Page 48 of A Simple Love
Are you nervous about tonight? Check yes or no.
I already knew the answer to this would be yes, but I had to start small with my questions before leading up to the grand finale.
A few minutes later, Grace comes flying down the stairs to the left of the stage, her reindeer's nose bouncing with every gallop she takes.
“Here, Mister Mike!” She beams as she delivers her answered note to me and then returns to her post.
Are you still sure you wanted to be a teacher after all of this stress? Check yes or no.
Victoria’s doubts have been creeping in on her lately, particularly from the responsibility of her class’s performance tonight. But she’s never once voiced a lack of decision about her job. And the passion she speaks with about her students is infectious, so this note was more of a joke than a serious question. Her heart in the NO box confirms she knows I’m playing. Victoria always answers with a heart.
Suddenly music plays and the crowd settles into their seats. Dozens of first-grade students from all three classes at the school scamper across the stage dressed as elves, reindeer, and snowmen, standing in front of a backdrop reminiscent of Santa’s Village, as they sing off-key classics of Christmas tunes. Proud parents record videos on their phones, snapping pictures and beaming with wide grins as their mini-me’s perform choreography that is quite impressive for such young kids to master cohesively.
At the end of the last song, I take my place at the edge of the stage, out of the lights and Victoria’s view. Vic is standing in front of the microphone, waiting to address the audience once the applause dies down.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for attending the annual Christmas performance at Hopetown Elementary.” The crowd riles up again, clapping and whistling echoing off the walls and tile floors.
“We hope you’ve enjoyed the show….”
“Miss Baker?” Abigail is right on cue, diverting Victoria’s attention to her.
“What is it, Abigail?” She whispers across the stage as the little girl skips to her and proudly holds out the next note. Confused as to why this note came now, Victoria surveys the crowd before opening the paper. “Sorry, everyone. Apparently, I’m quite popular tonight and all of my mail is being delivered here.” Her joke warrants a laugh from the audience as she opens the message.
Do you love me? Check Yes or No.
“Mike,” she whispers in the audience but loud enough that the mic picks up her voice, still not able to locate me. “What are you doing?”
Suddenly, Lilly stands from her front-row seat right on time, ascending the stage and presenting her sister with the final note.
“Lilly,” Victoria’s brittle voice filters into the microphone. “What are you doing up here?”
All the attention in the room is on Victoria as the heated stage lights beat down on her and all the first graders in Hopetown Elementary still standing on the platform.
“This is the final note, Vic. Open it.” Lilly fidgets with excitement as Victoria places the microphone between her arm and ribcage, nervously opening the paper.
Would you like to be called Mrs. Kelley? Check Yes or No.
A loud thud rings through the room as the microphone falls from her arm, and she frantically hunts around the space for me. That’s my cue.
A loud gasp filters through the audience as I climb the stairs of the stage now, Victoria turning abruptly as the focus of the audience turns to me. I’m holding out a pen to her, but her eyes never leave mine. I’ve never been more eager in my life than to finally ask her this question. Everyone we care about is in this room, but the only person I see is her.
Dropping to one knee in front her, her hand comes up to cover her mouth as I reach for the other. Then I realize I have her right hand, and not her left, so I ask her to switch, which makes everyone chuckle.
“Victoria Baker,” I start after the laughter has subsided and I released the pen to the ground. “I have loved you since I was ten-years-old, not even old enough to truly know what love is. But deep down, I knew that’s what I felt for you. And now that we’re older, I’ve realized that love isn’t as simple as I thought it was back then. But loving the right person is. Love is having the patience to know that timing is everything. Love is fighting harder for someone than you ever thought possible. Love is owning your mistakes and learning from them alongside the one person in the world you know won’t push you away because of your faults.”
Victoria’s lips are trembling, her eyes starting to well with mine as I watch her and fiddle to pull the ring out of my pocket, my stare never leaving her as I finish my speech.
“And even though love is complicated, complex, and frustrating at times, our love has always been simple. Because there has never been anyonebutyou. So if you’ll let me, I will love you, and only you, until we’re old and gray. Victoria, will you marry me?”
I watch Victoria’s eyes close as her body shudders from her cries. When she finally pulls herself together, her lips are spread so wide in elation, I think her mouth might stay that way forever.
“YES!” She shouts, and the audience goes wild. The noise is deafening, but I surprisingly block it all out and concentrate on nothing but slipping the ring on Victoria’s finger before standing and crushing our lips together.
“Oh my God, Mike,” she mumbles behind her hands that she’s covered her face with as we part. “How did you get all of those kids to remember when they were supposed to deliver those notes?” I love that’s the detail of the evening she’s focused on.
“It was no easy feat, I assure you.” I chuckle through our tears. “But you must have trained them well because they were right on point!”
“Oh my God! Vic! Mike! Congratulations!” Hayley is running up on stage, throwing her arms around both of us. Leave it to her to be overly enthusiastic about anything. Although I guess this does call for a celebration.