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Chapter Ten: From Briefs to Bubbly

Monday morning began with the usual hum of productivity at Luxor IT Designs. Rosemary was meticulously finalizing a product brief when her phone buzzed. Expecting Jeremy, she leaned back with a small smile, only to find Emily, her junior assistant, on the line.

“Rosemary, I’m so sorry,” Emily’s voice was frayed with exhaustion. Her daughter, Kelly, had been up all night with a high fever.

“Emily, stop,” Rosemary interjected, her voice softening into a maternal warmth. “Family comes first. Take Kelly to the doctor and stay with her as long as she needs. We’ll manage here.”

No sooner had she hung up than the phone buzzed again. This time, it was Jeremy, sounding equally weary but professional. He apologized for the late call, explaining he’d been in surgery since dawn, resetting a young boy’s fractured ulna.

“The boy is in recovery now,” Jeremy said, his voice dropping into that intimate register that always made Rosemary’s heart skip a beat. “I feel like I’ve been running a marathon. But I called because I have a request. I’d like to host you for a candlelit dinner at my place tonight. I’ll pick you up after work and drop Mary-Jane off at your house on the way.”

It sounded like a “cloak and dagger” affair, but Rosemary agreed, her analytical mind already racing through a thousand possibilities.

That evening, the Ascott household was a whirlwind of speculation. When Jeremy arrived, MJ bounded inside, already feeling like a member of the family. Jeremy strolled to the door, where Caleb greeted him, and Joshua provided the play-by-play.

“Mummy is still busy making herself look ‘extra nice’ for you,” Joshua announced.

When Rosemary finally stepped out, she was a vision of blissful elegance in a white chiffon evening dress. Jeremy let out a loud, appreciative whistle, ignoring the giggles from the children. He took her hand, a silent promise in his eyes, and led her to the car.

At his home, the entrance hall was adorned with a single, long-stemmed red rose. Jeremy led her into the dining room, where a feast awaited: grilled lobster tails with lemon garlic butter, beef tenderloin, and a vibrant seafood paella.

“Wow,” was all Rosemary could manage.

They ate like royalty, but as the meal drew to a close, the air grew heavy with anticipation. Jeremy stood, walked around the table, and dropped to one knee. He produced a small black box tied with a white ribbon. Inside sat a two-carat pink diamond set in white gold.

“Rosemary Ascott,” he said, his voice steady yet thick with emotion. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, the ‘Ice Princess’ persona melting away completely. “Yes, Jeremy, a thousand times yes!”

He spun her around in a jubilant embrace. “Take me home,” she laughed through happy tears. “I need to show off this ring and share the news!”

They arrived back at the Ascotts’, and Jeremy blared the horn four times, startling the neighbours and bringing the family running to the door. “We’re engaged!” Rosemary shouted. Bruce immediately retrieved bottles of sparkling wine and grape juice for the kids, and the house erupted into a midnight celebration.

The following week flew by in a blur of planning. By Saturday afternoon, Jeremy’s backyard had been transformed by a large marquee to accommodate over a hundred and fifty guests. A live band played as colleagues from the hospital and Luxor IT mingled.

Rosemary moved through the crowd, her pink diamond catching the sunlight. Her brother, Timothy, eventually stepped to the microphone, tapping his glass for silence.

“To the fantastic couple,” Timothy announced, raising his flute of chilled champagne. “May your happiness never grow cold, even as you grow old. To Rosemary and Jeremy!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. Amidst the laughter, Jeremy’s colleague, Jason, nudged him playfully. “So, Jeremy, with a rock that big, are you going to keep showering her with jewels?”

Jeremy grinned, glancing at Rosemary. “I’ve already caught the prize fish, Jason. Do I really need to keep stuffing bait down her throat?”

The group roared with laughter, though Rosemary shot him a mock-offended look that quickly dissolved into a smile.

The news of their engagement spread rapidly. By Sunday morning, joy followed Rosemary to church, where the twins had already told the Pastor before the service began.

The momentum of celebration carried into Monday at the office. Rosemary arrived at a decorated desk and a waiting team with a cake.

“Back to work, everyone,” Rosemary laughed, adjusted her ring, and sat down to tackle the week. She was no longer just an architect of software; she was the architect of a new life.