kidding? She doesn’t even show up right on time for anything, she’s always at least five minutes early.
I just grinned the whole time, knowing it drove her insane.
As we get out and I hand my keys to the valet I paid to pick up the car when we got there, she glares at me. It’s playful, but I still know it’s under her skin, even if she tries to play it off.
“Relax, they never start the previews on time.”
“It’s not a normal movie. There might not even be previews.”
“They’ll start the shit when I tell them.” I grin at her, my shoulders bouncing as we walk up to the door.
“You’re so full of it. Like they’ll just say, Dominic Romano is coming to the movie, better not start things until he gets here.”
“That’s exactly how the world should work.”
I take her hand and drag her toward the door. “Come on. It’s going to be great.”
Two ushers open the door for us the second we walk in, and Mary stares at me with questioning eyes. This service is above and beyond what you usually get at a movie theater.
Two more ushers lead us into the theater, and it’s pitch-black, just as it should be, but there’s nothing on the screen.
I can’t see Mary, save for our feet along the dimly lit aisle. “Told you we’d be on time.”
She whisper-yells back, “Yeah, because pitch-black is how they keep the theater when you’re not late.”
I grin to myself as he takes us all the way to the front and shows us an empty row of seats.
“Why are we in the very front? The place is empty. We could have any seat.”
I shrug even though she can’t see me. “This is where the man brought us. Just have a seat and enjoy the movie.”
I squeeze her hand in mine, probably tighter than I should, but the nerves hit me all at once. My stomach rolls, in the best way possible, and my adrenaline spikes.
“Your hand is clammy. You okay?”
I gulp. “Yeah,” I say, as we take a seat.
All we hear are the usher’s footsteps as he walks back out of the theater. A little light peeks through when he opens the door, then just like that it’s gone.
My nerves spike to an all-time high, and I tighten my grip on Mary’s hand.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yep, shh, movie’s about to start.”
I can tell she’s uncertain, but she doesn’t say anything else.
I count it down in my head, nervously waiting for the screen to light up. I started planning this the day she took me back, and I pray harder than I’ve ever prayed before that it’s perfect, and it works.
More silence.
Complete darkness.
You could hear a damn pin drop in the place, and I really am surprised. I thought something would give it away, but it’s working perfectly.
Then, it happens.
I hear an electric motor whir to life, and a split-second delay, then the screen lights up. Music comes over the loudspeakers.
The words come on the screen and they say, “Mary, I love you.”
“Wait, what?” The screen lights up Mary’s face, so I can see her reactions, and she gasps a little.
As the music plays, a trailer of us starts up on the screen. They’re scenes from moments I’ve been filming of us in the park, plus a slideshow of selfies and pictures of us. Us kissing, us walking along Lake Michigan, someone even got video of us at the church after my baptism.
I even did a voiceover with the help of someone I know who makes commercials, and I narrate the entire video from beginning to end. I can’t believe how professional they made it look. It’s an actual movie trailer with the music and everything.
Mary’s eyes stay locked on the screen, like she doesn’t want to miss one second of it. It allows me to slide down on one knee in front of her and pull the box from my pocket and open it.
The ring is incredible. I worked with a local jeweler and he was able to work a cross into the setting beneath the diamond. All I can do is pray with everything in my body that she loves it.
When the trailer ends, Mary’s eyes move to the side, and when she realizes I’m not there, she looks down and sees me in front of her. Her eyes widen even more.
The lights fade back on, and I can see everyone behind Mary, smiling at us, but she has no idea anyone else is