Tides and Tidings

Chapter 46

Charlie

A s soon as we parked, I ran over to my parents before they could say anything to Blythe. They had no way to know that the whole plan had been upended and that we weren’t engaged. Wren came in clutch and distracted Blythe so I could have this conversation.

“Hey—” I was out of breath from my sprint. I deeply breathed, “Don’t say anything about the engagement. Long story short, we weren’t notified when the restaurant closed, and we ended up at a diner and then bars last night.”

My mom’s face fell, “Does that mean it’s not happening?”

I shook my head, “It just didn’t happen this weekend. I’ll plan for a better time.”

“Don’t plan it, buddy. Let it happen naturally.” Ron commented.

“I drunkenly asked her to marry me last night at one of the bars with a straw wrapper ring.”

Both mom and Ron’s eyes went wide and my mom covered her mouth.

“What did she say?” Ron was just as much of a romantic as my mom—if not more.

“She said yes…”

“But…” My mom knew where this was going.

“She doesn’t remember, so I pretended I didn’t.”

“Well, that’s annoying, Charlie. What have I always told you?” She scolded.

“Not to eat dirt?”

“You can never be serious.” My mom rolled her eyes. “I’ve always told you honesty is the best policy.”

“That was my second guess,” I joked.

She smacked my arm. “You’re just afraid that—” Blythe was almost in earshot so she stopped talking. “All I will say is do it soon.”

“Daddy!” Wren slid down from Blythe’s arms and leaped into mine.

“My Little Bird!”

Being home and with Wren again made me feel like everything was right in the world. I was exactly where I needed to be.

Wren and I chatted softly while Blythe recapped my parents on the weekend.

“It was nice. The plan changed slightly, but I think it was for the better.” I heard Blythe say. My parents turned their attention towards me.

“We’re happy you both had a good time,” Ron smoothed over. “Wren was an angel as usual.”

I stood up and placed Wren down on the steps. “Birdie has a surprise for you.”

Her blue eyes widened as she looked from me to Blythe and then back again. “What is it?”

Blythe dropped her purse on one of the white rocking chairs on our porch and motioned for Wren to follow her. “Come with me!” she turned towards me. “I’m going to need your dad’s help getting it out of the truck.”

“It’s that big?” Our six-year-old sprinted to the truck. “Where is it?” She yelled over to us.

“In the bed. I have to get it for you.” I stood next to her and Blythe. “I need you to turn around and close your eyes. Can you do that?”

She nodded furiously. Wren turned around and Blythe covered her eyes as an extra measure.

I lowered the Jeep on the ground and placed the big purple bow on it.

“Little Bird, are you ready to see your present?”

“I was born ready!” The kid picked that up from a movie we watched last week and hasn’t stopped saying it.

“Open your eyes in 3…2…”