I said nothing and only widened my smile.
“Are you... Is that a yes?”
I leaned in closer, so close our lips brushed against each other. “That’s a yes, Charlie. I will marry you.”
He dragged me closer, kissing me fiercely.
“We’ve got a wedding to plan!” I squealed.
“How about next year? Or the year after? That’ll give us plenty of time, right? We have to get all those flowers and all that girly stuff. I just hope you don’t turn into one of those bridezillas.”
I laughed. “My bridesmaids would have a greater chance of that,” I thought, imagining Tammy in some awful mint-green taffeta creation. “If we’re going to get married, why not just do it now?”
“What’s your hurry?” he asked.
“Well, you’ll have your inheritance then. We know we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, so why wait another minute? Let’s just do it. Let’s start our lives together as soon as possible!”
“Listen, honey. We don’t have to rush it. I’d rather skip the deadline just to show and prove to you that you’re far more important than a house and some money. I don’t want any doubts ever lingering in your mind. Not ever, okay? Let’s get married for the right reasons.”
“But your father wanted you to have that house and all that money. He saved it for your future. We can’t just throw it away. It’ll go to the lawyers working for your father who are already filthy rich. Why just hand them this beautiful house? We can raise our children here. And you have nothing to prove to me. So let’s get married right now!”
He pondered long and hard.
“It’s not that hard of a decision,” I said with a smile.
“I don’t want there to ever be any doubts between us.”
“There won’t be. So c’mon, baby! Are we getting hitched or what?”
He shot me a glorious smile. “Okay, if you’re sure. I mean, there’s barely a week left.”
“I know, and I’m okay with a small, simple wedding,” I said, but inside, my stomach twisted in knots at the thought of trying to plan a wedding in such short time.
“Jaime?” a familiar voice said after a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” I said.
Tammy looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Oh my gosh! You’re finally awake.” She ran over and hugged me tightly. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. Just thankful to be alive.”
“Do your parents know? Because I saw them downstairs in the cafeteria and they didn’t say a word.”
“I just woke up. No, they don’t know yet.”
“All right. Well, I have to go get them!”
“You can deliver more news than that,” I said, wiggling my ring finger around at her.
She screamed so loudly that a nurse peeked in the room to ask if everything was all right. “We’re fine,” Tammy said, “and my friend’s getting married!”
The nurse smiled. “Well, congratulations, you two!”
“Thanks,” I said.
After the nurse walked out, Tammy asked, “This isn’t the two-year thing, is it? I mean, it’s the real thing, right? Because you two confuse the hell out of me!”
Charlie smiled. “It’s the real deal. I want to spend the rest of my life making Jaime happy. I love her more than anything in the world.”