When she pulled the pants from the drawer a small black box fell on the floor. Janet picked the box up and put it back and closed the drawer without so much as a second thought as far as Eddie could see. Janet figured it was a pair of earrings or a charm for her bracelet. Janets Birthday was nearing and Eddie never waited till last minute to pick out his gifts. Janet handed him his pants and began to fix her hair as she stood in front of the dresser. Eddie pulled on his pants and walked over to the drawer and pulled out the box and pushed the drawer back in then stood at the foot of the bed that was in complete disarray from the mere three minutes before. "Are you going to get dressed" Janet asked in her usually cheerful voice "Janet" Eddie said as she looked down and concentrated on latching her bracelet back. "Janet" he once again said only to be un noticed as she looked for her other shoe "BABY" he said loudly this time to get her attention and it worked as she spun around to see what all the fuss was about. "Sit" he said to her and he took her hands and she sat on the bed. "What is it Eddie we have to go" she said not wanting to ruin whatever gift he had gotten her
"You don't want to know what's in this box" Eddie asked holding it up
"I figure it's a present so no I don't want to know" she answered
"It's not really a present" he responded
"Then what is it for" she asked
"Us" he said as he hung his head timid
"Us….." Janet's brain was racing trying to figure out what he was talking about
"Do you remember when I gave you the Angel charm, I bought this the same day and I've been trying to figure out when to give it two you , I wanted it to be prefect but I can't wait I have to know now" Eddie was knelt in front of her pouring his heart out. Janet was so touched that he remembered it would have been the baby's due date and he wanted to cheer her up so he had come home that day with a charm that simple had the word Angel inscribed on it.
Just thinking about how sweet he had been that day, she didn't even care what was in the box. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful man she thought to herself and a single tear ran down her cheek.
"So would you like to see what's in the box" Eddie asked her on one knee but she still didn't see it coming, he had never even mentioned marriage not once and she wasn't about to give him any ultimatums. He opened the box and took out the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen, he had spent a nice chunk of his savings on it but work had been good and he felt he could afford it. Still not sinking completely in until he took her hand and started to slid the ring onto her finger
"I know this isn't exactly every woman's dream proposal….he let out a small chuckle…. but I would be honored if you would become my wife, will you marry me Janet Edith Meadows and make me the happiest man in Knight's Ridge" Every second she spent in silence felt like years to Eddie as he waited for her answer. Not knowing if she would except he had put his heart out on the line anyway willing to take the risk. Janet sat in shock looking down at the ring. "Your killing me here" Eddie said as he tilted her face up by her chin to look at him. His whole life depended on what that one tear meant.
"I love you" Janet said now full of tears
"of course I'll marry you" She said as she bear hugged him knocking him down on the floor and kissing him as they lay there.
"I love you to" Eddie said and they just laid there for a few minutes looking at each other
"So, are we going to go tell the gang" Eddie asked
"That was Eddie, said they would be here in a few minutes to have Karen pour everyone a glass of champagne" Nick said as he came to the table.
"Hell if they want to celebrate owning a bar they should do it with shots" Ickey suggested
"It's their bar let them do it how they want, besides we're not paying so drink up" Owen said
"Did they say why they were so late" Hannah asked
"Nope, just that they were almost here" Nick repeated
"I'm pretty sure we all know there's only one thing that could keep Latekka from his beer" Ronnie interjected
--
On the ride to the bar Eddie held Janet's hand but she was remarkably quite. "I'm sorry it wasn't more romantic but I just couldn't wait any longer " Eddie said as he kissed her newly decorated hand. "It's fine Eddie I wouldn't change it if I could" she said grinning from ear to ear. "Well, whatever kind of wedding you want, you've got it" Eddie asked as he noticed Janet had slid closer to him and put her hand on his thigh so he returned the favor. "I'll have to think about it" she said flirtatiously as they pulled into the parking lot. "Are you ready, Ms. Meadows" Eddie asked as he pulled her through his driver side door by the hand "I am Mr. Latekka" Janet answered back "Shall we" Eddie said as he gave her a quick kiss and walked her through the front door stopping for a second she asked "How are we going to tell them" "I'll take care of it" is all he said and nodded at Karen to bring over the champagne. Still holding her hand where they couldn't see the ring as he used his thumb to play with it they walked up to the table.
--
"So Elizabeth how do you know Ronnie" Hannah asked but had know idea it was a loaded question until Owen, Nick and Ickey busted out laughing. Lizzy just looked at Ronnie with disgust "I didn't tell them" he swore to her "Don't worry, what ever it is I'm pretty sure it was just as embarrassing for him" Allison added "Ickey, you said you would never tell" Ronnie said in a whinny voice. No sooner than he had gotten the words out Eddie and Janet were standing at the table.
"It's about time" Owen said as Karen passed out the champagne, but he wasn't referring to their late arrival. Eddie couldn't have wipped the grin off of his face if he had tried.
