“I want an explanation.”
“You don’t trust me?” he asked.
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t?” his voice quivered.
“I just don’t know what’s going on.”
“Can you please come with me? I’m not gonna do anything to you, Mercedes.”
“I’m sorry, Jake, but this is weird. I don’t get it.”
“Trust me, please.”
I wanted to trust him, but I was so scared. I didn’t even know why I was scared, but something was happening, and I didn’t know what it was. I wasn’t comfortable with the uncertainty, and he wasn’t okay. He was pale and sweating, and strands of his hair had fallen down his forehead.
He looked at me with that intense gaze of his, as if he were trying to see right through me, but I was closed off. I didn’t like this. He knew that I didn’t like this, so why was he doing it? I had to know.
“What’s that van?”
“The van?” he asked.
“Yeah, why is there a creepy mafia van outside your house?”
“Mafia vans aren’t wheelchair accessible.”
“Fine.” I got back in the car. “But I’m driving myself up to the house, and I want that gate left open.”
“Okay.” He was visibly upset when he turned back and got into his car. I could see him staring at me through the rearview mirror when he started it up. He didn’t stop staring. Every few seconds, he’d look up with wide eyes. Every look got sadder and sadder until I felt like I’d just murdered a puppy.
He stopped the car in front of the house and waited for me. When I got out of the car, he rushed up and reached out for my hand. “Come with me,” he said.
I didn’t have any choice but to take his hand and let him lead me through the door into the foyer. I stopped to look around. Everything was red and white. Rose vines wrapped the banister, flower displays bloomed in all the corners, and a carpet of petals led through the living room.
He wrapped his arm around mine and led me through toward the back door. “Close your eyes,” he said before we got in view.
“Okay.” I shut them, and he led me out onto the veranda. I could feel the light growing dimmer when we stepped outside. The sun must’ve been setting, and the air was cool.
“Mercedes, open your eyes.”
Jake was on his knees holding a black, crushed velvet box out to me. He opened it with trembling hands, revealing the ring inside. “Mercedes.” He looked me right in the eye. “When I first saw you, I knew that I needed a woman like you in my life. Then you showed up at my door, and I can’t stand the thought that someday you might turn around and leave me. I love you—so much. Will you please do the honor of being my wife?”
Tears flew out. I was sobbing, shaking, and clenching my fists, just so that I could get a handle on myself.
“Yes,” I said.
He was on his feet, and I was in his arms before I knew what was happening. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad hobbling up. My mom followed behind him with Loren beside her. Haylie flew out from behind a corner and wrapped herself around my leg. I took my time, talking to everyone, and running after her while Jake stood watching me with a look of enchantment.
Epilogue
Mercedes
Downtown was congested. The late afternoon traffic was particularly bad, given the number of events that were taking place this evening. There was a concert in the stadium, a political rally at the convention center, and an entire block was cordoned off for the local farmer’s market.
We were lucky that that we were able to get the event hall when we did. Had we waited any longer, we would’ve had to put the whole thing off another year. I walked inside and took a look around. The arched entranceways lining the edges of the room had been veiled with golden silk, illuminated by sun lamps, casting a glow over the marble floors. Above the stage, the workers had hung a brightly lit, golden sun, etched with the silhouette of my father’s face.
Speaking of which, my father walked around the stage, holding a microphone. He blew into it, and the sound blasted from the speakers in front of the stage. I shoved my fingers in my ears. “What are you doing?”