The Longer Engagement

8: Engaged

Saturday, May 15th, 2021

Brenda is a little over 38 weeks pregnant, and she's pretty big in the belly. If you look at her from behind though, she doesn't even look pregnant. For the last two days, today being day three, her and Sam have been in Nashville, doing anything that she wants to do. Now, they're at the old lake where Sam's dad used to take him, Stacy, Stevie, and their mom when they were younger, having a picnic. They're the only people here, other than the few ducks on the other side of the lake. Instead of sitting on the ground, they were sitting at a picnic table. Once they were done eating, Sam packed everything up and made her sit on the very top of the table, helping her do so. He went to his truck and got his guitar, making sure the small box was still safely in his pocket. She smiled. He stood in front of her and then started strumming, then started singing a new song that he wrote, for this occasion only.

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me - I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm...)
I know you will still love me the same

'Cause honey your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen
And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand

That, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
Thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are (oh ohh)

La la la la la la la la lo-ud

So, baby, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
But maybe we found love right where we are
Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are

When the song was over, Sam put his guitar back in the truck and stood in front of her.

"Did you like it?" He asked. She nodded, wiping her eyes.

"I loved it."

"Well, you're going to love this even more." Sam said, taking the box out of his pocket and getting down on one knee in front of her. He opened it and held it up to her with one hand. She gasped and put her a hand over her mouth, tears coming to her eyes again.

"Brenda Jackson, will you marry me?" She couldn't say anything, so she just nodded and pulled him up to her, kissing him on the lips. He kissed her back and when they pulled away, he put the ring on her finger.

"I love it, Sammy, it's amazing." She said, wiping the tears off her cheeks and looking at it." And it's official, right? We're getting married?"

"We're officially getting married, baby."