Your Time

Chapter 21

Later that night Carrie told Harrison about her dilemma at the bar. "And did you say you're married to the most attractive, muscular, and charismatic man on the planet?" he whispered, leaning in for a kiss.

"Yeah I said exactly that."

"Really?"

Harrison kissed her. "No I didn't say that. I told him I had a guy at home."

He shrugged as she pulled the covers up. "Good enough."

When he leaned back against his pillow, Carrie took her position at his side with her head resting on his chest and her hand thrown across his body. After sleeping like this for so many years, Carrie had trouble falling asleep laying a different way, especially when he wasn't around.

"Goodnight sweetheart."

"Goodnight Harrison. I love you."

"I love you too."

•••

The next day, Debbie watched the kids as the guys took their day out and the girls went shopping at the mall. They went out to lunch before hitting a few stores and meeting the girls. Sitting at the table, Mark and Harrison caught up on the past seven years before asking Josh a few questions. "So how'd you meet Julia?"

"Well we were both going to medical school and after we graduated I became one of her patients. We got together last year."

"You know Carrie, Marilou and Julia are all pretty good friends. Did you guys take any big steps?"

"I'm going to be moving in with her when we get back to London."

"That's great!" Mark exclaimed.

"And there's one more thing."

"What's that?"

Josh took a deep breath. "I want to propose to her, but I don't know how."

As the food came out, Harrison clapped his hands together. "You've come to the right guys."

Mark went first, sharing plenty of details of how he proposed to Marilou. Then it was Harrison's turn. "Carrie took me to this place when we first started dating. So first thing, keep in mind all the places she loves. The place ended up being a cliff overlooking Dallas. And in the evening's its really pretty."

"Julia loves walking along the river Thames."

"Use it."

"Okay."

"Then you have to be very subtle about it. You can't do anything to let her know it's coming. I'll admit, I made Carrie suspicious. She would always ask me why we were going to dinner. And we hardly went to dinner that often before. But the idea was to get her used to it." He paused to take a bite of his burger. "Then when she got comfortable it was another dinner, I proposed and took her by surprise."

"Should I put together a photo book or something like that?"

"Totally," he answered. "What I did for Carrie was line up a bunch of lights to make a path. Then in between the lights were pictures from all our adventures."

"That's a really good idea."

•••

After lunch, Mark and Harrison took Josh ring shopping. "Should I get her a big stone?"

Harrison shrugged. "It all depends on her style. Carrie loves to use her hands so I didn't get her a big stone."

They walked around the store for a while until Josh found a ring he really liked. "Congratulations man," he said, pushing Josh lightly. "Getting the girl a ring." He smiled as he handed over his credit card to officially purchase the ring. Once it was paid for, he stuffed the small box in his pocket.

On the way out, Josh appeared to be thinking hard to himself. "Wonder what he's thinking about?" Mark whispered to Harrison as they made their way back to his truck. "He looks like me just before Marilou showed up and I proposed."

"Me too. I wish somebody would've taken a picture of my face before I proposed. Because I looked so nervous."

Unlocking the truck, Harrison noticed Josh still thinking to himself. As he climbed in the back, he said, "I was thinking about proposing to Julia here. Like tonight."

Both Harrison and Mark smiled as they turned around in their seats to face Josh. "It's up to you. And we'll help you find a good place to do it."

He nodded. "Let's do it. Can you call Carrie and ask what she thinks because she's known Julia a lot longer than me."

"Of course." As they pulled out of the parking lot, Harrison called his wife. She answered on the second ring. "Hey sweetheart."

"Hey."

"Are you any chance within earshot of Julia?"

"No... why?"

Harrison explained everything to her about Josh wanting to propose to Julia. "What do you think?"

"I think our spot would be a great idea. When does he want to do it?"

He asked Josh before answering Carrie. "He says tonight."

"Well we're almost done shopping so if he wants to do it tonight we could meet you guys there in a half hour."

Harrison ran through the plan with him. "He said lets do it."

"Alright we'll meet you guys there in a half hour."

•••

Harrison went well over the speed limit to make sure they made it there a few minutes before Carrie and the girls. "You ready?" he asked Josh when they got out of the truck.

"I think so."

By now the sun was beginning to set behind Dallas, leaving the sky a mix of red, orange, and pink. "Certainly a good night for it."

A few minutes later Carrie parked her new midnight black Porsche. The three girls got out, with Julia and Marilou asking what they were doing up here. Carrie simply ignored them, going to stand beside Harrison who was facing the city.

Marilou joined Mark, and Julia and Josh were left together. Although facing the other way, the four of them could hear every word said behind them. Just before Josh got down on one knee, the four turned around to watch. Julia gasped as he dropped down to one knee. "Julia, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she whispered as tears began to tumble down her cheeks.

Carrie leaned against Harrison. "Just like ours," she whispered.

He kissed her cheek as Josh picked up and spun Julia around. When he set her down, she asked Carrie and Harrison, "did you guys help him plan this?"

They both nodded. "You guys are the best!" Julia exclaimed, hugging them both. "Thank you!"