Free The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton

about,” Tyson says, pulling his hand away from mine and turning to face me. I take a deep breath. This is it! I look around slowly, drinking it all in. The trees arch above us, creating a deep green canopy of sweet-smelling blossoms. All around us lovers laze on the neatly manicured lawn, and the dog run across the park fills the evening air with sounds of joy and life. Broadway curves behind us, and cabs whiz down the backbone of the greatest city in the world, providing the perfect urban backdrop for this fantasy moment. The skyscrapers downtown twinkle, and the night is warm, thick, and heavy, full of promise. We lie on the warm grass, nibbling the cheese I bought from the farmer’s market at the north end of the park. Union Square has never been more beautiful than tonight.
    Ty pushes his white-blond hair back behind his ear. He has been fidgety and nervous all evening. I smile at him, encouraging him. This is the moment I’ve been waiting my whole life for. A little behind schedule, but I’ll take it. We’re meant to be. Tyson and Jane Williams. We’re so adorable it makes you want to puke.
    â€œJane, you’re an amazing person,” he says, looking into my eyes.
    I am? I smile and give myself a little pat on the back. I guess I kind of am. “Thanks,” I say and take his hands in mine.
    â€œAnd we’ve been together for a while,” he says, taking a deep breath.
    â€œTwo years, six months, thirteen days,” I say, smiling. He looks at me, confused, then looks away.
    â€œAnd in that time we’ve gotten to know each other very well.” He watches the skateboarders practicing their tricks on the steps at the bottom of the park.
    So he’s really going to do it. I guess I pictured it differently all along. He’s not on one knee, he doesn’t seem to have a ring…but then, it’s Ty. What did I expect? This is exactly the way he’d do it. Forget all that embarrassing fuss, right?
    â€œI agree,” I say. “I know you better than my own feet.”
    He looks back to me and half-grins. I beam back at him. Jane and Ty are getting hitched, ladies and gentleman. In sickness and in health, here we come.
    â€œProbably better than we know anybody else. And I really care about you,” he says.
    â€œI really care about you too.”
    He waits, looking away, absently putting his hands in his pockets. Go on. I hold my breath. “I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the kind of person I want to spend the rest of my life with.” I smile, nodding and pursing my lips. Just spit it out.
    â€œAnd, well…” He looks at me, then looks away. I touch his arm softly. “Jane, I think you’re going to make a great wife….” I can’t contain myself anymore.
    â€œYES!” I yell.
    He stares at me, wide-eyed.
    â€œYes, I’ll marry you!” I repeat.
    â€œWhat?” he mouths weakly.
    â€œTy, you’re perfect. It wasn’t an accident that God brought you into my life. You’re who I’ve been waiting for my entire life. I love you so much.” I reach over and pull his face toward mine, forcing him to look at me. It’s so like him to be nervous. “Of course I’ll marry you,” I say, leaning in to him and closing my eyes. I’ve known he’s the one since the day we met, and I’ve been praying about this ever since.
    â€œJane, I…”
    My eyes fly open.
    Uh-oh.
    Why is he looking at me like that?
    He pulls his hands out of his pockets and places them on mine.
    Oh no. Why isn’t there a ring in one of them? “Ty?” I look at him. He doesn’t meet my eye.
    He places his hands on mine. “I was trying—I wanted to say that, well, I think you’re going to make a great wife someday….” He takes a deep breath.
    I look at him. He looks like he’s about to pass out.
    â€œâ€¦for somebody else.”
    The words echo