Sean woke up the next morning before Emma and made her breakfast in bed. He closed the bedroom door and tried to be as quiet as possible. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to propose during breakfast or wait until Sunday to do it and he was getting nervous about Emma accidentally finding the ring. Sean sneaked into the bathroom and put the ring box into the pocket of his lounge pants.
When Sean finished cooking breakfast, he plated it and put it on a tray for Emma. He walked into his room, and she was sitting up and stretching. "Good morning, beautiful."
"Hi. You made me breakfast in bed?"
"I did." He set the tray down and kissed her.
"You spoil me."
"It's because I love you."
She asked, "Are you going to eat some of this with me?"
"Nope. I have my own plate. Be right back." He walked out of the room, put the ring in his jacket pocket and grabbed his plate. When he returned to his room, Emma was drinking some coffee. Sean sat down next to her and got comfortable. "How did you sleep?"
"I slept well. You?"
"Yep. I always sleep better when you're here."
Emma leaned into him. "And I always sleep better when I'm here."
"Well, that's good." Sean kissed her and asked, "How's breakfast?"
"Wonderful as usual."
"Good."
She asked, "So how late are you working tonight?"
"I should be home by 9."
Emma nodded, "Would it be okay if I brought more of my stuff over?"
"Em, you can bring everything over. I told you I want you here all the time."
She smiled and looked around, "Is there room for all of my stuff?"
"We'll make room." He looked at her, "You would be okay with moving in here, right? Or would you want a place all our own?"
She shrugged, "You were only here for a few weeks before we started seeing each other again, right?" He nodded, "So this is like our place already. I mean, I did help you with your storage caddy, pillows and the blanket for the couch."
He smiled and said, "That's true."
"So are you asking me to move in here?"
"Em, I'm pretty sure I've already asked you to move in here multiple times."
Emma smiled, "You have."
He asked, "And are you finally going to do it?"
She nodded, "Yes."
"You already have your own keys, your own drawer in the bathroom, and room in the closet for your work clothes."
"All true."
He shrugged and said, "It's just technicality at this point."
Emma laughed, "You're right."
While they were eating, Sean thought of an idea for a proposal and said, "You know what? You and Manny should come by for lunch today."
"Oh yeah?"
He nodded and said, "Callie's working again today and I know she'd love to see Manny."
Emma giggled and shook her head, "You know I still haven't told Manny about that."
"Knowing Manny she'd start flirting with Callie."
Emma nodded and said, "I think you're right."
"Seriously though, I mean, if you don't have lunch plans, you should come by."
"Okay. I'll call Manny and ask her. I'm sure she'll say yes."
"Cool."
When Sean went into the bathroom to get ready for work, he texted his plan to Manny and she agreed to help him. After explaining his idea to her, he texted, "Remember act surprised when she asks you to lunch."
Manny texted back, "Okay. I just thought of something for you to do."
Sean read her text and raised an eyebrow. He typed back, "Oh yeah? What's that?" He set the phone down and waited for Manny to text back.
"You can come out to talk to us and I can point out that your shoe is untied and you can go down to tie it then pull out the ring since you'll be down on one knee."
Sean read the text and smiled, "Now why didn't I think of that?" He sent back, "Thank you for helping me with this."
Manny sent back, "It's my pleasure. I love you both, you know that."
Sean smiled and turned on the shower.
Sean was about to leave for work when he said, "Text me when you're on the way. I'll make sure the ladies treat you well and give you a good table."
Emma smiled, "Oh yeah?"
Sean nodded, "Yes. Anything for the woman I love and her best friend."
Emma kissed him and pulled away, "Did you think all those years ago in Media Immersion that we'd be in love like this?"
"I hoped so."
She smiled, "See you later."
"Okay."
As soon as Sean walked out, Emma called Manny.
Manny smiled when she saw it was Emma, "Hello."
"Hi there. How about we go to Sean's restaurant for lunch?"
