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When Are You Going To Pop The Question Already?

12/20/2025

Abby returned from her room to find Gary with his elbows on his knees, face buried in his hands. “Would it help to talk about her?”

He drew up and sank back. She took her place beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and hugging his arm. “What do you remember most?”

“She was a lot like you.” He sniffled. “She did that thing you do with the eyebrow.”

“Well, you need to be kept in line, mister.” She smiled.

He smirked. “Seems like. She was kind and gentle.”

“Did she keep you fed?”

“Technically, yes.”

Abby lifted her head to look up at him.

“I loved your mother with every atom of my being, but what she did to food was…”

“That bad?”

“She could boil with the best of them, but even with a detailed recipe… There was a lot of takeout and even more of those prepared meals you bake from frozen. She more than made up for it in every other way.”

“Dad, what happened? Did…” She tightened her grip on his arm. “Did I… kill her?”

Gary sat up to hug her. “Honey, no, no. Never think that. Never think that about yourself. There were complications. She did her best, Abby. She so wanted to be your mom…”

They sat in silence. He put an arm around her shoulder.

“No, it was just one of those terrible things, Abby. Not you. Never you.”

She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. He held her hand.

“That spot. In the church parking lot.”

“Your spot.”

“I remembered.”

She trembled.

“The doctor told us that we needed to keep her strength up or we might lose both of you in the third trimester. We needed to help her exercise enough so that she wouldn’t be put on bed rest. If she could keep moving, we could count on a safe delivery for you and they would get right to work on her.” He stroked her hair.

“Why that spot?”

“That’s how far she could go without getting too exhausted to make it to the car. It was far enough to keep her out of bed rest and near enough to keep her from…”

“It was that bad?”

He nodded. “Canes. Crutches. A walker. Anything to keep her on her feet and not have to go on bed rest.”

“Dad, that’s terrible.”

“Into every life a little rain must fall. That’s what she said. She had every reason to cry or rage or lash out at God.”

“I would have.”

“She did it for you, Abby. She didn’t want to feed that negativity to you. She didn’t want you to be born swimming in grief and bitterness. She wanted to pass her faith through to you, so she prayed instead of giving in to despair.”

“Wish I could have known her.”

“Look in the mirror, hon. You’re just like her.”

She took his hand in both of hers. “So…”

He sniffled.

“Why were you so mean to me when I told you…”

He sighed. “I was afraid I was going to lose you like I lost her. I was afraid it would be Teddy and me until he grew up. I was afraid I’d lose him eventually, too.”

Ned helped Bonnie up from the couch and led her toward the men coming in the door. Her pained waddle was something that all of them knew better than to comment on. “Let me see it again. Look at this, Mom. It’s so cute.”

Gabe pulled it out of his pocket, unraveled the bag and pulled the little brown velvet box out. “It’s a beaut, Jenny. Look at this.”

She studied the topaz cross with the ruby heart in the little box. “Ooh, that is pretty. She has good taste.”

“So does Harry’s girl.” Matt said.

Bonnie snarled. “Harry’s girl ran off with a tuba player. That does not count as taste.” She pointed at the couch, and Ned led her back. She snapped her fingers and pointed at her feet. He grabbed an ottoman to plant her heels on. He knelt beside it and got to work massaging the swollen bricks that were usually feet.

“Not Izzy.” Matt tried to get out of his jacket. “The new one.”

“New one?” Jenny laughed. “Who’s the new one?”

“She’s a sales agent at Finegold’s, Mom. Really classy.” Harry grinned.

“Same one from last night.” Matt held his arm out for his dad to pull the jacket off.

Bonnie practically jumped up from the couch, but she bounced back down again. “That midget with all the eyeshadow? Are you kidding me?”

Dad shrugged. “I thought she was very nice. Wife material, even.” He hung Matt’s jacket.

“That sounds promising.” Mom smiled. “What’s her name, Harry?”

