“Will you marry me?”

“Uh… I… um…,” Evelyn stammered uncomfortably. Bending a knee, Sam beamed up at her as his hands held a very expensive-looking diamond ring toward her and waited for her to take it. The two were surrounded by smiling family and friends who awaited the “yes” that Evelyn couldn’t seem to form.

This is wrong, a small voice spoke to her heart as her mind raced wildly, trying to pinpoint any indication she had ever given that would have led him to believe she wished to marry him. She had known from the start that Sam was not the man God had planned for her, so she had always been quite clear that she enjoyed their friendship; nothing more.

But Sam, apparently, had other ideas.

“She’s speechless!” Evelyn heard someone gasp. The rest of the room was silent, still waiting for her answer. “Um…,” she offered helplessly, praying for a solution.

“It’s alright,” Sam said, standing. “I can see the answer in her eyes.”

Evelyn felt her face grow red as he shoved the ring onto her finger and kissed her cheek. “Come outside with me,” he muttered, taking her hand and leading her out. Their confused audience applauded out of politeness, and the party resumed as Sam and Evelyn left to stand on his parents’ balcony.

“What’s wrong?” he questioned her, confusion crossing his light blue eyes.

“Sam… when did I give you the impression that I wanted to marry you?”

“Well, I thought it was obvious,” he said. “Our fathers are business partners, our families are high society… whom else would you marry?”

Evelyn sighed. “Sam, did God lead you to ask me to marry you tonight?”

“What do you mean…? Evelyn, He doesn’t have to. Everyone thinks we should be married.”

“But I don’t care what everyone else thinks. I do not feel that God has set us apart for each other, and that’s what matters.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Sam was becoming angry now. He ran his fingers through his dirty blonde hair in frustration. “Do you have any idea how much I spent on that ring?”

“Here,” Evelyn said, slipping it off her finger and holding it out to him. “Return it. Please. I’m sorry for any confusion I’ve caused you.”
Sam scowled at it, then snatched it from her. Evelyn silently thanked God that He was not calling her to put up with his temper for the rest of her life.

“I will be speaking to my father about this…,” Sam growled threateningly as Evelyn reentered the building. She quickly found her mother, who gave her a tight hug.

“Ooo, I’m so excited for you!” Jacqueline, Evelyn’s mother, exclaimed. “Have you two decided on…?” Her voice trailed off as her daughter held up her left hand, now void of a ring. “Oh,” she ended softly. “Evelyn…,” she looked around, then drew her daughter closer so they wouldn’t be overheard, “this is not a good family to cross.”

“I understand, Mom,” Evelyn replied, “but he’s not the man God wants for me. I know it.”

“Are you sure…?” Jacqueline wanted the best for her daughter, but she feared the effects of rejecting a member of the Rutherford family. It would undoubtedly put strain on the business relationship, and David, Jacqueline’s husband, would be displeased to say the least.

“I’m sure, Mom.” Evelyn understood the gravity of the situation, but she could not bring herself to marry anyone but the man God was planning for her. “Listen, I’m going to go home before things get awkward around here.” She kissed her on the cheek and, before anyone else could approach her, slipped away from the party.

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Author's Note: I've had this idea in my head for a while now... Like it? Leave a review; I want to know if there's support for it before I continue...