"Sis, let’s go get cleaned up.  Remember, you have your tour in an hour."  Kyla steered Ashley back into the house, leaving Aiden and I alone.

"Is it wrong that this whole scenario made me–?"

"Shut up, Aiden.  That’s my future sister-in-law," Glen said, sneaking back into the garage.  

"You jerk!" I said, shoving him against my car.  "You just pissed her off beyond belief!  I’m supposed to propose to her while she’s stark-raving mad?!"

"Hey!" he said, shoving me back.  "I just bought you a little time!  Plus, she won’t even be thinking about anything else but how to plot revenge on me, for the second time today.  So, the surprise will be even more…surprising!" He threw his hands up in exasperation.  I stared at him for a few seconds, then threw my arms around him in a hug.

"You’re still an ass," I said, pinching his side for good measure before going back into the house. 

The cleanup was in progress as the three of us made our way back to the kitchen.  Dad brought over a full garbage bag that Aiden took off his hands.  "Kyla took Ash up to shower and change.  We’re supposed to go up in a little bit to see the studio."  I just nodded. Glen headed off with a wet rag to wipe up his mess and I busied myself helping my mom fill the dishwasher.

"You ready, sweetie?" she said, kissing my forehead as she handed me a fistful of silverware.

"I guess," I replied, still not sure, but still so sure.  "I know this is what I want, Mom.  I’ve wanted this for a long time.  But, I’m still scared."

"That’s how you know it’s love," Dad said, coming up behind me with a stack of dishes.  "When it’s scary, but you love being terrified.  As long as you have that rush, you’re still in love."

"So, you’re still scared of mom?" I asked.

"Bloody terrified," my dad responded.  "I like that she still makes me shake in my boots." 

We finished up and when I turned around, everyone was standing in the kitchen, talking very quietly, and glancing in my direction.  I figured now was as good a time as any to address them all.

I leaned against the kitchen table and it became silent.  I kept my voice low; I noticed Aiden crept closer to the living room entry to keep an ear and eye out for Ash and Kyla.

"I want to thank you all for agreeing to be here for this, for today.  I’ve always wanted to share this moment with the people I love.  All of you will be off to the far right in the studio when it happens and,  hopefully, Ashley won’t be aware of what’s going on until the last minute.  I just ask that you hold your applause until she answers my question."  Everyone chuckled.  "This means more then you know.  Thank you again."

And with that, we heard Kyla bellow from the second floor that the tour would begin from the living room in ten minutes.

I turned around and vomited into the kitchen sink.