He got the sort of look a guy gets when you let him choose between a cheesesteak and a bag of tools. He sighed, and the name flowed from him like milk and honey. “Zelda Zajączyk.”

“Zayawnchick?” Bonnie laughed. “So, she’s a midget and a pollack?”

“Can somebody get her a sandwich so she dials back from rampaging Don Rickles mode?” Gabe took his coat off and hung it. “I feel like this kid of yours is going to grow up to be a drill sergeant.”

Matt sat in the easy chair and raised the footrest. “Oorah!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah there, Devil Dog.” Bonnie wiggled her toes as Ned ran magic circles over her swollen feet. “So, you’ve got the permission and the ring. When are you going to pop the question already?”

“Inquiring minds want to know.” Mom said as she tucked a pillow under his cast to prop his arm up more.

“Shall we call her?” Dad grabbed the remote.

“Dad! I’m not going to propose over a YoWut call. That’s…”

“Tacky.” Bonnie smacked Ned’s hand with her left foot to get him to pay more attention to that one.

“No, Gabe. That’s ridiculous.” Jenny crossed her arms and shook her head.

“It’s no more ridiculous than putting a down payment on your instant girlfriend’s engagement ring.” He said, giving Harry a disapproving squint.

“You did not.” Bonnie’s jaw dropped.

“I asked if she liked tuba music. She said, not particularly but she’d be happy to serenade me with her French horn if I like classical music. So, I put a down payment on her ring and got her contact info. Zelda Jozsa has a very nice ring to it.”

Matt looked toward the TV with a thousand-yard stare. “Angels and ministers of grace, preserve us.”

Joe accepted the bento box with the world map on it with eager anticipation. Whitney sat beside him, excited to see which of the handcrafted treats he would try first.

He opened the box and studied the arrangement. Reaching into the lower right corner, he picked up a white grape and studied it closely. She had bought him a small retractable magnifying glass to help him examine the artistry. “This looks exactly like a regulation Australian Rules football.” He turned it over and over to examine the minute details she had sculpted into the surface of the peeled grape. Her phone buzzed.

@CasGrrls_DontTellAbby

#TwoRings!!!!!
        BlingDeva

Whitney’s eyes slit. Her jaw tightened. She turned to watch Joe pop the little football into his mouth and experience the hand-carved textures and natural sweetness. Tension built in her muscles like a lioness poised to pounce. He swallowed with a smile and turned to find her looking at him like he’d stamped on her foot.

“What’s the matter?”

“Don’t you love me?”

“Immeasurably! Why would you ask that?”

She showed him the phone before punching him in the arm. “You don’t love me enough to buy two rings.” She snarled and stormed away.

He sat there, flabbergasted. He watched her storm down the hallway. Joe grabbed another grape football and ate it before giving chase.

Grace was leaving Ricky’s room with the bucket and the sponge-tipped probe when her phone buzzed. ‘Well, I can’t possibly answer that. My hands are all wet.’

Ricky was groaning with satisfaction. “Thank you most kindly, Miss Grace. I appreciate your consideration, as always.”

‘Don’t rub it in, you demented perv.’ She punched in the code on his door. “See you next time, Ricky. Be good.” She stepped into the hallway and punched in the lock code.

Grace hung the probe on the hooks screwed to the wall and set the bucket under the dripping sponge. She’d be back to collect the bucket with the electrolyte solution after the sponge dried. Slipping her big rubber gloves off and draping them over one shoulder, she reached into her pocket.

‘Two rings? Baby daddy is overcompensating. He must be as much of a creep as Ricky.’ She looked at the big two-way mirror that allowed staff to monitor his activities. ‘Is he actually? Oh, ew! Nobody’s as much of a creep as Ricky.’ She kicked off her rubber clogs and hurried away.

“Two rings?” Sarah squeaked.

“Who got two rings?” Leo pulled into the Burger Heaven drive-thru.

“If this is true, Abby did.”

