Page 42 of A Storybook Wedding

“Why wouldn’t he just ask first then?”

I toss her question around in my mind. “Because if the pandemic has taught him anything, it’s that life is meant to be lived. And she’s important to him. Definitely as important as the job, but if he’s willing to marry her, you’d think more.”

“So when do they actually tie the knot?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I think maybe they do it over Thanksgiving weekend,” she says.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Think about it. Maybe he asks on Thanksgiving Eve, which is why they’re out celebrating, and then on Thanksgiving Day, they tell their families, and on Black Friday, they get the marriage license, and the wedding is Saturday.”

“CJ. Are you listening to yourself?”

“What?”

“That’s this weekend.”

“I know,” she says, only her voice sounds quieter now, as if maybe she didn’t actually realize what she was suggesting.

“So to be clear, you’re saying we should get married this weekend.” My chest is pounding saying these words aloud. I sound like such an idiot right now.

She says nothing for a beat. Then she clears her throat and speaks. “Uh-huh. There’s just one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I think if we both agree to all this, then step one is you have to ask me.”

“You mean you want me to propose to you? Right now?” I cough in disbelief. “Over the phone?”

“Only if you think it’s a good idea,” she posits.

“And if I do, you’re saying we should go get a marriage license tomorrow?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Are they even open on Black Friday?”

“Everything’s open on Black Friday! Biggest shopping day of the year,” she exclaims.

“Who shops for a marriage license?” I ask. My voice sounds hysterical.

“It’s a joke, Pen. Relax,” she says. “Hang on one sec while I find out.” I wait as she types. “Snap,” she says. “It’s better than you’d think. They do it online now. It’s called NYC Project Cupid—and how’s this for irony? They’re offering it online because of the pandemic. It says that the project was created during COVID-19 so that people who still wished to get married could do so without endangering their own health or the health of others.”

“So doing it online—what does that entail?”

“You just fill out an application and they meet with you over the internet. Probably Zoom,” she says.

“That sounds remarkably simple.”

“See? It’s fate,” she says. “Just like in the story.”

“Huh,” I say, rendered basically speechless.

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