Chapter 11

Peggy was to meet with Ted at 8pm at the Waldorf, that's all she knew. Although the dress shopping, the buzz in the office, suggested otherwise Peggy kept dismissing the idea of the proposal, saying to herself, it's not going to happen.

At 6pm, still in the office, Peggy received a hand written note from Ted via her secretary. She handed it to her before leaving for the day, wide-eyed the secretary smiled at Peggy and expressed her enthusiasm before closing the door "Congratulations, Ms. Olson. Have a wonderful weekend!"

Peggy opened the note which read:

Dear Peggy,

I can't wait to see you tonight. I meant what I said the other night; I want to make all of your dreams come true. I have arranged for a car to pick you up. I will be at the Waldorf waiting for you. I love you.

- Ted

Peggy clutched the note in her hand and drew it near to her chest. She exhaled slowly and felt something wet on her cheek, it was a tear. She brushed it away with the back of her hand, and looked at the back of her office door; there hung her dress she bought with Joan at lunch.

The note. The dress. The Waldorf. All these things and Peggy couldn't let go of that feeling in the pit of her stomach that something would happen, something would change and all of this would be over. She kept pushing it away, pushing away Ted in hopes that with distance reality would sink in and all of this would have been a dream.

She walked over to her dress, unzipped the bag, and felt the soft satin fabric between her fingertips, closed her eyes softly and decided she wouldn't have another drink until she was with Ted that night.

Ted left the office early, panicky and worried; he scurried around his hotel room hoping he wouldn't forget a thing. Although his secretary had called to confirm the arrangements, he called too, to confirm.

"Yes, Mr. Chaough, there's no need to worry. Everything will be perfect." the concierge assured him.

"This is a very important night."

"We understand, we will see you tonight at 8."

"Yes, thank you." Ted hung-up the phone, sitting on the bed, half dressed with his bowtie loosely sitting around his collar, he felt his hand tremble and shake from nerves. He searched inside his suit jacket pocket for the small box, opening it; he settled his eyes on the ring, the ring he bought for Peggy. His hands and his stomach settled when he'd fixate his eyes on the ring; he imagined slipping it onto Peggy's finger. He imagined kissing her hand at night years later and seeing that ring. He imagined dinner parties where Peggy would share the story of how Ted had proposed, and show off the ring which would make all the ladies jealous. Every scenario perfectly imagined in detail in Ted's mind, he let himself slip into the fantasy of their perfect wedding and perfect marriage, and creating a perfect family.

It was then, that for a moment, Ted thought of Nan in California. How he had proposed to her, how he once had similar feelings for her, and how their marriage developed and ended years later. There was nothing between them towards the end, the love they once felt for one another had dissipated and they had fallen into routine of the husband and wife play, keeping up appearances, they stayed together because of kids, but it was over before he ever met Peggy, before he fell in love with someone else. Before Ted could slip into complete guilt and fear, he reminded himself of how different Peggy and Nan were to one another, and even more so, his relationship with Peggy. He would not only be her husband, but they would work side-by-side, landing big clients, coming up with creative campaigns, they were a force together. They shared a passion for working, something, Ted thought, something Nan could never wrap her head around. Ted loved working, and Peggy loved working, with their union they would become even stronger.

Ted slipped the ring back into its box, slipped it into his jacket pocket and fixed his bowtie. Before heading to the Waldorf, he checked himself in the mirror, combing his hair back, he let out a sigh. This is what he wanted, he wanted Peggy, and now after tonight, they would be together.

…

Peggy left the office to get dressed back her apartment; she had slipped on the red satin dress, fixed her hair and makeup, and settled into some high heels. She stepped out of her apartment when she saw her limo arrive.

"Ms. Olson?" the driver asked.

Peggy smiled, "Yes." He opened the door for her and she stepped inside. A limo anywhere might be out of place, Peggy thought, but especially in her neighborhood. They drove off, and Peggy looked longingly at her apartment building, thinking it might be the last time she would see it, as her life, it seemed, was moving in another direction.

