Mira wraps up with a short video on the new campaign then Layla excuses everyone with an invitation to dinner immediately following. My nerves hit an all-time high as we’re walking out of the meeting room. The plan is to meet Mira at our reserved table, but there’s something I need to do first.
I wait in the back of the room and once I see Mr. Glasson, I approach him with palms that are dampened from beads of sweat. “Sawyer, it’s good to see you,” he says, reaching his hand out.
I reciprocate the gesture and give him a firm shake. “Good to see you, too, sir.”
“Oh, please. Call me, Floyd. We’re beyond sir and Mr. Glasson.”
I chuckle nervously. “Actually, I’m glad to hear you say that. Because there’s actually something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“I’m all ears. Let’s have it.”
I wave a hand, gesturing him to a nearby, empty table, knowing that it’s hard for him to be on his legs for too long. Once we’re both seated, I get serious. “I know you’ve got a lot of people to talk to, so I’ll keep this short. A couple months ago, I asked Mira what she wanted more than anything in this world.”
Floyd gets comfortable in his seat and folds his arms in front of him. Mira is everything to him, so I know he’s curious to hear what she said.
“Her response was, ‘to have my dad walk me down the aisle.’ Now, I know it’s soon, but I know with all my heart that I want to be the man standing at the front waiting for her when you do. I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Glasson. And I’d love nothing more than to ask her for her hand in marriage, with your approval of course.” I’m not sure I’ll ever be comfortable referring to him as Floyd. I rub my palms on the legs of my pants as I wait for a response.
He begins tapping his index finger to his chin, observing me. As if he’s reading what kind of man he’s giving his daughter to. “Here’s the thing about my Mira. She’s stubborn as an ox. She’s got the mouth of a sailor. And she wears her heart on her sleeve. She will give you trouble, no doubt. But I also know that she loves you very much. The way her eyes light up when you walk into a room. The comfort and ease I’ve witnessed between you two, along with the friendship. That’s what marriages are made of. That’s what I have with my wife and what I want for both of my children. So, yes, you have my blessing, and I am going to make damn sure I’m here to walk her down the aisle.”
“Thank you. I promise, I’ll take good care of her.”
“You better. Because you’ve met my son, and he won’t settle for anything less.” He laughs, tapping a hand to my arm.
“Ah, yes. I’m aware of Lance and his protectiveness over his sister. A man of few words, but a few are all you need.” I recently started a new position at Glasson, working alongside Lance as a junior analyst. It was an earned position, and I was happy to accept, since it wasn’t given to me as a favor.
“I’ve got no clue where he gets his assertiveness,” Mr. Glasson jokes. “Now, let’s go get some food. I hear I bought everyone filet mignon.”
“How much farther?” Mira asks, as I lead her through the sand on the beach. Her eyes are blindfolded and her trust rests solely in me to get her to the location safely. Since we’re no longer staying at the hotel, we drove, and I parked a quarter mile down the road. She hasn’t been able to see since I got her in the car. Mira and I bought a house outside of the city in the suburbs. It’s a small three-bedroom ranch style, but we’ve got a nice-sized back yard and it’s the perfect place for us to start a family before we need something a little bigger.
“Almost there,” I assure her.
“Ok. I feel sand in my shoes, so I know we’re at the beach. But, what part, and why?” She’s been playing the guessing game since we left. I’m sure she knows what’s coming, but I’m still going to do everything I can to make it a special moment.
“And stop.” I stand behind her, straightening her body so that she’s facing ahead.
There’s a white sheet spread out on the sand. Red rose petals sprinkled on top. And a basket with wine and some crackers and cheese. I untie her blindfold and she squeals. “Oh, my gosh, Sawyer. This is beautiful.” She spins around and throws herself into my arms. “You’re so romantic.”
“Mira Glasson,” I say as I shift downward onto one knee. “The moment I first saw you, I knew I had to bring you back up to my hotel room. The morning when you left, I looked into your eyes and in that moment, I never wanted you to leave. The weeks following were an uphill battle for both of us.” Tears prick the corners of my eyes as hers do the same. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever love again, but you showed me that I could. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and taking care of you. Mira,” I pull the box out of my back pocket and flip it open, “will you marry me?”
Her hands clap over her mouth as tears of happiness stream down her face. “Yes! Of course I will marry you.” She bends at the waist and cups my face in her hands, pressing her mouth to mine.
“I wasn’t finished,” I say between kisses.
“Oh.” Her back straightens and she stands back up.
“Will you marry me…in two weeks?”
“What?” She gasps. “Are you serious?”
“Very serious. There is no way I am denying you the one thing you want more than anything.”
“My dad?” she chokes out. Tears falling carelessly down her sun-kissed cheeks.
I nod. And she does the same. “Yes! I’ll marry you any day, any time.”
I get to my feet and grab her, pulling her into me. Just as we kiss, fireworks erupt behind us, over the ocean. A grand finale explosion just for us.
This isn’t the finale though, this is just the beginning of our beautiful life together as Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer Rhodes.
The end.