Newlywed Dead by Nancy J. Parra Page A

day.”
    â€œAnd the Kung Pao?”
    â€œWas awful,” she admitted with a laugh. “But Monica can cook. So she made this fabulous steak salad for lunch. We ate out on her tiny fire escape, which she had dressed up with a bistro table and chairs and filled with flower boxes full of blooming plants. She told me her story and I told her mine.”
    â€œStory?”
    â€œOf how we discovered we were gay and how difficult it was to tell our families. My family was very accepting,” Laura went on to say. “Her family, not so much.”
    I frowned. “I plan an engagement party immediately following the proposal. Many times the family and friends want to be there to see it and so we combine both. It sounds like that might not be a good fit for you and Monica.”
    â€œNo,” Laura said. “No, we have friends and my family would like to celebrate. But if we could, I’d like keep it simple and beautiful and private.”
    â€œI can do that,” I said. “This is all about what you want.”
    Laura relaxed a bit. “Okay, good. Some people are good with the splashy, in-your-face wedding thing. I applaud them, but it’s not for me.”
    â€œOkay,” I said. “What do you and Monica like to do when you’re together?”
    â€œBesides cooking? We like to Rollerblade in the park. We like to bike with our pups, Harry and Sally.”
    â€œOh, you have puppies? What kind?”
    â€œHarry is a corgi and Sally is a pomapoo.”
    â€œSo small dogs,” I said, and drew my eyebrows together. “How do you bike ride with them?” I tried to imagine their tiny legs keeping up with two women on bicycles.
    â€œOh,” Laura said, and chuckled. “We have picnic baskets on the front of our bikes and we pop the dogs inside. They love to ride with the wind in their hair.”
    â€œNow that’s cute,” I said, and wrote down
dogs in picnic baskets
.
    â€œYou like outdoor things,” I stated. “Too bad it’s the middle of winter. I could do a sweet picnic proposal.”
    â€œOh, yes,” Laura said with a smile. “In Grant Park. How fun would that be?”
    â€œWe could still do it,” I said, my mind working through the idea. “It would certainly be a surprise.”
    â€œA picnic in Grant Park in winter? She’d be surprised and frozen.”
    â€œRight, maybe there is something else food related we could do.” I pursed my lips thoughtfully. “Listen, I know this chef who gives cooking lessons in her home. We couldset it up to look like you are doing a cooking class date. We’ll re-create your Kung Pao dinner . . .”
    â€œHopefully better tasting,” she teased.
    â€œMost certainly better tasting,” I said with a smile. “We can decorate with Monica’s favorite flowers.”
    â€œShe likes daisies.”
    â€œGreat,” I said, and wrote it down. “Her favorite color?”
    â€œYellow and green,” Laura said. “Not exactly winter colors.”
    â€œStill, okay,” I said. “I’ll bring in other couples who Monica has never met to make it look like a real cooking class. We’ll set up a small party with your friends and family in the second of the two dining rooms the chef has available. That way you can do the proposal in the first dining room and then we’ll open the second and all your friends and family will be there for an engagement party. It will be a big surprise and a lot of fun. Are you up for it?”
    â€œI do like the idea,” she said.
    â€œGreat, now, I’d like to meet Monica. I like to get a feel for both people in the couple. That way I’m sure it will be a fantastic event.”
    Laura winced. “Do you mind if you don’t meet Monica? I really want to surprise her and I don’t want her to wonder why I’m introducing her to a proposal planner.”
    â€œYou could