Page 64 of When We Were Young
He pulled out a small black box and dropped to one knee.
All around them the crowd cheered and cried out, but Emily couldn’t hear anything except Noah. He opened the box, and there in a cushion of velvet shone the prettiest engagement ring Emily had ever seen.
A small round solitaire, surrounded by tiny crushed diamonds on top of a thin gold band. He held the ring up to her. “Emily, I want to spend my life with you. A long life. And I want to love you every minute I draw breath.” Tears spilled onto his cheeks, but they did nothing to dim his smile.
She nodded and blinked away her own tears so she could see him better. A few yards beyond them the camera crews moved past the students for a better view. All Emily could see was Noah.
He smiled bigger. “A long time ago you told me you wanted to remember this, the days when we were young.” He smiled bigger. “I want to remember these days, too. And I don’t ever want them to end.” He was still on one knee, still looking at her like she was the only person in sight. “And so I have a question for you.”
Her legs felt weak. Was she going to drop to the ground right here? She covered her mouth with her hand as Noah continued.
“Emily Andrews, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She took the ring and Noah was on his feet, pulling her into his arms. “Yes, Noah, a million times yes.”
“There’s something more.” He took another ring from his pocket and held it out to Clara. This ring had three blue stones. With Emily standing next to him, Noah raised his voice so Clara could hear him. “Clara, I would like to be your big brother. Because you’re going to live with us for the rest of your life. Because no one loves you more than God and your sister and me.” He smiled at Emily. “Right?”
“Right.” Emily looked at her sister.
Clara had never seemed happier, like she couldn’t begin to believe what had just happened. But she definitely understood. That much was clear. Because she struggled to her feet and in the loudest voice she shouted, “Yes!”
The three of them formed a tight group hug. Then Noah picked up Emily and swung her in his arms. He tilted his head back and shouted, “I’m going to marry Emily Andrews!”
Right at that exact moment, someone snapped the picture.
It was a defining instant, seconds after she had said yes to Noah, and after Clara had agreed to live with them forever.
Like the news would report that night, Noah Carter showed more excitement and emotion in that moment than he’d shown when he was drafted. He had made the right choice, ESPN would say later. Fans from across the country weighed in. Most of them agreed with Noah. Football was a dangerous sport. Better to live and love than to follow a dream that might make both of those things impossible. And so Emily had used the photo to start their first family album.
And Noah had used it for something else.
To start a joint account on Facebook and Twitter. He chose the only name he could possibly use: @When_We_Were_Young. From the beginning people everywhere clamored to follow them, hanging on any detail Noah posted. It was like the whole world wanted to know about Noah and Emily and Clara. And how a guy like Noah Carter could choose living a regular life with the girl he loved over the thrill and money and fame of the NFL.
News stations and celebrity magazines covered the story, declaring that Noah and Emily were that kind of throwback couple everyone wanted to be. Something normally reserved for the movies.
From the beginning, Noah insisted that the account belonged to both of them. “Whatever I say publicly, I say it with you.”
Their numbers soared. Ten thousand followers in the first few days became a hundred thousand by the end of the week. And that was just Facebook. Noah posted Bible verses and funny moments and pictures from all the beautiful times the two of them shared. Sometimes he’d feature Clara, too.
And the followers kept coming.
Long before the wedding, they were contacted by everyone from reality show producers to sponsors. Sponsors most of all. You can make a living off social media, they were told time and again.
At first neither of them was interested. Noah tested for the Bloomington Fire Department and was hired top of his class. Money would be tight, but they would be fine. Noah and Emily sorted through the offers and always they said no. What was the point of selling out to sponsors? No need to hock products in their posts. Nothing real about that.
It was Noah who changed his mind first.
“If people want to pay us for posting, let them.” They were on the steps out front of her house. “Maybe more people will find us and be encouraged. You know, to have faith and love better.” He paused. “That can only be a good thing, right?”
Emily felt a little cautious, but she agreed for one reason. “We’re pointing them to the light.”
“Exactly.” Noah smiled and took her hand. “Bible verses and pictures of the two of us. People need couples to look up to, Emily. A reason to believe that God is real and... love can be this beautiful.”
She tilted her head and let herself get lost in his eyes. “No love is as beautiful as ours.”
He kissed her forehead. “That’ll be our little secret.”
Emily stared at the photo for another minute, just taking it in. She remembered exactly what it felt like to be there, the pinks and blues overhead reflecting in his eyes. It was a dream come true.
