For Stanatic 13 and Myboygeorge, who have been around the longest :)

One week later, May 14

Saturday, 8:35 AM

I have a day off today, and I fully intend to enjoy it before Melissa and I tackle a group photography session with Kiyoshi, Jessica Rose, Alexis and Calvin, their kids and their assorted siblings in Central Park tomorrow. There's no real reason that they wanted to do it, other than just to have some fun. Lily Joy even made a point of calling me herself to invite Francis yesterday. He is thrilled beyond words that the big kids are including him.

Speaking of whom, Francis is at the zoo with Elijah because Francis' latest obsession is elephants. Elijah also wanted to have some father-son time with him before he leaves for a conference in Baltimore tomorrow.

With the boys being gone, this means that I can sleep in a little bit longer, paint my nails, do some cooking and soak in the tub.

Sounds like f—

RING! RING!

Recognizing Kiyoshi's ringtone, I picked up my phone and answered.

"What's up, friend? The photo shoot isn't until tomorrow."

"I know, but I was wondering if I could change the package. I'm sorry it's last minute."

I sat up, in full business mode. "Of course you can change the package, and I'll call Melissa about it, but first I need to know what you're changing the package to. Maternity?"

"No, we're done having kids now but we might adopt a baby when Bella, Calvin and Destiny are older." He laughed nervously. "I want to keep the group photo session aspect, but I also want to add an engagement session on, too."

I gasped excitedly, knowing full well how beautiful but complicated his relationship with Jessica has been over the years.

"Do you have a ring yet?"

When there was a beat of silence on his end, and I got worried.

"Yoshi, are you still there?"

"Uh-huh, I'm still here," He answered. "But I don't have a ring yet, no."

"I've met your one true love before, and she's a total romantic sap when she wants to be. Jessica would give you hell for the rest of your waking days if you proposed to her without some kind of ring."

"No need to tell me that." I could easily picture him shuddering at the thought. "Listen—are you busy today?"

"No." I answered truthfully.

"What's your ring size?"

"Six-and-a-half."

"That's Jessie's ring size!" he chirped. "Will you help me look for a ring for her today?"

My heart flip-flopped. "Really?"

"Really." He confirmed. "You've been married before."

"Touché, but I was the proposee in that case, not the proposer."

"Details, details, Flora. There's also the part how your stepdad has always been like a brother to Jessie's dad, so that makes you family… like a sister."

"Awww, that's really sweet, Yoshi." I giggled. "One question, though—how are you able to talk about proposing to your girlfriend so freely? You don't sound like you're concerned about being overheard by her."

"That's because I'm not. Jessie and the kids are already gone for the day, having adventures."

"I was just checking because I was half expecting you to start using Japanese just so she wouldn't get it."

(Japanese is my second language because of the years I had with Hikaru, so Yoshi uses it with me all the time regularly to keep my skills sharp. He says I'm as good as a native speaker)

"Jessie, and even Bella are starting to get better at speaking and understanding Japanese now, so that wouldn't work, anyway. Getting back on topic, I know money is no object for you because you're a self-made millionairess, but are you free to meet me at Everhart Jewelers? It's more within my price range."

"I'd be glad to meet you there. Do you mean the location in Times Square?"

"Yes. How about ten-thirty? It'll be open by then. Does that work?"

"It does, and I look forward to seeing you."

"Great!"

Yoshi hung up first and after a phone call to Melissa about the change in plans tomorrow—some of which was hard to make out because of her deliriously happy squealing—I laid back in bed for a few minutes, rubbing my baby bump as I thought of one thing, and one thing only.

When will I be the one getting a ring?

When will Elijah ask me to be his wife?