Take Two

18. Noah

Seven months later

I was fidgeting around with the little jewellery box in my hand, trying to look for the best resting spot for it.

Should I put it in her food? But what if she swallows it?

I placed it on the tiny flower pot in the centre of the table but then shook my head.

I had booked a table at the best restaurant in Rome. I was here for one of my new travelling culinary show that I had signed up with Star Entertainment. When I learned about the location, I asked Hailey to come along.

Fancy restaurant with an open roof. Check.

Audience to witness and record. Check.

Wine. Check.

Her favourite Lily flowers. Check.

A beautiful ring. Check.

I was doing a double check on the list June had sent to me for a romantic proposal.

Is this something that's in trend, or is this what June wanted for when someone would propose to her?

'If' someone did. I chuckled at the thought.

I had told her this morning that I was going out for a shoot and asked her to meet me at the restaurant directly, but honestly, I was preparing for this all day.

"Mr.-Mr. Clifford, can we get an autograph please?" Two local girls asked in their heavily accented voiced as they hesitantly walked up to me. I smiled at them, and I signed their notebooks.

Who would have thought that I would make it big this early? At least I never even dreamt of it. Only Hailey believed in me.

The girls giggled and stared at me with dreamy eyes as they walked back to their table. Honestly, I was still not used to this attention and getting recognized on the road. Of course, the twins, however, were living the dream. Apparently, their rare cameos on my shows were the highest-rated episodes of all time.

My eyes wandered around and then got glued to the figure of the lovely woman who was headed in my direction. She wore a bright red knee-length red dress and my heart sank. I wanted to hug her tight. I could still remember the day I saw her for the first time in college. She came along with a friend to register for our club. She was wearing a red-coloured sundress looking as stunning as ever. That moment was the inspiration for the song I wrote for her.

"It's so ironic that I am having dinner in another restaurant with one of the best chefs out there," she chirped in that bubbly voice of hers and I forgot everything June instructed me about the perfect proposal. I just wanted to make her mine. So I reached forward and took hold of her hand.

She smiled back at me and then glanced down at her phone.

"Work?" I asked.

She retired to become a part-time advisor to the company and started spending the rest of her time pursuing her painting.

She shook her head. "It's Brandon."

She was much more cheerful now. She smiled more often. She was worrying less about work and more about our family and me. I was glad she was paying attention to the more important things in her life. She was enjoying it, doing what she really loved. And I did not doubt that to her I was the most important person in this world. I knew at that moment that I didn't want anyone else. I can't lose her again. Those feelings drove me to get up and sit on my knee and pull the tiny little box out of my jacket pocket.

She covered her mouth with her palms and got up her seat. Then she screamed. I hadn't expected that kind of reaction from her. I still hadn't opened the box. I looked up at her, and that was when I realized she was screaming happily to something she read on her phone.

"June topped her school. She did it!" She spoke excitedly and then screamed. Everyone in the restaurant started staring at us, and some snapped pictures. Others started clapping. We would make the headlines tomorrow for sure for all the wrong reasons. They would say we are engaged, but only my crying heart would know what she was so excited about.

I laughed a nervous laugh. The twins did it again. They had to ruin the moment with that news just now. Some things will never change. But then again, whatever makes her happy.