Chapter 6
Proposals
15 years ago, two years into their relationship.
It was Catriona's birthday and Tim had planned a lovely dinner for the tow of them in their little one bed flat they were renting for their final years at Johns Hopkins. He had prepared her favourite dinner- Spag Bol with lots of Parmesan cheese, white wine and chocolate ice cream sundaes for dessert- as a special occasion was planned by Tim for Catriona, not just her birthday. He took a deep breath and tapped his trouser pocket as the door opened into their flat and Catriona arrived home.
Tim turned on the CD player and the first track of the Scottish folk music he'd bought for the occasion began. Catriona heard and emerged from the hallway section and into the main, living/dining and kitchenette area of their flat, gasping as she spied all Tim had done.
There were candles lit, giving a gentle and romantic mood, the music reminded her of home and her father and the aroma of the food hit her like a wave of flavours. She was stunned beyond belief.
"What's this?" She asked. In her lilting Scottish accent.
"Happy birthday, Katie." Tim smiled, holding his arms out displaying the room to her.
She laughed, lightly and kissed him tenderly, hands on either side of his face. "Thank you, Tim. It's perfect."
"Anything for my lady." He teased and held out her chair for her, let hr sit and tucked her under their table a little before he disappeared into the kitchenette and dished up their dinners before returning to the table and his girl.
After dinner and dessert, before he brought out her birthday cake, which he'd had someone make for her in the shape of a St Andrew's flag, the national flag of Scotland, he handed her two boxes. One from the side board and the one from his pocket.
"Open the big one first." He instructed as he watched her and she sipped her wine before turning her attention to the presents. Inside the bigger one was a new notebook with her name embossed in the front. It's cover was made of red leather and Catriona smiled at him.
"Thank you, Tim. That will be perfect for my notes, next semester." She kissed his cheek. Then squawked in surprise as he took up the little black box and got out of his chair to kneel, on one knee, beside her chair.
"Catriona Mae Mallard, my best friend, my lover and the love of my life. In the words of the Song of Solomon, 'I have found the one whom my soul loves' and because I love you and I cannot imagine living without you, I ask you this... Catriona Mae Mallard, will you marry me?" Tim said clearly, he had rehearsed it many times before she arrived home determined to get it right. Catriona stared at him, then smiled and stared once more as he opened the box to reveal a Celtic knot engraved, yellow gold engagement ring with a diamond affixed to it prominent and dazzling in the candle light. It must have cost him a huge amount.
"Yes. Yes Tim. I'll marry you." She said at last as Tim grinned and slipped the ring from the box and slid it onto the fourth finger of her left hand, before kissing it and then kissing Catriona.
"Good. I'm glad you said yes. I don't know what I would have done if you'd said no." Tim smirked.
"I would never say no to you Tim. Never. Thank you, for the two best presents in the world."
"Two?" He asked curiously.
"The best birthday ever, and you." She whispered leaning closer.
"Cake can wait." He said huskily and stood up pulling Catriona with him towards their tiny bedroom. They did not reemerge for a while and when they did, they did so for cake and each other.