The most excitement I'd had in the past four years was when my hot water heater broke. Every other morning was a Xerox copy of the one before. No more. I would be Sarah North. Sarah Blanding North. Mrs. North. All the names floated through my mind. I was euphoric when I woke Suzie from a sound sleep near midnight Sunday night and told her the news. I danced through my work week, waving my diamond before mostly uncaring eyes. Paul and I talked nightly and he hinted of flying his jet down for me Friday. I told him if he did, it would fly back with only a diamond ring. He sent me a commercial ticket instead, albeit first class. I skipped out of work early, caught the direct flight, and was met at the gate in Boston by all three members of the North family. Timmy actually wore a suit and Karen was dressed like a formal little lady from the nineteen-fifties.
I wanted the announcement to come not at Paul's home but at a neutral location so we chose the restaurant where he and I had dined together a few weeks earlier. Timmy was a bundle of energy and asked if Paul and I were on a date. We told him yes as Karen rolled her eyes. I'd hidden my ring finger as I tried to calm my nerves. I informed Paul it was his obligation to tell his children so I was forced to await his timing. It didn't take long.
"I have an announcement to make," Paul said as soon as we'd ordered.
"I know," Karen said. You and Sarah got married last weekend."
I spoke up immediately. "We'd never do that!"
"Why not?" Timmy said.
Paul answered his son. "Because you two guys are too important to both of us for you not to be a part of it." He looked at Karen, disappointed at her initial reaction but she began to smile as he continued.
"I asked Sarah if she would be my wife. I gave her a diamond. She said yes. That means we're engaged." He lifted my hand to display my ring. Timmy clapped and Karen jumped up and kissed her father enthusiastically.
"That's great! So you just haven't done it yet," she said.
"Not before we talked to you," I said. Paul explained I wanted to spend a day with each of them and until that was behind us, nothing more would be discussed about our future. Karen kissed me on the cheek.
"Congratulations," she said. The words were right, but I remained unconvinced of her sincerity.
Once the announcement was behind us, the rest of the meal was a delightful babble of family updates and I was a part of all the conversation. Karen was chatty as she and I discussed the books I'd sent her and talked about movies she'd seen listed in the paper. I accompanied the children back home, kissed Timmy good night and shook Karen's offered hand before Paul drove me back to my hotel. We made frantic love, but I wouldn't let him spend the night. It was a time he should be home with his children.