Page 60 of Lucky Days

To anyone overhearing our conversation, we could be taken as talking about our favorite tunes on Spotify. To me, it's enough to have my bud tingling in anticipation and me giggling, and breaking into a run.

Ten minutes later, and while Zac still can't remember the lyrics, I'm hitting the high notes of our special song.

ZAC

There's no dodging the flashbacks when Josh tows our float into position at the start of the parade. This year's costumes are so different from those we'd worn on the 'Out of this World'float. This is both a good and bad thing.

Good for me because I'm way more comfortable. Bad because Kelly is also covered from head-to-toe in khaki. Neither of us were okay pretending to be Bedouin, opting instead to play the part of 1930s archeologists.

The moment Josh tows us into Main Street, the crowd recognizes us and the calls of Rocket Man start up, along with hooting and hollering. Having expected this, I hit the switch that starts the fountain in the middle of the float.

The tinkling water soon works its magic with the hooting and hollering, changing to ooohs and aaahs and delighted squeals from the scores of kids in the crowd.

"Wait until they see this." Kelly is grinning when she hits the big red button between us.

A moment later, something rises out of the sand that covers the front of the float. While the structure is fabricated from steel, the outside is canvas, painted to look like blocks.

When it reaches its zenith, it forms a perfect pyramid, one with a small Sphinx sitting atop it.

Next to me, Kelly is peering at it. "What's that? It wasn't there when I checked everything earlier."

Rather than answer, I laugh with delight that she's spotted it as quickly as she has. Kelly's all about the details. I've still not said anything when the pyramid subsides again, its components once again indistinguishable from the sand that surrounds it.

Determined to see what's on top of the pyramid, Kelly hits the red button again, pushing me off my cushion. "You're the archeologist. Go archeology the heck out of it."

Once on my feet, I tip my pith helmet in her direction before zig-zagging my way down the length of the float. I'm tall enough that I can reach out and grab the small statue before the pyramid again disappears.

Back next to her, I check where we are on the parade route, soon enough seeing my timing is perfect. Rather than sit, I drop to one knee in front of Kelly, her eyes widening in response.

"Kelly Sanderson, will you make my life complete by agreeing to marry me?" I then pop the top of the little sphinx, revealing the ring I'd picked up at the dollar store.

I've made my question clear and loud, hoping it will be picked up by the microphone I'd fitted to the brim of my pith helmet. The same sort of microphone I'd fitted to Kelly's helmet when I said I needed to tidy them up.

That the radio station public address system has picked up my question is confirmed when the DJ booms out, "Well, Kelly, are you going to say yes?"

She has to wait for the crowd to stop chanting SAY YES SAY YES SAY YES, before she can answer.

"Yes, I'll marry you, Zac Thomas. I'm happier with you than I've ever been in my life. I love you."

She then holds her hand out, allowing me to slip the makeshift ring onto her finger. With it in place, she rears up and throws her arms around my neck, in a move that has us collapsing back into the tent in a loving pile.

To a background of cheering, I reach up and release the flaps of the tent and they drop shut, sealing us in our own little world. Although not completely, with us able to hear the calls of "Go for it, Rocket Man" from the more raucous members of the crowd.

On deepening our kiss, I realize that once again we're going to miss the end of the parade. I then grab our pith helmets and toss them through the flaps of the tent, because there are some things that I don't want the crowd to hear.

That done, I collect my phone from the pocket of my safari jacket. "Josh, mate, don't stop, not until we're back at The Oasis." I end the call, not giving him a chance to respond.

After ditching my phone, I wrap my arms around Kelly, kissing her. "You know the gas struts in the pyramid?"

"Hmmm, yes." Her response is distracted with her busy sliding her leg between mine and nudging me where it counts.

"Well, today, sweetheart, is your lucky day, because they weren't the only gas struts I fitted on this thing."

"Oooh Zac Thomas, you are a wicked man. But you're wrong. My lucky day was the day I met you."

She then deepens our kiss and I know that from here on in, all our days will be lucky, not just today.