Henry swallows hard, swallows back the foolish pride that put him in that situation to begin with and the fear that he'll have missed his chance. Exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd held as she opened the door, he says quickly; "I'm an idiot."

He then holds out the half dozen pink carnations (roses would be too showy, and dozen would be overwhelming) wound tightly with baby's breath in white paper with a big pink bow. "A big one."