Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, or any of the non-fictional places mentioned in the story that exist or have previously existed. Any characters you don't recognize from the movie Newsies, are my own.
Chapter 12: Candlelight Surprise
The January air was cold and crisp, and the sun was setting as the last traces of its golden glow began to vanish from the sky. Racetrack was on his way back to the lodging house after a lucky win at the tracks. He noticed a large carriage driving by, and decided he'd hitch a ride on the back. He signaled the driver, and the driver stopped, as Race swiftly jumped on.
"Thanks for da ride Sir." Race said, as the driver nodded in response. The driver then flicked the reins, and continued on.
Racetrack sat with his hands in his pockets. His collar was pulled up to shield part of his face, and neck from the cold air. He looked ahead as the snowflakes gently fell from the evening sky, covering the cobblestone streets.
In his pocket, Racetrack had felt the little velvet box that he had purchased from his many years of savings, and latest winnings. He smiled as he thought about what was inside of it. Inside of the box was a beautiful, yet simple shining ring, with small sparkling jewel on it. Thoughts of Josie filled his mind, as he pondered spending the rest of his life with her, the Queen of his heart.
Tomorrow's da big day he thought. He had it all planned out, Nico would bring her to the Newsboys lodging house where a surprise would be awaiting her, and after an evening of wining and dining with her, he would ask her to be his wife.
Morning came, and Josie a woke with a smile on her face knowing that she would be seeing Racetrack later that evening. Nico had told her, there was an event at the Newsboys lodging house, and Racetrack had invited them both to attend.
She jumped out of bed more content, and peppier than usual considering she wasn't much of a morning person, and she proceeded to get ready for the day ahead.
Once she had washed up, and dressed she headed towards the kitchen, where her father sat at the table, reading the newspaper he held in his hands.
"Morning Pops!" Josie chimed as she went up behind him and placed a kiss on his cheek, before proceeding to the kitchen counter to prepare some breakfast.
"Morning Daughter." Mr. Marinos replied, keeping his eyes on an interesting article he had been reading in the paper.
Josie smiled as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him. He then looked up from his paper in slight surprise.
"Thank you, you seem to be in a good mood this morning. What, are you in love or something?" He joked, knowing very well of her affections towards Racetrack, and Races proposal plans for that evening.
Josie laughed. "Do I need to have a reason to simply make my father a coffee?" She wise-cracked, causing Mr. Marinos to chuckle.
"Alright daughter, whatever you say." He joked back.
Just then Mrs. Marinos entered the kitchen with a big smile on her face.
"Morning Jose! Are you excited for tonight?" She asked coyly, also aware of Race's plans for the evening. She was overwhelmed with joy that her daughter would finally be engaged, and then married.
Mr. Marinos shot Mrs. Marinos a warning look from behind his paper. He knew Mrs. Marinos wasn't the greatest at keeping secrets. They promised Race they wouldn't spoil the surprise, when he had visited a week prior and told them of his plans to propose to Josie.
"Yes, why?" Josie asked suspiciously, it wasn't the first time she spent an evening with Race so she wondered why tonight would be any different.
"Your Mother is just happy for you." Mr. Marinos said interrupting, before Mrs. Marinos could say anymore.
Mrs. Marinos got the hint, and decided she wouldn't say more about the subject before she said too much, and simply smiled, and nodded in agreement.
Nico entered the kitchen, and said "What's for breakfast?"
"There's some bread, and jam over there." Josie said pointing towards the counter, as she sat down at the table.
"After you eat breakfast, I'll need you to run the shop for a bit Josie, your father and I have some errands to do today." Mrs. Marinos said.
"Alright, will you be back before this evening?" Josie asked.
Mrs. Marinos smiled impishly, and said "Of course." She then proceeded to head downstairs to the shop, leaving Josie to ponder on her mother's peculiar behaviour.
Josie was beginning to feel that something was going on that no one was telling her. She figured she would find out eventually, and shrugged off the thought before biting into her jam sandwich, anticipating the day ahead.
Later that afternoon Racetrack was busy making sure the night ahead would be perfect, as him and some of the other newsboys helped set up the candlelight dinner Racetrack had planned for Josie.
After moving a few tables, Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush, and David picked up the last large wooden table in the Newsboy's dining area. They moved it to the side of the room with the rest of the tables, to make space for a smaller and more intimate table, for Race and Josie in the centre of the room.
After moving the last bigger table to the side, the four of them stopped for a few moments to catch their breaths.
Racetrack glanced around the room. "Dis is all startin' ta look real good, we'll put da smaller table and chairs ova dere, and my pal Frank wit his accordion can stand ova dere. He said pointing towards the designated spots in the room.
"Dat all sounds good." Kid Blink said.
"Yeah I think so too, after all dere's nothin like dinna, good wine, and some good music, right fellas?" Racetrack said, with a cheeky grin on his face.
"You got dat right! What goil could resist? She'll be sayin' yes before you even ask her to marry ya!" Mush replied giggling.
Kid Blink laughed, and with his hands on his hips, and his head slightly tilted to the left, he looked around the room imagining what it would all look like that evening.
