I heard my mother let out a sob, and David’s eyes glassed over. He reached out, grabbed me, and pulled me in for a hug.
He slapped me on the back and gave me a small push. “You will never know what it means to me to hear you call me dad. I promise you, son, I will always take care of her and you and Billy.”
David and my mother had left about thirty minutes ago, and I was frantically looking around for Emma. She had disappeared on me about ten minutes ago, and we needed to leave.
Someone walked up behind me and put their hand on my arm, causing me to jump. “Shit, Mathews. Calm the hell down, will you?”
I ran my hand through my hair and then down my face. “I’m a fucking nervous wreck, Margie.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Nice language in front of a lady, you ass.”
I looked at her, confused. “You just swore in front of me. What’s the difference?”
“Listen up, you need to get your ass out of here now. Everything is all set up.”
“You used the quilt I gave you, right?” I asked as I continued to look around for Emma.
“Yes, and let me just say, I was slightly disgusted by touching it.”
I spun around and looked at her. “Why?”
She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head as she gave me a look. “Please. Emma has told me about the nastiness y’all do on that thing.”
I let out a chuckle and looked up. I had to catch my breath when I saw Emma standing across the room. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful in my life. She made my heart pound in my chest and my stomach flip around like I was on an amusement ride.
“By the look on your face, I’m going to take it that you’ve found Emma. Go get her, and get out of here,” Margie said as she turned to follow my gaze.
“You don’t have to tell me twice, Marg. I’m leaving.” I gave her a good-bye kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Margie. I appreciate everything you and Billy did to help me with this.”
She smiled. “She loves you, Garrett. She loves you so much. Don’t ever forget it.”
I nodded and began walking toward Emma. Right before I got to her, Dr. Birk stepped in front of me.
Oh, great, like I’m not nervous enough.
Emma’s parents had gotten back in town yesterday, and I had this fear they would find out that Emma and I had been going to their house.
“Garrett,” Dr. Birk said with a smile and nod.
I reached out for his hand and shook it. “Dr. Birk, I haven’t had a chance to ask you. How was the trip to Europe?”
He smiled bigger. “It was nice and relaxing.”
“Did y’all get to visit all the places Mrs. Birk had hoped to see?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, she got to see all the places she had hoped to see.” Then, he looked at me and shook his head. “Son, are you nervous?”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and nodded my head like a fool. “Sir, I’m so nervous that I feel like I’m going to throw up. What if I don’t make it special enough for her? What if she says no? What if…” I wasn’t sure why I’d decided to express every fear I had about asking Emma to marry me at that moment and to her father of all people.
He put his hand on my shoulder and relaxed his smile. “Garrett, my boy, take a deep breath. Slow that heart rate down, or you’re never going to make it through this.”
I pushed both hands through my hair and then ran them down my face. I can’t do this. There is no way I’m going to make this special enough for her. She deserves so much more.
“Garrett, look at me,” Dr. Birk said. “She is going to say yes because she loves you. I see the two of you together, and I see the way you both light up when the other enters a room. She was ready to walk away from college to be with you. You could ask her with a paper bag over your head, and she would say yes. Stop stressing over this. Now, Emma tells me you doubled up on classes this summer. Garrett, I want you to take it easy and not stress yourself out. Like we’ve talked about, I want you to eat, drink lots of water, and take it easy on the football field this summer. Do you understand me?”
I just stood there and stared at him. One minute, he had been talking to me about my proposal to his daughter, and the next, he had been worried about my health. In that moment, it all hit me. I’d lost my father, but in losing him, I’d gained two more fathers who both truly cared about my future and me.
I smiled as I nodded my head. “Yes, sir. I’ll be sure not to take a heavy load in the fall. Yes, I’m eating like you said, and I will be sure to stay hydrated.”