“Merry Christmas,” she said, grinning at him. “Maybe next year we’ll actually have a turkey dinner instead of a sandwich.” But neither of them looked unhappy, and they were grateful to be together. She’d been telling him about Valentina and her French boyfriend. They were in Paris and due back in two days. “I can’t believe she’s still with him,” Sasha told him. “They usually don’t last this long. It’s been three months.”
Alex’s parents had called them earlier on his cell phone and wished them both a merry Christmas. She had loved spending Thanksgiving with them, and sent his parents flowers to thank them, and a five-pound box of chocolates for Christmas. She and Alex hadn’t exchanged gifts yet and wanted to do it when they went off duty on Christmas night. She had bought him a warm hat and gloves, and a pair of Crocs as a joke.
He pulled a box of cookies out of his pocket then, that he’d gotten for her in the cafeteria, and he handed them to her when she finished her half of the sandwich.
“Dessert,” he said as she hesitated.
“Maybe I should save them for later. It’s going to be a long night.” She eyed the box thoughtfully.
“Go on, I’ll get you more if you want. The cafeteria’s open all night.” She weakened and dug into the box and couldn’t reach the cookies. They were stuck inside. She peered into it and saw a black velvet box instead, and she looked at Alex with startled eyes.
“What’s that?” Her heart was pounding as she pulled it out and looked at him in amazement.
“The cookies must have come with a prize!” he said with a wide smile. She had the box in her hand as he got down on one knee in the doctors’ lounge and spoke softly. “Sasha, I love you with all my heart and being. I pledge you everything I have and am. Will you marry me?”
“Oh my God,” she said, and started to cry, as he opened the box for her, and slipped a beautiful diamond ring onto her shaking hand. “Oh my God…I love you…What number date is this?” she asked, laughing through her tears. They had only been dating for three months, but he was absolutely certain she was the love of his life. He had told his parents over Thanksgiving what he intended to do, and they heartily approved. His father had lent him the money for the ring, and Alex was going to pay him back.
Alex kissed her then, and looked at her. “You haven’t answered me. ‘Oh my God, what number date is this,’ is not a conclusive answer.”
“Yes! Yes…oh my God. What am I going to tell my mother? She doesn’t believe in marriage.” She was panicked.
“Tell her we do,” he said quietly, and put his arms around her, and she held up her hand to admire the beautiful ring he had just given her.
“When are we getting married?” she asked him. She was overwhelmed by the whole idea.
“How about June?” She nodded, and they were talking and hugging and laughing, when one of the labor nurses walked in and saw them. It was Sally, the one they both liked best.
“What are you two doing in here?” She liked them both and always enjoyed working with Sasha when she was on duty.
“We just got engaged,” Sasha told her, beaming.
“Congratulations!” she said heartily, and then went back to business. “We’re getting some action in Room Two. Heavy labor, we’re at ten. She’s ready to push. We need you.”
“How did that happen so fast?” Sasha stood up quickly. “She was at two the last time I looked.”
“Maybe the baby got tired of waiting. What do I know? You’re the doctor, so get your ass in there and get to work. If you’ll excuse me,” she said, turning to Alex with a broad grin, “your fiancée is on duty. She’s the doctor here tonight. And give him back the ring,” she said to Sasha. “You can’t wear it when you’re doing a delivery.” She was right. Sasha handed it to him, and he put it in the box and slipped it in his pocket.
“Don’t lose it!” she said as she kissed him quickly and hurried after the nurse with a wave at her future husband.
The baby in Room Two was already through the birth canal and crowning when Sasha hurried into the labor room. She was just in time to catch the baby, a little girl who came out with two pushes, as her parents laughed and cried at the wonder of her. Sasha cut the cord and put her on her mother’s stomach, and then to her breast, as the new mom held her close and looked adoringly at her husband and told him how much she loved him. And all Sasha could think of, as she watched them, was that one day that would be her and Alex.
Chapter 15
When Alex and Sasha came off duty on Christmas night, they met the others at Max’s restaurant, after they went back to the loft to shower and change, and make love to celebrate their engagement. They were both glowing when they walked in to meet the others, and Sasha was wearing her engagement ring, but she was not going to tell them until they saw it. She was drinking a glass of wine since she they were off call for the night, and holding the glass with her left hand, when Morgan let out a piercing scream as she stared at it.
“Oh my God! What is that?” Max looked instantly terrified, thinking she had seen a mouse or a cockroach, and then Abby saw the ring and let out a shriek.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Max shouted at them, and by then Greg and Oliver had seen it too and were laughing.
“We’re engaged!” Sasha shouted at them. “We’re getting married.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, I thought we had rats.” Max turned to Morgan. “Don’t ever scream like that again, unless someone shoots a customer.” But they were all laughing and hugging by then, and Max ordered their best champagne for the table.
“When did he ask you?” Morgan wanted all the details, and Sasha told them. And Alex looked like a proud man as they all congratulated him.
“Have you told your mother?” Morgan asked her, and Sasha shook her head.
“We called Alex’s parents and brother last night. I thought I’d call mine, and Valentina, tomorrow. I wanted to give us some time to enjoy it first.”
“That should be fun with your mom,” Morgan teased her. Morgan knew that Sasha’s mother was no advocate for marriage, and would try to talk her out of it. She thought Sasha’s father was a nice guy, but her mother was hell on wheels and rarely nice to Sasha, or anyone else.
“I think Valentina is coming home from Paris tomorrow, or the next day. And you’re all bridesmaids,” she told Morgan and Abby, “and Claire, of course. I have to send Claire an e-mail to tell her. We think we’ll get married in June.” She gave them all the details, as they drank the champagne. And Valentina would be the maid of honor, of course.
“Who’s going to plan it?” Morgan asked her.
“I don’t know yet. We haven’t thought about it.” It hadn’t even occurred to Sasha.
“You need a wedding planner. You’ll go crazy without one. You’re too busy to do it. And I can’t see your mom planning a wedding. That would be like hiring Cruella De Vil to be your dogwalker.” They all laughed at that. “She’d be handing out pamphlets on divorce law in church.” Listening to her, Sasha realized that they had a lot of decisions to make—about church wedding or not, Atlanta or New York, big wedding or small one—not to mention who was going to pay for the wedding. For now, she just wanted to enjoy the moment with Alex before all hell broke loose and they had to figure it all out. And it sounded like Morgan was right, they would need a wedding planner.
They talked about their e-mail from Claire about her mother moving in with them for a few months, so Claire could start a shoe business with her. They were all happy for her, and the three women said they liked her mother and thought it would be fine. She was a quiet woman, and if Claire didn’t mind sharing her bedroom with her, it would work.