"You're really goin' all out tonight aint ya?" He said, quite impressed at Race's well thought out plans.
Racetrack laughed, as he adjusted his hat before patting Kid Blink on the back, and saying "She only deserves da best."
"Then the best is what she'll get!" David replied, and motioned for them to come over, and help him move the smaller table, and two chairs to their spot.
Before they proceeded to move the table, Racetrack stopped them and said "Ya know, I jus' wanna thank you all for helpin' out today, I appreciate it, and I know Jose will too."
"Aww shucks Race, look at you gettin' all soft on us!" Mush joked, as he placed his arm around Race's shoulders, pulling him into a side hug.
"Love does amazin' things, don't it?" Kid Blink teased, as they playfully nudged Race.
"Aright now get back ta work, we aint finished here yet!" Racetrack replied chuckling, as he shooed them away.
"Sure thing Race, as long as we'll be getting some of that dinner, and wine afterwards too." David wise-cracked, causing them to laugh at his remark, as they nodded in agreement.
Racetrack sniggered at David's comment. "Well fellas, its eitha one or the otha. Dinna or wine? What's it gonna be?" He joked, replying with an equally cheeky remark.
David laughed as he rolled his eyes, and the delicious aroma of the dinner being made for Race, and Josie filled the air from the kitchen. Upon smelling it, Kid Blink, and Mush glanced at one another before exclaiming "Dinna!"
"Aright, aright, I'll see what I can do. And Who knows? Maybe if you fellas start doin some more workin' and less talkin', I'll throw some wine in dere for you bums too." Racetrack joked, snickering at his own cheekiness.
The Newsies chuckled as they shook their heads a Racetrack's audacity. Dismissing his comment, they proceeded to set up the room for the evening ahead.
The evening had arrived and Josie and Nico approached the Newsboy lodging house. Nico opened the door to enter, and Josie followed. The lodging house was quieter than usual, and Josie noticed Kloppman sitting at the front desk, writing something.
"Hey Kloppman, where is everybody?" She asked.
Kloppman looked up from his paper quite aware of Race's plans, and without giving too much away he said "I think they're around here somewhere."
Suddenly a little Newsboy noticed Josie, and Nico entering. "She's here! She's here!" The little boy exclaimed as he ran to fetch the other boys.
Josie was really beginning to wonder what was going on, but before she could ask any more questions Kid Blink came running down the stairs with a rag in his hand, and Mush followed.
"You'll need dis before you can take anotha step!" Kid blink said as he took the rag and wrapped it around her head to blind fold her.
"What is going on?" She exclaimed.
"You'll find out soon enough! Just follow our voices." Mush said laughing.
Josie reached out, and attempted to walk forward to feel her way around, and the boys began to chuckle.
"I don't understand why I need this blind fold! I thought there was an event going on here tonight. And where is Racetrack?" Josie replied not noticing that Racetrack had just snuck by her, and headed down the stairs where their dinner awaited them.
"Oh dere's an event aright!" called Snoddy from the stairs where some of the Newsies watched from above.
"Oh yeah, quite the party!" Skittery teased, causing them to giggle even more.
"Yeah more like a party for two." Snipeshooter added, sniggering to himself.
Josie was beginning to grow quite frustrated with the boy's snickers, and with the fact that she had to wear a blind fold. She stopped walking, as she crossed her arms and said "I won't be taking another step till you tell me what's going on!"
"Well if that's the case, you'll never find out." Nico said as he swiftly picked her up over his shoulder.
"Nico! This isn't funny! Put me down or I'll…I'll soak ya!" she yelled, as he proceeded to carry her down the stairs following Mush and Kid Blink, as the Newsies and Nico laughed hysterically.
Once Josie realized she couldn't escape her brother's grasp she gave up on kicking, and screaming. Unimpressed, she rested her chin in her hand as he proceeded to carry her to the surprise that awaited her.
"Alright Princess, we're here." Nico said as he placed her down.
Josie quickly pulled off her blind fold once she touched the ground, and there in front of her was the most beautiful site.
The warm glow of candles filled the dining hall, and there in the center of the room, was a table set for two complete with dinner, and wine. The sound of the accordion began to fill the air, and out stepped Racetrack. He was dressed fancier then usual, with a bowtie around his collar, and his hair was perfectly slicked back.
Upon noticing Josie's astonished expression, he couldn't help but smile to himself.
"This is…absolutely beautiful Racetrack… did you plan all this for us?" Josie said in disbelief.
"I sure did Jose." He replied.
"Yeah he had us down here workin all day ta get it perfect for you!" Mush said laughing.
Josie gazed at Racetrack in amour, and said. "I can't thank you enough Racetrack, this is beyond words."
Racetrack chuckled as he gazed at her, he was smitten with her. "Shall we?" He said as he put out his arm to lead her to the table, and she gladly took it, as she nuzzled into his shoulder happy to share such a special moment.
Once they got to the table, Racetrack was a complete gentleman, and pulled out the chair for her to sit on, before proceeding to his own.
The boys watched from the distance. "Well I guess that's our que to leave now." Nico said.
