My dad seems to have heard enough. "Reuben, I give you the permission you're asking for. I don't know what life will be like without Meadow should she accept what you are proposing, but she's an adult. She's 22. She can do what she likes with whatever person she likes.” He looks over at me. “Hell, you don't even need my permission. All you need is hers. We may be a big old family, but we're not old-fashioned. We understand that each person has their own life to live. Her mom and I, we've been lucky enough to have her. We've just been lucky to have our kids under our wings for a long time. But maybe it's time Meadow takes off, learns to fly on her own."
Tears prick at my eyes and I stand, moving toward my parents, giving them a big hug. "I love you guys both so much."
"We love you too, Meadow. That's why we're trying to be open-minded about whatever happens next."
"Reuben's not just a guy; he's a father." Red clears his throat, "And he's a good dad."
Reuben blinks away tears, "Only because I learned all my tricks from you, Dad." The amount of emotion and love filling this room right now takes my breath away. Reuben reaches for my hand, pulling me in for a hug.
He kisses the top of my head and I feel myself relax against the man who has my whole heart in his hands. "Look," Reuben says, "why don't we go down to that kickball game and see what all the fuss is about."
I smile. "Do you need help with dinner, Annie?"
She shakes her head no. "It's all warmed. We can go down to the field."
Reuben takes my hand and together we walk out of the house. We wind around the beautiful garden that Annie's made and head to a green lawn behind the homestead.
What I see there truly takes my breath away. I turn to my parents and his. "Did you know this was going to happen?"
Reuben grins. "Of course they did. Needed their help, after all."
Tears fill my eyes.
"Oh my gosh," I say, as we walk toward the field. There are roses laid down in a path for me. A makeshift stage has been set up where my siblings have their instruments ready to sing. My mom and dad join them and Reuben's parents join his family.
"There's no kickball game?" I ask. Plum shakes her head, reaching for my hand and handing me a flower crown. I kneel down so she can place it on my head.
"See," she says, "you really are a princess."
Tears fill my eyes and I blink them away as I stand. “Thank you, Plum, it’s beautiful.”
Just then, Reuben drops to one knee. "Meadow, will you marry me?" He pulls a ring from a jewelry box, offering it to me.
I gasp, looking at our families who are all here, gathered around us. Jessica is singing one of my favorite songs. My family plays music that makes me feel like I'm not just at home, but like I've died and gone to heaven.
"Yes, I'll marry you, Reuben Rough."
He grins. "Good, because this would've been an awkward family dinner if you said no."
I shake my head incredulously at this moment happening right before my eyes. He slips that ring on my finger and Plum begins to twirl around in her pretty princess dress. Reuben takes my hand and his little girl’s hand and the three of us spin in a circle together, laughing, love bubbling out of our hearts.
When the song ends, everybody claps and Reuben pulls close to kiss me softly on the lips.
"Well," Reuben's father says, "I think it's time for a celebratory dinner. What do you kids think?"
We all follow him into the house where Annie and Lemon have set out a stack of plates and forks, pitchers of lemonade, bottles of wine, chicken pot pie, and a big Caesar salad. In the corner, there's a three-layer chocolate cake and I see it's piped with the word: Congratulations.
How this woman pulled together an engagement party within hours amazes me. But what amazes me even more is that everyone here has decided to wrap me up in their arms and welcome me wholeheartedly into their lives.
His brothers in turn give me hugs. "So good to meet you," Bartlett says.
Rye says, "Thank you for making my brother happy."
Mac and Graham and Fig and Lemon all let me know how happy I'm making their brother.
A small part of me is scared because this is a lot, fast, and what if I don't live up to their expectations? But then Reuben takes my hand and leads me down the hall while everyone else is getting their food dished up.
"I know it's fast and crazy, but I love you and I wasn't letting you go."