Me: OK! (pause) But haven’t you even given it some thought?
Adam: No. Why would I? We have plenty of time.
We’re on our way into the city for dinner at the Rainbow Grille. I get upset and stare out the window at a billboard advertising Chris Rock coming to Atlantic City at the entrance into the Lincoln Tunnel trying not to cry.
When Adam told me on Tuesday about out last-minute reservations at the Rainbow Room Grille in Rockefeller Center I had suspected that this was it and that maybe he would finally make an honest woman out of me. I went ahead and canceled my plans with Kendra since Adam and I hadn’t had a nice dinner with just the two of us in awhile.
Now, I’m sure that any suspicion I had was false hope and I will be flying home next week for my 5th Thanksgiving with Adam and biting my tongue at any mention of an engagement.
We arrive just in time for our 8:00pm reservation, but end up waiting for about 20 minutes until a table opens up. We’re right next to the window on the 65th floor of the GE Building looking South over midtown. I can see flashes from cameras at the observation deck of the Empire State building. The view is amazing and I text Kendra that this is probably one of the fanciest places I’ve ever been. I’m kicking myself for not wearing make up.
We order a bottle of wine and I’m surprised at how much better I’m feeling after a couple glasses. Who cares if we’re not engaged yet? I tell myself to relax and enjoy dinner, after all, Adam’s paying and I’m going to order whatever I want.
We start with salads. I order a standard mixed green salad since I’m pretty picky about my salad toppings. Adam orders a chef’s salad. They’re both fairly decent in size and I’m beginning to think that we should have just split one.
For dinner we order beef tenderloin for two. I’m glad we ordered salads because usually a two person portion is only one for Adam. The beef arrives on a large silver platter and they serve both Adam and I a very healthy amount of beef, potatoes and eggplant.
I save room for desert, as I always do. I saw our neighboring table with a piece of chocolate cake that looked fabulous. I order the chocolate cake and Adam orders raspberry sorbet.
Desert arrives, only they got mine wrong. I quickly inform them that I had chocolate cake and the waiter tells me he’s terribly sorry and it shouldn’t be very long. After the 3 glasses of wine I consumed I have to pee. Adam tells me to wait but I explain that I have to go really bad. Plus, who knows how long the chocolate cake will take. I’ve seen other pieces served but they have seemed to have forgotten mine.
I go to the bathroom. Look in the mirror; kick myself again for not wearing make up or doing my hair. I pull my hair back as it looks like the walk over left it a bit tussled.
When I sit down to the table my cake still hasn’t arrived, however, I see our waiter in the distance carrying what looks to be my desert and clear a spot for it right in front of me. The waiter sets the desert down and steps back.
Wait… what’s that say?
“Abbey, will you marry me?” is written in chocolate around the edge of the plate.
The waiter snaps a picture. My mouth drops and I look over to see Adam reaching into his jacket for a small velvet pouch. He pulls out a ring.
He verbally asks me. I’m speechless
“I didn’t hear you say yes. Does this mean yes?” Adam asks, gesturing to my already extended left hand.
“Yeah… uh, I mean, yes”
He puts the ring my finger. It’s a perfect fit. It’s gorgeous. People are clapping and he leans in to kiss me as the waiter snaps another picture. The waiter sets the camera back down on the table. Adam must have given it to him while I was in the bathroom. The waiter returns with 2 glasses of champagne and congratulates us. Now I'm wishing that I had gotten a manicure.
Adam reaches over and grabs a strawberry from my plate. I’m still too shocked to eat. People are still looking on at our table. I take short glances at the ring on my finger, too embarrassed to stare at it like I want to. I start questioning Adam: Does my parents know? Do your parents know? I’m assuming Kendra was in on this? How long have you had this planned? When did you get the ring?
He tells me that he called my parents on Tuesday to get their blessing. His parents have no idea. Kendra was in on it and has known since September. He didn’t go to work today and he’s been running around all day. He picked up the ring and brought an overnight bag into the city for the hotel he has for the night.
After dinner we walk to our hotel around the corner. I call Adam’s parent’s first, then Kendra. Kendra tells me to call my mom since she’s already called her twice asking if she’d heard from me yet. I call my grandma, my sister, 2 of my co-workers, my boss, my aunt, Adam’s brother and everyone else I could get a hold of.
By 1:00am Adam’s passed out. I’m starting to get tired but there are so many other people I want to call and text. My phone is dying. I’m tired but I’m too excited to sleep like a 6 year old on Christmas Eve. I finally doze off but wake up numerous times throughout the night. I turn the reading light on, look at my ring then glance over at Adam sleeping peacefully next to me. There’s no doubt in my mind. I am the luckiest girl in the world.