"Yeah, let's give these two love birds some time togetha." Kid blink said, as him Mush and Nico turned to head back up the stairs.
Racetrack and Josie were so captivated by the presence of each other, they didn't even notice the others leave.
They gazed at each other for a moment with love in their eyes before Racetrack reached over took her hand, and said "You look beautiful Jose."
Josie smiled as she blushed, and coyly looked down before meeting his gaze again, and said "You look pretty handsome too, I think this is the first time I've seen you in a bowtie!" She replied causing him to laugh.
"Yeah well, I save da bowtie for special occasions." He replied chuckling.
"Special occasions huh, and what's the occasion?" Josie teased, as she raised her eyebrow inquisitively, before smiling at him. She started piecing things together in her mind, as she pondered over her mother's peculiar behaviour that morning. Could this be the night where he proposes to me? She thought.
She had a feeling it was, but decided she would wait and see, and respond accordingly when the time comes. Still an anxiousness, and excitement filled her as she anticipated it.
Racetrack laughed at her cleverness. He had every intention of proposing to her that night, but he wouldn't do it just yet.
"Are ya hungry?" He asked changing the subject.
"Starving!" Josie replied.
"Yeah me too! What do ya say we start eatin den?" He said, as Josie nodded in agreement.
They took their first bite of homemade pasta, and upon trying it, Josie said "This is really good! Did you help make it?"
"I had a part in it yeah, along wit some help from our wonderful cook Mrs. Baker here of course."
Josie laughed and said "So Mrs. Baker made it then?"
"Yeah most of it, but I asked her ta make it." He wise cracked, causing Josie to giggle.
The two continued to eat, laugh, and talk as if they had known each other forever, each mesmerized by the other, and so thankful they had crossed paths.
Once they were quite full on food, and wine Race figured that now would be the perfect time to finally propose to Josie. The accordion continued to play in the background, and Racetrack had an idea.
"I really love dis song, whatta ya say Jose, care ta dance wit da King of your heart?" He joked as he stood up, and held his hand out to her.
"I'd love to." Josie said smiling as she took his hand, and together they danced, swiftly moving together as one.
"You know Jose, dere's somethin I've been wantin ta ask ya." He said as he twirled her, causing her to giggle, as he pulled her back in again.
Josie could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach as he held her close, and said "Sure, you can ask me anything." She hoped and prayed that this would go where she wanted it to, and she wanted nothing more than to be his wife.
They gazed at each other for a moment before Race twirled her again, and said as they danced. "Josie from da day I met ya, you had my heart, and well it seems as though I fell for ya, and I've been fallin eva since, and well ya see…" Before he finished, what he was going to say he paused for a moment to think about how he would say it.
Josie couldn't help but grin widely upon hearing those words, how she wanted him to just ask her already, she wanted to say yes more than anything, but she decided she would continue to wait, and so she went along with it and said "Yes, go on…"
Just then Racetrack dipped her suddenly, before guiding her back up again. He stood holding her in his arms, as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Here it goes he thought. "Well ya see, I love you Josie Marinos, and if you'll have me, I want ta spend da rest of my life wit you, and grow old togetha, and be dere wit you through it all." He said.
He took her hand in his, and knelt down on one knee. He then pulled out her ring placing it on her finger. "Josephine Marinos will you do me da honor of bein my wife?" He asked fixing his eyes on her, praying she would say yes.
Josie's eyes welled up with tears of joy, and she exclaimed "Yes! Of course, Racetrack Higgins, Yes, and Yes again!" Filled with exhilaration, Racetrack stood up hastily as he picked her up, and spun her around.
They laughed blissfully, and with her arms around his neck, and his arms around her waist, they shared a passionate kiss filled with amour and delight, before he gently placed her down again.
"I promise I'll do all dat I can ta be da husband you want, and need." He said as he gazed at her lovingly.
"Oh Racetrack! And I promise to be the best wife I can possibly be." She replied.
With that they shared another amorous kiss, and once they broke apart for air, Racetrack yelled "Hey boys! I know you all are jus dyin' to hear what's goin on down here! Well guess what? She said Yes!"
Nico and Mush happened to be listening from upstairs in the lobby, and upon hearing the good news, they ran to tell the other boys. "Hey fella's she said Yes!" Mush yelled up the stairs to the bedrooms, where the rest of them were.
From the dining hall Race and Josie heard loud cheers coming from the boys, and a crowd of them came running down to congratulate them.
Nico pushed through the applauding boys, as they patted Racetrack on the back, and pulled him into hugs. Once Nico reached his sister, they immediately embraced. "Congratulations Josie." He said smiling.
"Are you going to miss me once I get married, and move out?" Josie teased.
"Well, the first thing I'm going to do is takeover you room." Nico joked causing Josie to playfully swat him.
Nico laughed, and said "Of course I'm going to miss you Jose, you're my big sis."
"And I always will be!" Josie said assuring Nico, that she would still always be there for him.
Nico smiled at Josie before he joined the rest of the boys in cheering the couple on. Racetrack looked over at Josie, and took her hand. They gazed at each other knowing that it was only the beginning, the beginning of a lifetime of memories that they would get to share together.
