I’d been feeling off for weeks—new medication, queasy all the time—and was trying to get ready for my birthday trip to Disneyland. At the hotel, Chris started acting oddly, disappearing into the bathroom multiple times; later I learned he was trying to move the ring without me noticing. When we finally headed to the park he made a few more suspicious restroom trips, and I was annoyed, especially when Bryan and Chris insisted we get in line for a castle photo—something we never do. Begrudgingly I joined them.

At the front of the line Bryan nudged us forward and quietly told the photographer Chris had a plan. After a few posed shots the photographer asked me to turn around with my hands in the air like I was holding balloons—then told me to turn back. Chris was on one knee. I shouted, “No you didn’t,” and the tears started flowing. He asked, “So is it a yes?” Through ugly crying I managed, “Of course!” and everyone around us at Disneyland erupted into applause.