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The Question

Toby waited outside.

“Hey.” Meredith poked her head out the door. “Are you trying to catch a cold?”

He turned around and followed her back into the narthex. “I just needed some fresh air.”

“Mind if I ride with you to the dinner?”

“Not at all. Tired of Girl’s Night already?”

“No, that’s going to be fun, but I’ve gotten used to going to dinner with you.”

“I’ve grown on you, have I?”

“Mm-hmm.” She reached up and twirled a curl on his forehead. “Especially since you don’t have that silly bandage on anymore.”

“It’s still discolored. I’m going to wreck their wedding photos.”

“Oh, that’s what foundation is for, Toby. I can fix that.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Yeah, just leave it to me.”

“Do you need to tell anyone?”

“I told Ivy I was going to ask you for a ride.”

“Couldn’t wait to get me alone, eh?”

“Nope.”

“Want to wait here while I warm up the car?”

“Nope.”

He held out a gloved hand. “Let’s go.”

“Yep.” She grabbed on and followed him to his car. “Have you ever been to this place?”

“No, but their website has some pictures.” He opened the door for her.

“Ooh, text me the link. I want to see.”

He closed her door and hurried around to the driver’s seat. “Let me start the car, and I’ll send it to you.”

“Toby.”

“Meri.”

“I want to be where you are.”

He thumbed through his phone to find the restaurant’s website. “Congratulations. You’ve succeeded.”

“This is no time for joking around, Toby.”

“Who’s joking? I’m right here.” He clicked the share icon and sent it to her. “There you go.”

“Ooh, swanky.”

“I know, right?” He put it in drive and pulled out of his spot. “Seriously, I’m right here.”

“But I won’t be for much longer.”

“What would it take to fix that?”

Meredith gawked at him. “What are you saying, exactly?”

“Look, I know I’m supposed to do it right. Okay? I’m supposed to get down on one knee and have a big diamond ring for you. Maybe hire a string quartet or balloons and confetti.”

“Toby, are you…?”

“Meredith Blake, I am telling you, officially, that I do not want to spend one minute of the rest of my life without you in it. I will do anything. Anything. You want to go ring shopping after the wedding? Hit up the JP on Monday? Red Eye to Vegas? Anything. I just want you in my life.”

“Toby, I feel exactly the same way.”

“Is that a yes?”

“I think so, but I’d like to be crystal clear on what I’m saying yes to.”

He pulled onto the shoulder of the road and put his car in park. “Meredith Blake, would you do me the great honor of being my wife? I can go kneel by your door if that makes it seem more official.”

“Really?”

“Sure, I’ll roll down the window so you can hear me.”

She laughed. “Not that, you goof. I mean, are you serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life, Meri. I don’t want you to go.”

“Get out of this car so I can hug you!.” She jumped out onto the side of the road.

He ran around the back of the car to embrace her. “Is that a yes?”

“With all my heart, Toby Belzer. Yes, I’d be proud to be your wife!” She jumped on him. He held her and spun around on the shoulder of the road.

“What was that?” She asked as he put her down.

“What was what?”

“That clicking sound?”

“Oh, that’s probably just the car doors locking.”

“The what?”

He walked over and jiggled her door handle. “Yeah, the doors locked.”

“Toby, we’re out here in the cold and the car is locked?”

Steve was waiting for them at the front door of the restaurant. “What happened? Did you get lost?”

“No, we had to make a quick stop on the way here.” Toby led Meredith into the restaurant. “Can I hang up your coat for you?”

“I’m still pretty cold. Really, Toby.” She shook her head and headed for the table with Ivy.

“What did you do now?”

“I proposed.”

“It doesn’t look like she said yes.”

“She did.” Toby took his coat off and hung it on the rack in the hallway.

“She did? That’s fantastic, but why is she so angry looking?”

“Well, she wanted a hug, so I got out of the car to give her one.”

“And you got locked out while you were on the side of the road celebrating.”

Toby shrugged.

“Well, that’s a story you’ll be able to tell your grandkids. Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks.”

“So, why does she look so mad?”

“Well, I didn’t tell her right away that I had a backup key. I wanted to see if she still called it a yes in adverse conditions.”

Steve wrapped an arm around Toby’s shoulders. “Oh, you’re playing with fire, Toby.”

“Yeah, she’s really mad at me, but it’s still yes.”

“Better be on your best behavior. She’s staying over at Frank’s tonight.”

“That’s what she said.”

“Do you really want five angry women plotting revenge on you all night? Two of them are redheads, you know.”

“No more tricks. I promise.”

Steve led him to his spot at the table. “Better late than never, my friends. Mr. Toby Belzer and…”

“His fiancée, Ms. Meredith Blake.” She said with a forced smile.

“What?” Ivy threw her hands over her mouth. “Are you kidding me?”

“That’s incredible!” Ian jumped up and shook Toby’s hand. “Congratulations!”

“Miss Meri, can I be in your wedding?” Chelsea asked.

“Of course, sweetie.” She laughed as she dabbed a tear from her eye. “All of you will.”

“Is Mr. Toby going to move to Empire City with you?”

The table fell silent. Meredith could feel every pair of eyes in the restaurant hanging on her next words. “We haven’t decided yet, Chelsea.”

“Well, that’s good. I want you to stay here and be my pretend aunt.” She clinked her soda cup with Lynn’s and grinned.