He looked puzzled but did as I asked.

I intertwined our ringed fingers and said, "Derek, with Grandma just passing, I don't want to think about marriage right now, but I'm giving you this promise. We'll get married soon, okay?"

Derek stared at me for a long time. Silent.

I could see the emotions swimming in his eyes. Complex feelings.

Disbelief, joy, excitement, and maybe a hint of disappointment that I'd stolen his chance to propose.

But in the end, he said ...