Matt
"So red or brown?" she asked holding up her shoes.
Our time spent with her family was great. It couldn't have gone any better. Mom and Dad, both sets of parents, know when I'm going to propose to her.
"Matt, " she said standing in front of me
"Yes baby, "
"Red or brown?"
"You see what I mean they get one foot in and think everything's okay, " Kate said grabbing her things before kissing Rachel and heading towards the door.
When she got on the other side she gave me a knowing look and two thumbs up before closing the door.
"Honey are you listening to me?" she asked her voice showing annoyance.
"Yes I am I am I'm trying to think. I would say red but I like the way the brown looks with the dress, "
"Brown it is, " she said putting the red pair back in the closet.
"Come on love I want to catch it before the sun goes down, "
"Gimme a sec, "
"I'll be waiting, "
A few minutes later she comes out with her bag and a change of clothes.
"Ready?"
"Ready"
She put her hands in mine as we head out the door and make our way to my car.
I opened the door and assisted her in.
"You know I can get the door. You don't always have to play Prince charming but thank you, " she said while I got in.
"Sweetie not even my mom opens her door when I'm around. It's not an act it's how I was raised so you might want to start getting used to it, " I said while pulling out of the parking lot.
"Oh, " she mumbled.
"So where are we going?" she asks after a while.
"A concert, "
"Are you always going to be like this?" she asks
I looked over quickly to make sure I understood what she was saying "Most times yes. I like surprising people, "
"Alright... let's play a game, "
An hour later we pull up and Rachel starting screaming. I smile knowing I scored big.
"No wayyyy" she said not giving me a chance to open her door.
"Be careful please, " I said hurrying to unbuckle my seat belt. I hear a thump as I slam my door.
"Rachel!" I yelled.
"I'm okay!" she said as I picked her up.
"Don't do that again" I said meaning what I said. She's short and with the height of my truck and her jumping out she could have been badly hurt especially on gravel.
"Okay, " she says. "Sorry I'm just so excited, "
"I know," I smiled understanding. I should have known how excited she would be. "Just next time try to contain it yeah?"
"Totally"
"Alright let's go, "
"Good afternoon everybody!" one of the band leaders yells and the crowd goes wild.
"Whos ready to worship Jesus tonight?"
At that Rach and I both yelled together along with thousands of other people.
We spent the next four hours screaming our hearts outs as we give Jesus the praise he deserves. After the concert was over we walked out back to the car.
"That was amazing!" she said trying to contain her excitement.
"It was, "
As we walked up to the car I made a mental note that I needed to change my tires. I wasn't just riding by myself or with a couple of friends anymore. My wife and our children are going to ride in this car a couple of times and I know Rachel is going to try and jump out again even though she says she won't. Nevertheless, I need them to be safe so as much as I love these they have to go.
I helped her in before I got in and drove off the parking lot.
"Alrighty to the Park we go, " I said turning up the radio.
We got there in less than 10 minutes this time Rachel stayed in and I helped her out placing a kiss on her forehead before setting her on her feet.
We went and opened the trunk and begin to set up for the drive-in movie the park is hosting tonight.
"What do you think the movie will be?" she asks setting out the plates.
"There are a lot of couples here so I'm going for romance probably late 1900s early 2000s"
"I think so too," she says tossing a ziplock bag my way.
I caught it with ease. Tonight will be hard. As much as we'd like to hold each other we both talked about keeping enough room so that no one is tempted to push the limits. I wanted to marry her for a lot of reasons but I would be lying if I didn't say we being intimate isn't on the list.
"Are you ready my love?" she asks patting the space beside her.
"Yep gimme a second, " I said hopping up and making my way beside her.
The movie started and we both looked at each other when Ten things I hate about You came on.
"Bullseye, " she said looking up and smiling at me.
"Bullseye, " I replied.
The Next Day
" So I was thinking...your birthday is in two months and I have ideas but I'm also running out of ideas but before I do anything else do you want anything for your birthday?" she asks stopping in front of me and slumping on her bed.
"Yes a cake. One you haven't made for anyone else. More like trial and error, "
"That's all?" she asked.
I looked at her for a while trying not to mess up my plans.
"Okay, " she said getting up " A trial and error cake equals done."
"There's one more thing, " I whispered. "An early gift, " I said watching her reaction.
"Okay, " she says all smiles.
"Marry me?"
Her smile falls and my heart drops.
"What? " she asked.
"I know. I know too soon I know. I had this whole thing planned out. We were supposed to go-"
"I don't care where we were supposed to go repeat what you just said because I feel like I'm hearing things, "
I got down on one knee with Rachel getting down on both. I laughed of course she would do something like this.
"Rachel Danielle Walker, will you make the happiest man on earth and be my wife, "
"Yes, " she whispered tears running down her cheeks. "Yes yes yes"
I smiled before pulling her into my arms. "You're the fourth-best thing that's ever happened to me, "
"Fourth?" she asked laughing pulling back so she could see my face.
"Yes, first Jesus because well...Jesus. Then you family because you had to get here somehow, then my family because well I'm here aren't I? Then---" I was cut off my lips touching mine.
"Of course you'd think through something like this, " she said giggling. She paused before looking around "Not that I care but we don't have a ring, "
I grinned before saying "Yes we do, "
She looked confused before I reach being her neck and unclasp the necklace I gave her. Reaching in my pocket I pulled out my wallet and took out the key. She gasped. Bingo. I unlocked the locket and took out two rings. "I wanted something big for you but mom said I should look through your Pinterest board first and then go from there so here we are, "
If I thought the tears were flowing then I was wrong.
"When did you put these in here?" she asked as I slipped them on her finger.
Rachel's ring
"They were in here before I gave it to you. The day when we were supposed to come back from Christmas break I wrestled with the thought of reaching out to you or not but then I got my verse for the day. It was Proverbs 18:22" I said while smiling.
She was sobbing now. I couldn't take it anymore. "Please stop crying. I know they're happy tears but I just can't stand it I can't, "
"I'm trying, " she said while sobbing even harder.
"Wait, " she said sniffing a bit. "There's supposed to be one ring. There's two,"
"I know the third one is going to be your wedding band...it's a whole story, "
"Well good thing we have time, "
I shifted in a comfortable position getting ready knowing that tears would keep coming.
"It all started..."
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Two more chapters guys ð¢.... I think.