Matt pulled to a stop near the illuminated menu and looked at the message. “Maybe he got the engagement ring and the wedding bands.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Maybe so.” Her curly red hair danced on her shoulders as she tucked the phone away. “Well, as long as she doesn’t pick June twentieth. Nobody is stealing my special day.”

“Don’t you mean our special day?”

“Yeah, sure. If that makes you feel included.”

“Welcome to Burger Heaven. Can I take your order?”

“Yeah, I think I need a replacement fiancée.” He yowled pitifully when she stuck a very wet finger into his ear. “Or maybe I’ll just have a Number Five with Onion Halos and a Jet Cola.”

Mandy was rolling out cookie dough when her phone buzzed. “Hey, Chris, can you get that for me?”

He held the phone up to her face, and she smiled to unlock it for him. “Says at cash grills, don’t tell Abby. Two rings with a bunch of exclamation points. What does that mean in English?”

“Reply and ask, two rings with a ton of question marks.”

He pecked away as Mandy grabbed some cookie cutters and slapped them down into the dough in a tight pattern. “What did she say?”

“I’ve got wiggly dots. I guess she’s typing.”

Mandy washed her hands and dried them to take the phone from Chris. “Those can sit a minute. Pull out the baking sheet and put some wax paper on it, please.” She waited with tense anticipation of Zelda’s message.

Chris tensed up and stared at Mandy as she shrieked and hopped in place. “Wow, these cookies are going to be the end of me.”

Mandy danced around, waving her phone and cackling. “Hoo, hoo, hoo-boy! Do you know what this means?”

“You’re having a psychotic break?”

“I have a rolling pin, pal. Watch your step.”

“Sorry, what does it mean?”

“Teddy’s dad paid off Abby’s ring, so it’s only a matter of time before he asks her.”

“Okay, that’s one ring. What about the second?”

“His brother made a down payment on Zelda’s. As soon as he’s done paying it off, he can ask her, too!”

“I heard Teddy’s dad was really tall.”

“So?”

“Good chance his brother is as well.”

“Again, so?”

“Isn’t she like waist high to a chihuahua?”

Mandy leaned back on the counter to brace herself as she howled with delight. “Oh my word, Chris. That’s so mean. She’s not that short.”

“I’m not that tall, Mandy. I can see clear over her head when we’re talking. I don’t even see her part. It’s open sky unless I tip my head down.”

Abby came back from her room with Teddy on her hip. “Look who’s here to see his Grandpa!”

“There’s my big boy. Come here, Mini-Matt.”

“It’s true. He does look so much like Matt.” She pulled the exersaucer away from the wall. “Can you put him in? I left his TastiPuffs in the kitchen.”

Gary held his grandson up to have a look. “Ready for some bouncing?”

Teddy waved his arms around and bent his little legs.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He slid Teddy into his seat and knelt beside it. “Did you have a good nap, buddy?”

Teddy studied the colors on the spinner and batted at it, laughing when it spun.

Abby returned with the plastic canister and put a handful down for Teddy. “I wonder when he’ll ask.”

“Pretty soon, I’d guess. He’s only going to be home until his arm’s fixed up.” Gary moved to his easy chair. “I wouldn’t stress about it. Maybe after Christmas. The holidays are always super-tense. You know?”

“I guess, but I’m on pins and needles waiting for it to happen.” She grinned at Teddy and handed him a treat. He used his finger and thumb to pinch it from her palm. “Good boy, Teddy-bear. You’re so smart.”

“Then again, maybe he does it before the holidays so he can introduce you to his extended family. Aunts, uncles, grandparents maybe?”

“I guess so. That would make sense if he wanted to do that. You don’t think he’s ashamed of us?”

“Who could ever be ashamed of Teddy? No, he was totally on board at Hearth and Hollow. His parents too, even Uncle Harry.”

Abby held Teddy’s little hands up over his head. “Yay, Uncle Harry! He’s silly. He’ll make sure Daddy doesn’t keep us waiting all month long.”