"So what are we toasting to" Aubrey asked as everyone raised their glasses
"To Sully …" everybody started to take a sip "And to Janet for saying yes when I aksed her to marry me" Eddie was staring her straight in the eye. Neither one took a sip of their champagne as they just hugged and began a very lengthy kiss that wasn't even interrupted by the guy's spitting champagne across the table at each other and the ladies gracefully choking. All eyes turned to Eddie and Janet and watched in shock as they kissed and kissed and kissed until finally Ickey broke the moment with "I hate to break you to love birds up but people are gonna start wanting to know where to buy the tickets" Ickey said as he headed to the bar for a refill slowly followed by the rest of the guy's. With the girls left sitting at the table they began to gossip and check out Janet's sizable ring. Eddie as usual was the center of Attention as the best friends hovered near the bar cracking jokes and handing out pats on the back. It was there goal to get Eddie completely wasted before the end of the night the same way they had done Owen when he asked Allison to marry him. The the shot's began to pour and you could hear them getting louder by the minute.
"I hope you don't have any romantic ideas about tonight, because when they get done with him you'll just be glad he finally passed out, trust me I've been there" Allison said with a straight face as the guy's made there way back to the table with the girls drinks only to see them laughing really hard. Little did they know it was due to the sight of them carrying a beer in one hand and fruity mixed drink in the other. Man had they all come a long way and they knew they were responsible for it. Owen and Eddie were defiantly the more grown up of the bunch as they sat down next to Janet and Allison and propped their arm behind them, leaving Ickey alone and Nick and Ronnie looking like a couple of freshman. "Girls I think it's time to turn the tables" Janet said as she headed to the bar "need I remind you ladies what happened the last time" Eddie said as she came back form the bar with a bottle of liquor and 4 shot glasses and the girls began to indulge their thirst. Eddie seemed to be holding on to Janet pretty tight most of the night. He kept a hand on her at all times and stole a few kisses and whispered words into her ear when everyone seemed to be caught up in laughter. Sully's quickly became a dance floor and Eddie scuffled Janet around to most of the songs, "That boy's in trouble" Owen said as he shook his head at Eddie and Janet making out more than they were dancing."I've never seen him dance with anyone other than her" Owen added "speaking of trouble, it just walked in the door" Hannah said to everyone at the table. "I got this one" Ickey said as he made his way to the bar. "Now's not really a good time" he said to her "I know, I just wanted to say good by, I got a modeling job in LA , I'll be gone for a really long time so I wanted to just stop on my way through" Rory said with all sincerity "Their getting married, that's kind of why we're here" Ickey told her looking back at Eddie and Janet dancing "I didn't come to see Eddie" she smiled back at Ickey. "For real" Ickey said surprised "For real Ickey" she said as she kissed him in front of everyone. It didn't take long to realize the bar had gotten quite and everyone turned to look around. "Eddie" Janet said nearly whispering motioning with her head towards the bar "Why is she here" Janet asked as they watched in amazement as she and Ickey kissed like lovers "I had a feeling it was her" Eddie said as he spun around with Janet "What are you talking about" she asked confused "Ickey's been seeing someone for a while and has been doing his damnedest to keep it quite" Eddie explained "ohh, I'm not missing this for anything" Janet said as she made Eddie stroll with her to the bar. "Oh, this is going to be good" Hannah said as the girls watched from the sidelines and the guy's prepared for the breaking of the band so to speak. Ickey could feel the lump in his throat as Eddie and Janet walked up. Janet stood confident with Eddie's arms wrapped around as he stood behind taking in the smell of her hair. "I was just leaving" Rory said to Janet "You don't have to" Eddie said nearly shocking Ickey to death "Don't be rude Ickey, Go ahead ask the lady to dance" Janet added and Ickey looked at Rory and held out his hand "Congratulations" she said to both of them as they headed to the dance floor for a single dance before she left for LA.
Janet tuned to face Eddie and looked up into his eyes "Are you okay" he asked "I'm better than okay, I'm loved by the best man I will ever know" Janet said and Eddie gave her a quick kiss before they headed back to the table
"What goes on, Eddie" Owen asked and the girls looked to see if Janet was upset. Rory slipped out un noticed as soon as the song was over. "I think you gentlemen are missing out on an opportunity to dance with some very lovely women" Eddie said to the guy's and all got up escorting their counter parts to the floor. Ickey walked up behind Hannah "Hannah Jane" Ickey asked as he held his hand out to Hannah, still a sucker for lonely women.
"Mrs. Latekka, well soon to be anyway; do you care to go home" Eddie asked
"Neither one of us are any shape to drive, Eddie" Janet replied
"I was thinking since the stars were out, it would be a nice night for a walk" Eddie whispered. For years he had lived only a short 15 minute walk from Sully's and turns out Janet did to, in the opposite direction.