"Sure! I like that place." She asked, "Are you missing him already? Didn't he leave for work like two minutes ago?"
"Very funny. He suggested it because, well, one of the waitresses has a crush on you."
Manny laughed then said, "Wait, really?"
"Yep. She thinks you're cute but she knows you're straight."
"Well hey, if she's cute enough and Jay gets on my nerves, maybe I'll keep my options open."
Emma shook her head.
"So what time did you want to head over there?"
"I don't know 12:30-1? Is that okay?"
Manny said, "How about I pick you up at 12:45?"
Emma smiled and said, "Perfect."
"Okay, just text me Sean's address and I'll text you when I'm downstairs."
"Sounds good. See you then."
"Bye!" Manny hung up and squealed. She was excited to be included in Sean's master-plan.
When Emma and Manny arrived at the restaurant, Manny smiled at Emma.
Emma raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"Because this time is a lot different than the last time we were here together a few months ago."
Emma laughed and said, "Yeah, at least this time I won't be shocked by Sean's appearance."
Manny smiled.
Olivia, the hostess walked over and said, "Hi, Emma!"
Emma smiled and said, "Hi, Olivia! How are you?"
"I'm great. Is it just the two of you?"
"Yep!"
Olivia grabbed two menus and said, "Right this way." She led Emma and Manny to a table right in the middle of the dining room. She handed Emma and Manny their menus and said, "Enjoy your meal!"
Manny and Emma said, "Thanks so much!" in unison then giggled at each other.
Manny said, "It's like we share a brain sometimes."
Emma looked into the kitchen and saw Sean showing something to another cook. He turned around and smiled at her. She smiled back.
Manny turned around and looked into the kitchen. "Yep, this is much better than the last time."
Callie walked over to the table, "Hi, Emma!"
"Hi, Callie. How are you?"
"I'm great. Can you get you ladies something to drink?"
Manny looked at the wine menu, then at Callie and said, "A glass of Riesling."
"Okay and Emma?"
"Hmmm, I'll have the Rosé."
"Perfect I'll get those for you and come back to take your lunch order."
Manny's phone buzzed. It was a message from Sean. "Talk her into dessert."
Emma asked, "Jay?"
Manny nodded, "Yeah. Looks like he'll be home by 5 for a change."
"That's good."
She typed back to Sean, "Anything else?" She waited for his response and looked at the menu. "I think I'm going to have a light lunch because I'm in the mood to pig out on dessert."
Emma nodded, "That sounds like a great idea."
Sean texted back, "That's it. You're the best."
Manny texted back, "Done. The ball is in your court."
Sean read Manny's message and took a deep breath. Callie walked into the kitchen and smiled at Sean, "Operation proposal is working so far. She's drinking some Rosé today."
Sean nodded and said, "And Manny talked her into dessert already." He took another deep breath.
Callie smiled at him and said, "You got this, Sean. She will be surprised and she will say yes and it will be beautiful."
Sean nodded, "From your lips to God's ears."
Emma watched Sean as he walked around the kitchen and every once in awhile, he'd turn and either smile, stick out his tongue or wink at her.
Manny smiled at her.
"What?"
"You watching Sean."
Emma smiled and said, "I can't help it."
"The love you two have for each other is something everyone should aspire to."
Emma looked at Manny, "Don't you love Jay?"
"Sure but it's not like the Sean and Emma saga."
Emma laughed, "You make it sound like an epic romance."
"Isn't it? I mean you two have loved each other for a decade already. Sure there were some detours but you always end up together."
Emma nodded, "I really do love him a lot."
"And he loves you a lot."
"He wants me to move in with him."
Manny laughed and said, "Well, duh, of course, he does. And you want to live with him."
"Manny, I want to marry him." She took a sip of her wine then said, "I thought he was going to propose last night. We had agreed to get married when my divorce was final."
Manny smiled, "Knowing Sean he's waiting for the right moment."
