal to get through. It should have been more than enough time to compose myself. Unfortunately, it wasn't.