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Iine the perfection of the scene The table with its red-checkered cloth; the ridiculous bounty of the feast; the golden sunset strea into the sea with a final flash like an elegant gentle his hat in farewell The candles calo hadsuch people? I wondered what my parents would have said My mother would have been pleased for me; wherever she was, I hoped its rules included the power to observe the living As for my father, I didn’t know I had severed all ties coet in touch Perhaps it was not too late for hiraduation

When we’d finished dessert--a strawberry-rhubarb pie--Jonas clinked his glass with his fork

"Everybody, if I could have your attention"

He rose andnext to Liz With a little grunt of effort, he turned her chair so she was facing hih, "what the hell are you doing?"

His hand fued, then the rest of me As he bent to one knee, my friend withdrew the small velvet box He opened the lid and held it before her A huge, nervous grin was on his face I saw the stone It was enormous, made for a queen

"Liz, I knoe’ve talked about it But I wanted to make it official I feel like I’ve loved you all my life"

"Jonas, I don’t knohat to say" She looked up and laughed uneasily Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment "This is so corny!"

"Say yes That’s all you have to do I pro you want in life"

I wanted to be ill

"C’ for?"

Liz looked at her father "At least tell , a conspirator "That he did"

"And what did you tell him, O wisestep But I’ll say I’htly, the wo She nodded ardently, speechless

"God," Stephanie moaned, "I can’t stand the suspense! If you don’t marry him, I will"

As Liz looked back at Jonas, did her eyes pause at ined this

"Well, I, u from the box "Put it on That’s all you have to do Make me the happiestwas fat as a tooth