J.D.

The amount of preparation for tonight is astronomical. When I tell you that I had been planning this now for what feels like six months, I shit you not. It had been this long.

I sat in my almost father in laws kitchen and placed the small velvet box on the table. His small smile was all I needed to see to know he was excited for this as well.

Patty sits beside him, clapping her hands with joy. "Oh, I'm so excited to see it!"

Joseph sits up and leans over to open the ring box. He holds it for a moment before he does and takes a deep breath.

The ring was a symbol of the love he had for his wife, and I knew it meant a lot to him not only to be able to give it to his daughter, but that I would want to give it to his daughter. He was so happy when I told him it was ready and told me to come down alone so he could see it before I gave it to Zamora.

Today was the day before New Year's Eve, and tomorrow, I would take Zamora to the restaurant where I asked her to be my girlfriend, and I would ask her to be my wife.

Not to sound like a dick, but I had paid a lot of money to close off a section of the golf course and for fireworks for this, and this ring was the final detail. I wanted this to be perfect.

He opened the box and stared at it for a while, nodding slowly. "You son of a bitch, it's beautiful."

He turned it and showed Patty who gasped. "Oh J.D. you turned a beautiful ring even more beautiful!" She patted my back.

The original emerald stone was now surrounded by white diamonds, and secured with gold. I had the ring resized and had the engraving redone. I had sketched out the idea and it was actually my sister Jamie who told me about a jewelry designer she used to be friends with, in California, who could redo the ring.

"You want to help me?" I asked her over the phone.

"Well, she's very nice and very pretty... lord knows what she sees in you but yes I want to help." She said over the phone.

"Well thanks, set up the appointment I need this done as soon as possible." I said kindly. "By the way she thinks I'm funny, sweet, hot and have a big di-"

"JAMES! Do not!" my sister warned me.

Since the last time I had lost the ring, it hadn't been out of my sight. So I sent it out and for Christmas I took Zamora to California to spend it with my sister who had officially put her house on the market and was scheduled to move to Missouri near us in February.

I was able pick it up just before we left without Zamora noticing. During our trip out there, we also paid a visit to see Zamora's mom who was buried in Los Angeles. I bought her a bouquet and walked hand in hand with her daughter as we found her headstone.

Zamora took a deep breath and looked at me. "I talk to her when I'm here, so... give me a minute." I nod and set the flowers down, taking a few steps back to give her some privacy.

She kneeled down along the white fence they had built around where she was buried and touches the headstone. "Hi mom." She begins. "I'm sorry I haven't been around. Life was not good for a while, and then it got worse, but then... I just knew you had seen enough." She laughs. "I found him, and I found happiness. I'm okay now, so is Zack and dad. I just um-" her voice broke and she fell down to sit completely on the floor. "I just miss you all the time and I know that you're up there with grandma and grandpa, so I don't have to worry." She wiped her tears. "I love you and I'm happy."

She looked over at me and smiles. I walk up and sit beside her. "Hello, I don't know if you member me but I'm Claudia's son and I just want to let you know that I am going to love your daughter forever and... she's the best person I know. So, thank you for making her. "

Zamora laughs and wraps her arms around me. I held her for a long time before she finally stood up and kissed her hand, gently touching the engraved name of her mother.

Back in her father's kitchen, he looks at the ring and nods. "You did good son, now just make sure she says yes." He laughs.

"Thanks...dad?" I try out the name.

"No." He shakes his head. "Don't call me that?"

"Daddy?"

"J.D." he warns me.

"Papa." I feel a slap on the back of my head and laugh.

"How about you call me Joe?" I salute him and take the ring back.

"I have to go...Joe... miss Patty. We will see you there for the celebration dinner or the really sad New Year's dinner if she says no." He rolls his eyes at me as I give him a hug. "In all seriousness, thank you, sir."

He stands, up and shakes my hand, pulling me in for another hug. He was much shorter than I, so I gently kissed the top of his head, which I don't think he appreciated.

Back at home, I walk in and dust the snow off of my shoes as I find Zamora and Teddy sleeping on the couch. Zamora had her time off from work and had gone out with Tracy, who was a decoy and had one job, and that was to find her a perfect outfit for tomorrow.

As far as my 'soon to be fiancé' knew, we were going to a big fancy party at someone from my works, house.

Boom, it was actually her engagement.

I took my jacket off and carefully put Teddy on the other side of the couch, straddling Zamora and hugging her as she slept. "Oh my god, you're freezing!" She gasps and opens her eyes. "It's so cold." Her soft voice mumbles.

"I know, let me touch your boob's to warm me up." I slip my hands under her shirt, and she yelps.

"James!" She pushes me away. "Don't do that." She pouts. "Where were you?"

"Just had some things to take care of. What did you do today?" As if I didn't know.

"Tracy is so sweet she paid for my nails, look." She showed me her perfect pearl nails. God bless Tracy. When I told her about my surprise, she told me she would get her the perfect outfit and nails to match. "Just went and shopped for a dress for tomorrow's party. Who is it again?"

"Um, Gus from work, he has a big ass house." I lied to her face, but for a good reason. "It's going to be cold; we should layer up."

She agrees, looking around for Teddy. "Did Daddy move you away from my warm cocoon? How dare he." She talked to the dog who barks at me. I stick my tongue out at him and lay down on top of Zamora, who wraps the blanket around both of us and kisses the top of my head.

"Fuck, you feel so comfy, I'm just going to nap right here." I snuggle between her boobs causing her to giggle.

I can't believe she is going to be my wife.

