TIMELINE FORK · THE PROPOSAL
YES — canon
Tomas kneels at duck pond, ring out, Lily says yes, park erupts.
PAUSE
Tomas hesitates, Lily takes his hand, asks "are you OK?"
POSTPONED
Ducks startle, Tomas pockets ring, "tomorrow at the bandstand."
Sunday morning. Park gates swing open at Brimsworth. Joggers stretch by the fountain. Mr. Whitford folds his paper to the obituaries page.