Emma smiled, "I really can't wait to be engaged to him and married to him."
Manny asked, "Spinner and Jane are getting married soon, right?"
Emma nodded. "Yes. He told me he wants me and Sean to go to the wedding."
"Oh yeah?" Manny took a sip of her wine. "And you're okay with that right?"
Emma nodded, "Yep. Spin said things are the way they're supposed to be."
Manny smiled and said, "They are."
Callie walked over to the table and asked, "How is everything?"
Manny looked at her, "Really good. Thanks." She smiled at Callie and Callie looked at Emma.
"How about you Emma?"
"Everything's good. Tell the sous chef that, okay?"
Callie smiled, "I certainly will." She turned around and walked toward the back of the restaurant.
Emma narrowed her eyes at Manny, "You were so flirting with her."
Manny smiled, "Well, she is pretty cute."
"Manny, have you always found other girls attractive?"
"Not always but I should keep my options open. It's not like Jay will be marrying me anytime soon."
Emma shook her head and laughed.
A while later, Callie walked back over to the table and handed Manny and Emma a dessert menu.
"We do have a dessert special today. Chocolate lava cake served with caramel ice cream."
Manny's eyes got big, "Ooh, that sounds really good."
Emma agreed, "It does. I'll take that."
Callie said, "Great!" She turned to manny, "And for you?"
Manny looked at the menu, "I'll take the cheesecake with chocolate sauce and will take a bite of her lava cake." She smiled at Emma.
Callie asked, "Would either of you like some coffee, cappuccino or espresso?"
Manny answered, "I'll have a cappuccino."
Emma nodded and said, "Me too."
"Great!" They handed their menus to Callie who walked away.
Manny turned toward the kitchen and said, "I wonder why Sean hasn't come out here yet."
Emma looked into the kitchen, "He has a lot more responsibilities now. He has to train people, make sure they're doing what they're supposed to be doing, he even orders stuff too."
Manny turned back to Emma and smiled, "He's really found his calling."
"He has. He loves it and I'm so happy for him."
"Do you think he'd want to open his own place?"
Emma nodded, "Someday."
Manny smiled and asked, "Can you imagine Sean with his own restaurant and Jay with his own shop?"
Emma nodded, "I can imagine it."
Manny smiled. "That would be amazing."
A few minutes later, Callie was walking over to the table with Manny's cheesecake while Sean was trailing behind her holding Emma's lava cake.
Callie placed Manny's cheesecake and cappuccino in front of her, "Here you go."
Manny smiled and said, "Thank you."
Sean placed Emma's lava cake and cappuccino down in front of her, "Here you go."
Emma smiled up at him, "Thank you."
Sean leaned down, kissed her then pulled away and looked at them, "So has everything been okay so far?"
"Everything has been great." She looked down at his feet and noticed his shoes were tied. Sean shook his head out of Emma's view and Manny nodded.
Emma dug her fork into the lava cake and she hit something hard, "Um. Something other than lava is in this cake."
Sean pretended to be shocked, "What? How is that possible?"
She hit her fork into it, "See?"
Sean knelt down next to her and pulled the cake closer to him, "Oh yeah. Would you look at that?" He pulled out the ring box, put one knee up and Emma gasped. Sean asked, "Now, how did this get in there?"
Emma covered her mouth and said, "Oh my God!"
Manny smiled at Emma who was still in shock.
