Preparations

Prologue

"Joe!" Danny walked up to his brother who had his head in the fridge.
"What?" He looked at his brother as he held an apple in his hand.
Danny showed Joe a little box. "I'm thinking 'bout asking Linda to marry me tonight."
"How long have you had that ring?"
He looked at his brother. "Why would you ask that?"
"Cause I accidentally found the receipt when I was putting stuff in your car. Why'd you hide it in the counsel anyways?"
"I've wanted to ask Linda to marry me for the longest time." He ignored Joe's question. "Ever since high school."
"Why haven't you?"
"Cause I've been broke!" Danny smiled down at the ring. "And then I wasn't. Now I'm about a thousand in the hole."
Joe smirked. "Where are you taking her?"
"I'm gonna let her decide!"
"Watch her pick some diner."
*******
Linda walked up to Danny's apartment in her kitten-heeled mules. She had chosen a pretty flowery dress with just the right amount of cleavage.
Danny smiled when he saw her. "You look great!"
"So do you! Ready to go?"
"Yep." He led his (hopefully) soon to be wife down the stairs and to the car. "So," he asked as he pulled out to the road. "Where do you want to eat?"
"Oh, I've been fancy the last five days! I just want a nice, juicy cheeseburger with crispy fries and a chocolate milkshake!"
Danny smiled, huh. Joe got it right... "good, cause I've been craving a burger since Wednesday."
Linda laughed and pushed her blonde hair off her shoulder.
******
"That was great, Danny! I didn't expect to be treated like a queen!" Linda held Danny's hand as they took a romantic stroll through the park. "How many free orders of fries was that? Ten?"
"I dunno! A lot!" He stuffed his free hand in his pants pocket. He fingered the ring box as Linda laughed.
"Oh, I never want this night to end!" She smiled, and Danny stopped walking. "Whassamatter?"
"Linda..." He took both her hands in his and sighed.
"Yes?" Her smile was so loving, so kind.
Danny let out a breath then got down on one knee.
"Oh..." Linda's heart beat fast, anticipating a proposal."
"Linda Rose O'Shea, you're the most beautiful, most kind, most loving person I've met. I didn't realize how in love I was with you until I found myself thinking about you all the time. I wanna laugh with you, cry with you, grow old with you. I wanna have kids together, and I can't even begin to imagine what my life would be without you. Will you make me the happiest man ever? Linda Rose O'Shea, will you marry me?" Danny looked up at Linda.
She had her hand over her mouth, holding back tears of joy. "Oh, Danny..."
"Well? What do you think?" He held his breath, waiting for an answer.
"I think I should've picked somewhere classier!" Linda felt happy tears slipping out of her eyes. "Yes, Danny! Yes! A thousand times yes!"
Danny laughed, stood up, and hugged Linda. He placed the ring on her slim finger, then kissed her.
She held out her hand and admired the simple, yet classy, ring. "Oh, Danny. I love you."
He put his arms around his fiancée's waist. "I love you more."
"I love you the most," Linda gave Danny a kiss, sealing their engagement.
That night, Linda Rose O'Shea- soon to be Reagan was the happiest woman on earth.