He seemed a bit nervous, too, she noticed as he took her hand after ordering a bottle of the house wine for them to share. "You look radiant tonight," Chet said. "Purple suits you."
"Everyone looks good in purple," Carol said with a smile as she looked around the room. "This is a really nice place. I've never been here," she said in an attempt to put him at ease. Her own heart was pounding. Could he hear it?
"It's not been here long. I've heard from some of the other firefighters that the food is out of this world, so I thought we'd try it," he said and then hesitated as if he wanted to say more. He gently rubbed his hand over hers. "Carol, I know Greg has only been gone a little over a year. It's been much longer for me. The times we've spent together have been really nice for me, and I hope, for you as well."
"Oh, Chet, I've enjoyed them too. It just seems…I don't know…right? I feel comfortable with you. Maybe that wasn't the right term, but it seems as if we were meant to have this time together, after all we've both been through."
Chet beamed. His shoulders dropped a little from apparent relief. "I feel the same way, which is why I made the decision to turn in my badge after all these years. No more fighting fires for this old man. I want to enjoy what time the two of us have left in this world. And I want to do that together. I want to travel with you, laugh together, build a life. I hope that's what you want too."
"That all sounds very nice to me, perfect, in fact," Carol replied with a smile. "But I have to disagree on one point. You are not an old man, by any means. We still have many years ahead of us, I hope, to make those dreams come true."
The server arrived with the wine, interrupting their discussion. He opened it and poured a small amount in a glass. Chet did the customary swirling, sniffing, and tasting before giving his approval, and the server filled both glasses then left them alone.
Chet held up his glass and said, "I'd like to make a toast."
"All right," Carol said as she also raised hers.
"To us, Carol and Chet, and to many years of wedded bliss."
They clinked glasses and Carol nearly choked on her first sip. "Did you just say what I think you said?" she asked.
"I believe I did," he replied, setting his glass down and taking a small box from his pocket. "I'm afraid I won't be getting down on one knee to do this, but I'll try to make it as romantic as possible. Carol Daniels, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He opened the box to reveal a perfect solitaire diamond set in rose gold.
Carol gasped, speechless for probably the first time in her life. Finally, she replied, "Oh, Chet, it's gorgeous. I-I don't know what to say. I wasn't expecting…yes, Chet, oh, yes, I will marry you."
He slid the ring on her finger and asked curiously, "When I told you this was going to be a special dinner, what did you expect, if not this?"
Carol held the ring up to the light and admired the way it sparkled on her finger. Some of the other patrons noticed and began to clap, offering congratulations to the newly engaged couple.
Chet grinned and nodded, while Carol thanked them.
The server then brought salads to the table and when he saw the commotion, he, too, congratulated them. Soon, he brought a bottle of champagne to the table and said, "Compliments of the staff."
Chet and Carol both thanked him. Finally, when things were quiet again, he reminded her that she hadn't answered his question.
"I-I don't know what I thought," she said, not about to tell him what had really been on her mind, that she'd thought it would be their first time to make love.
He got a devilish look in his eye and replied, "I think I do know, and that can be arranged too."
She blushed. "Chet!"
"I know how you think, my dear. I've known you for a long time. And not to put too fine a point on things, Greg was a good friend." He shrugged. "Guys talk." Chet stopped to take a sip of wine and cleared his throat. "You weren't exactly expecting me to take the plunge, at least not yet. But, why wait? Yes, we can enter into the next phase of our relationship, but why not have it all? I want you, it's true, but not just in my bed. I want you in my life, in a house we share together, starting a new chapter."
"So many things to think about—a wedding, and where will we live?"
"And we'll deal with all those things together, but for tonight, it's all about you and me. Now, let's eat our salads and enjoy this champagne before the main course arrives. I don't know about you, but I don't intend to spend all night in this restaurant staring at you from across the table. I want to hold you in my arms."
"Yes, let's eat. Then we can go to my house, for dessert," she agreed mischievously.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
After that, they carried on a pleasant conversation while they enjoyed a fabulous meal. Chet's coworkers had been right in saying the food was good.
"I think this will be our place to come for all special occasions from now on," Chet said when they finished.
"I agree; it will be our place."
He held up his glass of champagne and said,