When she arrived at the Waldorf there was another attendant waiting to greet her and shuffle her inside, there were so many people, some at the bar, some waiting for a car, some people gathered to talk in the lobby, the attendant kept a hand on Peggy's elbow to assure her that he knew where he was leading her to. Peggy arrived at the restaurant, which in contrast to all the people Peggy had just seen, looked empty. There were tables but no patrons. Until, Peggy saw Ted at a small table by himself.

Ted stood up from the table, threw his arms around Peggy.

"Where is everyone?" Peggy asked.

"Wow, you look incredible. I'm speechless."

They sat down at the table for two, but Peggy continued "I don't understand."

"I already ordered for us, they are making a special meal, I've spoken to the chef. Oh and here is the wine, you have to try this, unless you want something else to drink?"

The waiter began to pour the wine, when Peggy put her hand on Ted's arm.

"Ted…"

The waiter finished pouring the wine and shuffled off back to the kitchen.

"Peggy…" Ted smiled at her coyly.

"Yes, Peggy. I rented the entire restaurant for tonight. It's just you and me, and well, the kitchen staff."

Peggy could only manage a small "oh" to escape from her lips, as Ted clutched the glass of wine and took a sip.

"Try it, you'll like it."

Peggy picked up the glass and took a sip, it was sweet on her tongue, unlike other wine she had tried before, she enjoyed the taste and felt very sophisticated there with Ted. She had never had a glamorous experience, and felt she wasn't the kind of girl that was or could ever be glamorous, but with Ted's eyes fixated on her, she realized Ted always wanted to give her the finest things.

She set the glass back down and smiled to herself, Ted placed his hand in hers, letting his fingers close around hers.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes, it was just – I was thinking of the day you hired me. We sat at that horrible café, and you said you would have taken me anywhere…you said we'd go to le cirque."

Ted smiled, "I would take you anywhere, I will. Just name the place, Peggy."

Just then the food arrived, there were several courses, and each meal was more delicious than the first. By the end, at dessert Peggy could hardly breathe, not from the food, but from waiting- waiting for Ted to say those words…

"Peggy, I think you know why I wanted to bring you here. What all of this is about?"

"No, I don't know."

Ted smiled again, the whole evening Ted's smile was wide and Peggy wondered if she had been smiling just as wide, and if their grins would become permanently fixed on their faces.

Ted slid out of his chair and went down on a knee, holding onto Peggy's hand.

"Peggy Olson, you are brilliant, creative, passionate, beautiful, and kind. My love for you is deeper than I ever thought love could be, and it's you. Three thousand miles couldn't change the way I feel about you, and that time apart –" Ted, cleared his throat, the swell of emotions overcoming his speech. "Peggy, I never want to be apart from you ever again. I want to be your husband, I want to be the father of your children, I want to grow old with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Peggy, will you marry me?"

Ted opened the box, and Peggy burst into tears, throwing her arms around Ted's neck. She began to kiss him, fervently on his lips and his cheek. Ted let out a few tears of his own while proposing and the way Peggy clung to him almost knocked him to the ground completely.

"So, is that a yes?"

"Yes. Yes, Ted. Yes." He slid the ring onto her finger, her eyes darted from the ring back to him, and Peggy felt the weight of her heart lighten in her chest.

"I hope you booked a room upstairs" Peggy smiled coyly.

"Yes, I did." Ted smiled and they kissed once more.

They didn't bother with dessert but dashed upstairs, in the elevator Ted's hands wandered over to her waist and down to her hips, but Peggy bumped him aside and shot him a look of "not yet". The elevator doors opened to their own private suite, Peggy walked in first and Ted followed behind her, as he watched her take it all in. The suite was covered in red roses; roses in vases and rose petals scattered on the ground. There was a bucket with chilled champagne, and a tray of assorted fine chocolates.

Peggy turned back to Ted, "So you knew I would say yes?"

He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, "Imagine how awkward it would have been if you didn't show. I'd be sitting there by myself like a goon. And all of this would have gone to waste."

"Yeah, I guess you're pretty lucky then, aren't you?"

"Oh, I'm lucky, Peggy. I have you."