“
Trina, I never expected to fall in love again. I thought I got my shot, and I was okay with that, because I had my girls. I didn’t realize anything was missing. Then came you.”
Ms. Rothschild’s hands are covering her mouth. She has tears in her eyes.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Trina.” Ms. Rothschild starts choking on her candy, and Daddy leaps up off his knee and starts pounding her on the back. She’s coughing like crazy.
From his tree Peter whispers, “Should I go do the Heimlich on her? I know how to do it.”
“Peter, my dad’s a doctor!” I whisper back. “He’s got it.”
As her coughing subsides, she stands up straight and wipes her eyes. “Wait. Were you asking me to marry you?”
“I was trying to,” Daddy says. “Are you all right?”
“Yes!” She claps her hands to her cheeks.
“Yes, you’re all right, or yes, you’ll marry me?” Daddy asks her, and he’s only half kidding.
“Yes, I’ll marry you!” she screams, and Daddy reaches for her, and they kiss.
“This feels private,” I whisper to Kitty.
“It’s all part of the show,” she whispers back.
Daddy hands Ms. Rothschild the ring box. I can’t quite make out what he says next, but whatever it was, it makes her double over laughing.
“What’s he saying?” Kitty asks me, just as Peter says, “What did he say?”
“I can’t hear! Both of you be quiet! You’re ruining the video!”
Which is when Ms. Rothschild looks over in our direction.
Shoot.
We all pop back behind our respective trees, and then I hear Daddy’s wry voice call out, “You can come out, guys. She said yes!”
We run out from behind the trees; Kitty launches herself into Ms. Rothschild’s arms. They fall over onto the grass, and Ms. Rothschild is laughing breathlessly, her laughter echoing through the woods. I hug Daddy, and meanwhile Peter’s still playing videographer, recording the moment for posterity like the good boyfriend he is.
“Are you happy?” I ask, looking up at my dad.
His eyes brimming with tears, he nods and hugs me tighter.
And just like that, our little family grows bigger.
”
”
Jenny Han (Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #3))