Love’s Suicide(105)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Daddy’s got get you a surprise. Go home with Mama and I’ll see you there. Okay?”

B stuck out her bottom lip. “No. I go with Daddy.”

He kissed her on the head and stood up, looking toward me for help. I walked over and coaxed her away by promising to stop for a treat, which meant chicken nuggets.

After we’d finally made it home, and gotten my child her treat that she barely ate, I stood around the kitchen with Walt, Mel and Danica.

“So, what’s this surprise? I know you all must know it?” In the back of my mind I swore he was going to propose, but unlike Branch, Brooks knew I wanted to wear my mother’s rings. Plus, I wasn’t ready to drive to the courthouse, just yet, while the ink was still wet on Bobby’s death certificate. My heart still ached for him, because aside from all the bad, was someone that offered me hope when I felt like I had nothing.

It wasn’t like Brooks and I were in a hurry. We both knew it was going to happen eventually. Being married to him was going to be wonderful, albeit I knew that even without the certificate we were already committed to being together for the long haul.

Mel giggled. “Just wait and see.”

“It is something shiny?” I had to keep guessing until they broke down and told me.

Mel put her finger up to her chin like she was thinking. “I suppose some parts are very shiny.”

“Is it big?”

Danica laughed and answered. “It’s huge.”

So I was getting something huge and shiny. How could it not be a ring? “Will I like it?”

“You may pass out,” Walt replied.

Had Brooks really gone out and got me a huge diamond ring? I’d love it because it was from him, but it made no sense. Sure, he’d saved almost all of his money for his entire time he was in the military. His credit was perfect and he’d have the means to purchase something extravagant without breaking the bank.

“I know what it is.”

They all laughed.

“Katy, just let him show it you before you say something about it. Even if you do know what it is, or think you do, just be surprised for Brooks. This means a lot to him.” Mel was so serious when she said it. I wasn’t sure how to take it.

“I’d never act ungrateful if that’s what you’re implying.”

She shook her head. “Just wait. They’ll be back soon. Branch just sent me a message.”

I sat down at the counter waiting for my surprise to arrive. B was taking a nap and Danica didn’t need help with the food prep, so I was left to sit there with my roaming imagination of how everything was going to play out.

Brooks was sentimental, so he’d want to propose on a special day. This day was the most important day of my life. I’d lost my parents and then had our daughter. There would never be a day filled with so much meaning.

Exactly seventeen minutes later I heard the guys coming in the door. I couldn’t help but notice the way Brooks’ arms flexed while he was carrying the cake. I got butterflies imagining us being alone later. He sat it down and I noticed Branch had a big smile on his face. He tapped me on the shoulder. “Katy, Katy, Katy. You’re about to shit your shorts.”

Danica threw a dish rag toward him and he caught it. “Cut it out. You aren’t kids anymore. Let your brother have his moment for once.”

I turned my chair and saw him approaching me. Thinking he’d get down on his knee, I started breathing heavily and preparing myself for the big reveal. Instead, he stood there and extended his hand for me to take it. “Come with me.”

I was so confused. “Where are we going?”

“Close your eyes.”

I did as he said and felt the blindfold going on my head. He made it tight, so I couldn’t see what he was doing. Then he began leading me outside. I could hear the family following him and giggling. “Seriously, what are you doing? Why can’t you show me inside?”

He kept pulling me along with both hands, so I couldn’t lift off the blindfold. From the amount of steps we took I realized that we were almost to the street. “I have some surprises for you. The first one is that I wanted to tell you that I got a job. It’s a good one, Kat. I won’t ever have to travel and I’ll be home for dinner every night.”

It was wonderful news. I smiled and went to take off the blindfold, but he put his hand on either side of my face and turned me to face something instead. “The next surprise you may not like, but I want you to hear me out before you say anything. I’ve spent a lot of time and money on it, but if you don’t like it, for any reason, I won’t get angry. Branch said he’d take it off of our hands.”

“Is it a car? Did you buy me a new car?”

He spun me around, so I had no idea what direction we were facing. Then we began walking again. Abruptly we stopped and I felt him loosening the blindfold. I was standing in front of a door, but it wasn’t their door. I recognized it immediately and turned to look into the eyes of Brooks.

He smiled and opened it for me to walk in. I looked back to see the family standing there waiting for my response.

The house was empty, but it was exactly how I remembered it. The previous owners hadn’t changed anything.

Beautiful memories of my parents came flashing back, especially when he took me into the kitchen and up the stairs. “Where are we going? Did you ask the realtor if you could see this place? I don’t understand.”

He kept pulling me along. “We’re almost there. Keep walking.”

We got to what used to be my bedroom. The door was closed and he turned to face me and smiled before opening it.

This room was different. Butterflies were painted on all of the walls and in wooden block letters the name Brooklyn was spelled out. It was full of furniture, including a beautiful fluffy rug that matched the walls and a princess bed that any little girl would love to have. He put his arms on my shoulders.

“Kat, my job is here and so is our family. You don’t have to run anymore, so I thought if it’s okay with you, our daughter could grow up in the house that your parents built to raise you in. We can take old memories and make new ones with our own children. I know I took a huge leap, but I know you and I-”

I didn’t let him finish talking. His gift was better than any ring or proposal. My lips were on his and I was overwhelmed by so many emotions.

He finally pulled away and looked right at me. “So, it’s okay that I already bought it?”

I nodded. “Yes, it’s very okay. It’s the most beautiful present, aside from B, of course.”