Page 103 of Meant to Be

“Yes,” she said. “I think I might.”

“I’m going to ask Cate to marry me.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said, but the look on her face was so inscrutable that it worried me.

“You think so?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Then why aren’t you smiling?”

“Because I’m thinking…this is heavy stuff. Cate’s life will change. I mean, it alreadyhas—but it willreallychange. Forever.”

I swallowed, feeling nervous. The conversation wasn’t going exactly the way I’d hoped. “Yeah. That’s kind of the idea of marriage,” I said, forcing a smile. “Life will change for both of us. Hopefully for the better.”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “Hopefully.”

“Okay, Elna. You’re scaring me here,” I said.

“I don’t mean to scare you,” she said, her expression softening a little. “I’m happy for you. Forbothof you.”

“So I have your blessing?”

She smiled. “Yes, of course you do.”

I gave a sigh of relief, then said, “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

“I think it’s very likely,” Elna said.

“But not a sure thing?”

“Nothing’s a sure thing with Cate,” she said. “I think you know that by now.”

I nodded, then asked if she’d help me pick out a ring.

“Oh, shit,” Elna said, shaking her head and laughing. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me that…. I havenoidea what to tell you.”

“Are you serious?” I asked. “Isn’t that something girls discuss?”

“Maybe most girls…but not us.”

“Shit,” I said. “So…no guesses on her favorite cut of diamond?”

“Well, I’d say something classic…but not too predictable or boring.”

“Is a round cut boring or classic?” I asked.

“I’d say it’s classic. But I don’t know…maybe a little boring, too?”

“Okay,” I said, laughing. “Youdorealize that you’rezerohelp here, right?”

She smiled and shrugged. “I told you. It’s not my thing.”

“Would Curtis know?”

“Probably. But you can’t ask Curtis! He can’t keep a secret to save his life.”

“Okay. What about Wendy?”

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