Chapter 13

Saturday morning I was up at five A.M. to shovel my drive. We had another two inches of snow. The air was ice cold and barely breathable. I wore a full face mask cap so only my eyes and mouth peeked out. I’m sure I gave Mrs. Crivitz a little scare when she glanced out the window. I waved.

By six thirty I was showered, dressed, and ready. The plan was to get to the store by eight thirty A.M., ensure that everything was ready for the Rockettes and the proposal in the toy area, and then double check with the caterer and florist for the engagement party in the tearoom above.

By the time the store opened, everything was ready. Sherry and William’s family and friends were up in the tearoom sipping mimosas and Bloody Marys and snacking on brunch appetizers. My video guy, Cesar, was set up in the toy soldier area where the store had cleared part of the floor and set up a stage for the Rockettes, who were in the back in toy soldier costumes and ready for their cue. A video feed was run up to the tearoom on a jumbo-sized screen.

Brad and Jen entered the store just then.

“Is this going to work?” Jen asked as she craned her neck to see around a pile of stuffed toys.

“I certainly hope so,” I said. “I’ve got fifty guests upstairs in the tearoom and a table full of engagement gifts. I told them all to bring baby gifts as a gag.”

“Wait, so the family doesn’t know she’s pregnant?” Jen said, and gestured with her hands.

“No, she wanted William to find out first,” I said. I got a text on my phone. “Okay, they are at the front door. Places everyone.”

We watched as Sherry came in with William. Sherry was dressed in a blue wool skater coat that just covered a sweet cobalt blue dress. She had on knee-high black boots and black leather gloves. She wore a blue beret perched jauntily on her head. William was stoic in a black wool dress coat, dark wash jeans, and what looked like a handmade knit scarf around his neck.

Sherry chatted away as she guided him toward the toy soldier section.

“Okay, go,” I said to Jen and Brad. “Remember, you’re shopping for a gift for your nephew for Christmas.”

Brad nodded and he and Jen went out into the room that housed the green army soldiers and tin army action heroes to make it look and feel less empty.

When Sherry got William into the toy soldier area, I cued Cesar to come out with the camera on his shoulder. He appeared to ignore the couple as music began to blare on the speakers and the Rockettes came out and filed onto the stage.

“Look, look,” Sherry said as Cesar got them on camera. The Rockettes did their dance of the toy soldier routine. Sherry and William watched. The routine ended with one of the girls coming down and taking William by the hand. Drawn to the area by the music and camera, customers gathered in clumps around the stage. Another Rockette came down and took Sherry’s hand and led her to the stage. There Sherry went down on one knee and William’s eyes widened in surprise. A big grin spread on his face as Sherry presented him with a ring.

“William Herald, I love you now and always. Will you marry me?”

I held my breath as William looked at her and took a moment, as if considering saying no. Then he grinned. “Yes!” He grabbed her and swung her around. “Yes, yes, you silly girl. But I wanted to be the one to propose.”

The Rockettes and the crowd burst out in applause. More music started as Sherry put the ring on William’s finger and the color guard from William’s squad came out and made an arch out of their guns. “There’s more,” Sherry said, and took his hand. “Come with me.”

I smiled and nodded as she led him off the stage and through the arched guns to the baby toys section of the toy store where Santa sat holding a tiny T-shirt that said “I love my daddy.”

William stopped. He had his arms around Sherry and his eyebrows drawn together in happy confusion. “What does this mean?”

Sherry smiled and bumped him with her hip. “It means I’m glad you said yes to marrying me because—”

“Oh, my God!” William shouted, and picked Sherry up and spun her. “You’re pregnant!”

Sherry had her hands on his broad shoulders and blushed. “Yes.”

William let out a loud shout. The guys from his squad all gathered around and pounded him on the back. I could hear the cheers from the tearoom in my earpiece. I made my way through the crowd and tapped Sherry on the shoulder. William had not let go of her hand.

“Come on, you guys, there are some people here who would like to say congratulations,” I said, and hustled them into the elevator. William barely noticed me. As soon as the door closed, he embraced Sherry in a passionate kiss.

When we hit the tearoom floor, I cleared my throat, held the door open, and tapped William on the shoulder. “Come on, guys, you have family waiting.”

“Let them wait,” William said in a growly tone.

Sherry laughed and pushed him away. “Come on, this is all part of the engagement plan.” She took his hand and followed me to the tearoom. I opened the door, and Gage handed me a microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” I said into the mic, getting everyone’s attention. “I’d like to introduce the newly engaged couple, Sherry Burlingham and William Herald.” I waved the couple into the room. They were surrounded by friends and family. Cesar had come up the stairs and shot footage of the couple’s welcome.

My heart soared. It was a great event and a good start to the day.

An hour later, Jen and Brad came over to congratulate me.

“This was nice,” Jen said. “He really was surprised.”

“For both announcements,” Brad said. He had his hand on Jen’s back. They had dressed in dark wash jeans. Brad wore a pale pink button-down with a wool coat. Jen had worn a brown silk shirt and a wool trench coat. They were both stylish and yet looked the part of shoppers.

“Thanks for letting us see up close what you do,” Jen said. “Of course, I don’t want the toy store. It’s too pedestrian.”

“But it works for a guy,” I said.

“Especially the green army men display in the action-hero section,” Brad said.

“I’ve got a couple of others planned,” I said. “I’ll see you two at the cooking class proposal tomorrow night?”

“Yes,” Jen said.

“What’s the third proposal?” Brad asked.

“The Fulcrum/Thomson event. The families want me to put together the proposal event of the century for the kids,” I said. “By seeing this fun event, the next quiet event, and then the Fulcrum’s glitzy event, I hope you can help me narrow down exactly what you think is perfect for your event.”

“Sounds good,” Jen said. “Does this mean our event will be happening in the next couple of weeks?”

I shook my head with a smile. “I’m thinking after Christmas. I mean, if it happened now, you’d expect it, right?”

“Ah,” Jen said with a knowing smile. “A New Year’s Eve proposal.”

“Perhaps,” I said with a shrug, then walked them both out. “Thanks for helping. See you tomorrow night.”

“Bye, Pepper,” Jen said. “Good show.”

I blew out a long breath. One down. Two to go.