Page 59 of Save the Date

Now, less than a year later, Ryan was just a painful memory, and Emma was about to get engaged to someone who wasn’t even aware of her debilitating fear of bugs. Part of her felt compelled to flee, which was a stark contrast to how she’d felt about Ryan. She hadn’t had an ounce of uncertainty as she accepted his ring and attempted to jump into his arms, causing both of them to tumble onto the bed, hysterical with tears and laughter. But her certainty about their relationship hadn’t protected her; if anything, it had only made it more shocking and disorienting when he ripped it all away.

So maybe the anxiety she felt right now as she waited for Matt to appear wasn’t a bad thing. Maybe it was a sign that she was growing up. It was unrealistic to feel completely certain about any major life decision. Certainty was naivety in disguise and she wasn’t going to be naive anymore.

“Emma,” Matt said as he finally appeared on the stairs wearing a suit and a nervous smile. “I know we haven’t known eachother very long. And I haven’t even met your parents before tonight.” He turned to look at Alan and Debbie and gave them a wave. They immediately waved back. “But I can already tell that we want the same things. We both want a long and happy partnership filled with children and family and complete trust in one another.”

Having gracefully made his way downstairs during his speech, Matt was now standing right in front of Emma. He looked even more handsome than he had in Chris’s PowerPoint presentation. Emma watched as he pulled a ring box from his jacket pocket and went down on one knee.

“I know we’ve each been hurt, and I know this isn’t either one of our first proposals. But, if you agree, I can promise it will be our last.”

Assuming neither one of us dies early and the other one wants to get remarried, Emma thought before admonishing herself for thinking about that sort of thing at a time like this. What was wrong with her?

“Emma Moskowitz,” Matt said with a tremble in his voice as he opened the ring box and revealed an engagement ring that was so big it looked fake, “will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Jackie screamed, before catching herself. “Sorry. Sorry. Forget I’m here.” She hid herself under Chris’s arm as everyone laughed.

“Should we try again?” Emma whispered to Matt, who grinned and nodded.

“Emma Moskowitz—and just Emma Moskowitz,” he said with a playful look at Jackie, “will you marry me?”

“Yes,” Emma declared as Matt whooped and wrapped her in a hug. Her whole family cheered and the anxiety Emma had been feeling dissipated. She was taking a risk, but she was taking it with a great guy.

“This is for you,” Matt said, putting the huge round solitaire with a platinum setting on her ring finger. It immediately slid off. “I didn’t know your size.”

“That’s okay. I have unusually small fingers.”

Matt took her left hand and kissed where the ring would go. “I think they’re perfect.”

“Let me get a video of you putting the ring on,” Jackie declared as she came over with her iPhone. “I totally blanked and forgot to film the proposal. Maybe we can do it again? Emma, show me your shocked face.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Matt gestured to a dark corner of the apartment. “I hired someone to record everything.”

An artsy-looking man and a video camera suddenly appeared as Debbie yelped in surprise.

“He was here the whole time?” Debbie asked with a hand on her chest.

“Yes. Sorry. This is Nicolas,” Matt explained. “A buddy recommended him.”

The videographer waved. “Great proposal. Got a lot of good stuff.” He pointed at Jackie. “You really pop on camera.”

“I always thought that I would,” Jackie replied, beaming as she turned to Chris. “Don’t I always say that?” Chris nodded.

“I’m sorry for scaring you,” Matt apologized. “I just figured it’d be nice to have the proposal on video for the future and to show my parents. And maybe you can use it for the YouTube channel?”

“That is freaking brilliant, Matt,” Jackie exclaimed. “The fans are going to lose their minds.”

Matt grinned at Emma. “I hope they like me.”

“They’re going to love you,” Emma said, realizing with a bit of alarm that even though they were now officially engaged, they had yet to say that word to each other.

Twenty-Three

“SHOW ME THE RING AGAIN,” MATT’S MOM SAID OVERFaceTime.

After a celebratory dinner, Emma’s family had departed for the night, leaving both Emma and a half-eaten gift basket behind. As soon as they were gone, Emma suggested calling Matt’s parents and he lit up at the idea.

They had now been on a group call with his entire family, nieces and nephews included, for over an hour. Emma’s cheeks hurt from trying to maintain a smile. Apparently, Matt’s family wasn’t just aware of her; they were impressed by her traditional family-based values—something Emma never realized she had, as a progressive Jewish therapist from LA.

“It is stunning,” Matt’s mother cooed as Emma displayed the ill-fitting ring for the fifth time.

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