I'm so lucky.

*

The following night around nine, I was already dressed and standing in front of the closet mirror, fixing my hair. She walks out of the bathroom, and my jaw drops at the sight of her. She was in floor-length black velvet dress. The sleeves on her arms were sheer, and her soft brown hair was curled. She wore her boots underneath the dress instead of heels, but she said she didn't care she didn't want frost bite.

Her makeup, hair, outfit, and jewelry all looked beautiful, and I knew she would be so happy about it afterward.

I placed a hand on my heart and gasped. "Holy shit! You look... you look amazing." I had the sudden urge to cry.

She smiled and looked at herself. "Really, it might be too much, but you said the party was black tie so... ." She spun and leaned in to kiss me.

"No, you look great, we should start heading out soon." She nods and goes into the closet to get her coat. As soon as she heads downstairs, I triple check that the ring is in my jacket pocket, and I take a deep breath.

Once in the car, she scrolls through her phone and sighs. "No one is answering my texts." She pouts.

That was because our families were decorating for a new year's engagement celebration party. We began driving, and she looked around as we headed onto the highway. I drove carefully and slowly, not wanting any problems to get there. She played music and sang along, so  unaware of how crazy I was going.

"So, what are your resolutions for the new year?" I distracted her.

She shrugged, "Maybe read more. You have a million books. Maybe I could borrow one?" She reaches over and gently plays with the hair on the back of my head. "What about you?"

I can't think straight when she touches me, especially right at the moment when I'm trying to drive safely, and I'm thinking about what to say to her.

"Honestly, just to travel more with you and be the best version of myself."

She nods, "That's good, baby." She leans over and kisses my check. "You're so handsome." She whispers in my ear, her hand on my thigh.

If today was the day she would give me road head, she chose the worst time.

"Woman, keep your hands to yourself. The roads are slippery." I warned her.

She laughs and sits back in her seat.

When we finally got off the highway and made our way to the golf course, she began to look around and seemed to recognize where we were. "What are we doing here?" she eyed me.

"I ordered one of those cakes from the restaurant to bring to the party. Remember the raspberry one, they make whole sheets of them, and I just have to pick up before eleven." The lie I constructed for this exact question rolled off my tongue.

"Oh my god, that was so good!" she says excitedly.

When we made it to the restaurant there wasn't a lot of people around, just staff, considering I bought out the place for the night, and cars of our family who should be waiting inside already for the dinner.

Zamora is looking at her phone and doesn't notice her dad's truck or my mother's SUV parked along the other side of the parking lot. I pulled up to the side gate near the restaurant that led to the path of where we needed to be. I look at her. "Let's go."

"I'll wait here. it's cold." She smiles at me.

I knew this would happen.

"Put your coat on, and go with me, please?" I lean over and pout.

She laughs and rolls her eyes, "Alright, but I get the first slice of cake." I agree and step out of the car, walking around to her side and opening her door. She wraps her coat around her and holds my hand in my pocket of my jacket.

The manager of the restaurant walks out and smiles at me. "Oh sir, the front entrance has a spill. Can I walk you around to the other side."

I nod, "Yes, I'm here to pick up a cake."

The manager, Glen, who I rehearsed this with, nods. "Yes, right this way, everything is ready for you, Mr. Falco."

I walk around the back holding Zamora's hand, reaching the path where the proposal was held. I hear a loud gasp as the long path to the gazebo lights up with a trail of candles. Not real ones, of course, because of the weather. The trail led to the gazebo that lit up with lights, surrounded by snow and more candles.

"Oh my god..." Zamora stops.

I pause and look at her as she has her hand over her mouth. She looks at me and then looks back, and I nod. "Come here." I pull her as she starts to pace.

"James, what is this?" her voice trembles.

"Follow me." I take her hand and walk her down the path. As we get closer, she squeezes my hand tighter, and she seems to be crying. We stopped inside the gazebo that was a bit warmer with the heat lamps on around it. I stand in front of her and hold her hands, gently kissing them and blowing warm air to heat them up. She is crying so elegantly as she looks up at me.

"There's no party, is there?" she laughs, genuinely surprised. "What is this?" she asks, smiling and crying tears of joy.

I chuckle and shake my head, "No, I'm sorry, I lied." I chuckle. " Zamora, my love, you're the best person I know, and the love of my life." I meet her eyes and feel tears forming. "You're my best friend, and just everything to me. I never got my PS2, but I did get the best girl I could ever ask for." She laughs and shakes her head. "I have a question for you."

I bend down on one knee, pulling the velvet box out of my jacket and opening it to her. She looks down at it and gasps loudly. "Oh my god!" She kept repeating over and over.

"Zamora, baby. Will you marry me?"

She nods quickly, "Yes!"

Of all the answers in the world, that was the best one she could have given me. I smile and pull the ring out, placing it on her finger, and it fits perfectly. "This was your mom's ring; your dad gave it to me to add the stones. " As if it had all clicked in her head, she begins crying as she hugs me tightly from the ground.

I stand and wrap my arms around her, our lips meeting just as fireworks go off in the distance. She gasps and turns to see the red and white flashes of light in the distance. She turns back to me with a look of shock. "You did all of this for me?"

"I would do anything for you."

In the distance, everyone comes out of the restaurant and cheers, catching her by surprise more than the fireworks she gasps as everyone stands and cheers. Our families together, and as she looks down at the ring, even her mom was there.

"I love you so much." she places her hand on my face and kisses me.

"I love you more."

And with that, we began our future together.

The end