Sean smiled at Emma, "Okay, this is a little messier than I intended, so I'm sorry about that." He grabbed her left hand and started his proposal. "Emma," He took a deep breath and looked at her, "I have loved you for a decade. I'm pretty sure it started in Miss Kwan's class when you let everyone know why you were wearing those oversized gym shorts. But it's possible it started when you asked me to dance at the Starlight, Starbright Dance." She laughed, recalling the memories of her first period and of the night she brazenly asked Sean, a boy she didn't know, to dance, "And it's continued this entire time and while there have been a few breaks for us along the way, I want you to know that I will spend the rest of our lives continuing to love you. I believe that having the chance to come back to you is what kept me alive when I was in Afghanistan." He squeezed her hand and continued, "Before you came back into my life, I was going through the motions and barely living," He got choked up, took a breath, and cleared his throat, "You made me want to live again, Em." She caressed his face with her right hand, "I wake up every day excited to see you and excited to be with you. I love coming home to you and want to do it every day for the rest of our lives. You make me want to be a better man. You even make me want to be a better chef." She smiled at him through tears and he said, "I really just want to make you happy and I want to take care of you for the rest of our lives. I want to be the father of your children and I want to grow old with you. So..." He took the ring out of the box and Emma gasped again, "Emma Nelson, will you marry me?"
She nodded her head but didn't say anything.
Sean whispered, "Em, I think you have to say it."
She yelled, "Yes! Oh my God, yes!"
Sean laughed and slipped the ring onto her shaky hand. She grabbed his face and kissed him. The entire restaurant applauded, including the wait staff and cooks.
After a few moments, Emma pulled away crying and said, "I love you so much."
He smiled at her with tears in his eyes and said, "I love you too."
She wiped his face and they hugged. When they pulled away, they stood up and held onto each other. People started congratulating them.
Sean joked to Callie, "Hey, can you get my fiance another piece of cake?"
Callie smiled, "You got it." She took the plate away and walked back toward the kitchen.
Emma kept looking at the ring, "Sean, it's gorgeous. How did you do this?"
Sean looked at Manny, "I had some help."
Manny stood up and hugged Emma, "I'm so happy for you guys."
Emma pulled away and asked, "So you were part of this plan?"
She nodded. "Guilty!"
They hugged again. "Thank you."
"What are best friends for?"
Emma pulled away from the hug and looked at the ring again, "I can't stop staring at it."
"Good." Sean whispered, "By the way, your parents saw the ring already when I asked them for permission to ask you to marry me."
She smiled and said, "Really?"
He nodded. "Is it okay that I did it here?"
"Of course it is. I loved your proposal."
"Oh good, I'm glad." He kissed her cheek.
Emma pouted and said, "I really wish you didn't have to work for the rest of the day."
"I know. I'll try to get out of here a little earlier tonight."
"Good because we need to celebrate."
Sean smiled.
Callie brought out another piece of cake for Emma, "Okay, this one doesn't have anything inside it besides chocolate lava."
Sean smiled, "Thank you." He kissed Emma, "I'd better get back inside. I'll be back out in a bit."
"Okay."
Emma sat back down and Sean walked back towards the kitchen, stopping along the way to be congratulated by restaurant patrons.
She stared at the ring and said, "I really can't believe he did this."
Manny smiled and wiped her face, "That proposal, Em."
Emma smiled, "I know."
"Excuse me, miss?"
Emma looked up and a woman was holding her phone, "I hope you don't mind but I recorded the proposal."
Emma laughed, "You did?"
The lady nodded and said, "Oh as soon as he went on his knees, I pressed record."
Emma smiled and looked at the video, "That's really great."
"I can send it to you if you want."
"I would love that, thank you."
She gave the lady her number and the lady sent her the video.
As Manny and Emma stood up to leave, Sean looked over at Emma and held up one finger.
She smiled at Manny and said, "My fiance is coming to say goodbye."
"You're going to love saying that, aren't you."
"I already do."
Sean walked out and asked, "So was everything okay?"
Manny said, "Fantastic."
He smiled and said, "Great. That's always good to hear." He hugged Manny, "Thank you for your help today, Santos."
"Of course. Anytime."
Sean turned to Emma, "I'm going to be home closer to 7:30."
"Oh good!"
"Yeah. I'll text when I'm close by."
"Okay." Emma kissed him and pressed her forehead against his, "I love you."
"I love you." He quickly kissed her again and smiled, "I'll see you later."
