So I decided to give up on looking for a ring to surprise Patti and ask her to marry me. I guess she really doesn't care one way or the other if I propose with a ring or not.

Another thing I decided to give up on was going through those journals and see what I would want to publish, but no such luck, and that's okay with me. Just a waste of time going through every single one of them. I will still look every once in a while, but that's enough for me.

I decided to call Patti and see what her plans are, so I did. I have no clue what she does for work or her hours or days, so I gave it a shot and called her at home. I was lucky – she was home.

"Hi, Doug."

"Hi, Patti. How would you like to get together today if you're not busy?" I asked.

"What do you have in mind?" Patti asked.

"Why don't you come over to my house for a while?"

"Let me check on what plans I have, but I don't think I have any."

I heard her go through the calendar and see if she had anything going on.

"It looks like I don't have anything, Doug. I'd like to show up in a few minutes."

"I'll be home, Patti. I don't plan to go anywhere," I told her.

"I'll see you then, Doug."

"See you, Patti."

The reason I still haven't proposed to Patti was because I wasn't so sure when I would find the right time and too shy to admit it. Maybe now would be the best time for me to get the secret out after all of these years since the first day I moved to Bluffington.

I didn't have to wait very long for Patti to show up at my house.

I decided that I would get over being too shy about secret crush on Patti and see her reaction.

I also didn't bother to change clothes or anything since it was just a friend showing up and that was it.

I waited outside the whole time to wait for Patti and it was a nice change from checking through the window to see if she was here or not. I thought the front porch was the best place for that.

I looked at my watch – it was close to twelve – thirty, and it was a good thing Patti could make the time since I asked her.

She was able to come in less than fifteen minutes, which I was grateful for.

I waved to her when she parked in the driveway and she returned it back.

I walked over to help her out of the car, even though she didn't really need it.

"Glad you made it, Patti."

"I know. We haven't seen each other in a while."

I had to agree.

"What was it that made you invite me over?" Patti asked once I opened the front door of the house.

"I want to ask you something," I told her, trying not to be shy about sharing the secret crush thing.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Patti, would you marry me? I don't have a ring to propose."

"That's all right, Doug. Yes, I'll marry you."

"Did I ever tell you that I had a secret crush on you since I moved here to Bluffington?"

"I don't think you did. Is that true?"

"Yes, it is."

"Why did you wait until today to tell me that you had a crush?"

"I wasn't so sure how you would react to it, Patti," I answered.

She looked like she understood what I was just telling her.

"I'd love to be your wife, Doug."

"Glad you did, Patti."

I finally smiled at the about time thing and was able to get it over with.

Wait until Skeeter hears this, but that can wait for another time.

Patti and I need some quality time first, and that starts now.