The Friend Game (Games for Two #1)

Epilogue

Approximately six weeks later

THE CLOCK ON THE wall ticks loudly in the otherwise silent room and a not small part of me wonders if I’m being ridiculous, sitting here. If I put on this little black dress (a recent purchase) and skipped dinner for nothing.

I mean, just because I remember our conversation about tonight doesn’t mean Luke will. After all, we’ve been dating for almost two months now…there’s no reason for him to show up on this particular night.

Or morning, as the technical case may be.

I glance at the ticking clock. 12:08. He’s seven minutes later than he said he would be. Idly I smooth the skirt of my dress and fluff the ends of my hair. If he’s not here in ten minutes, I vow inwardly, I’ll simply change and go to bed.

And I will not be disappointed. Nope.

Even if I’m pretty sure that’s already disappointment I’m starting to feel at the mere thought of him not coming.

It’s unreasonable to expect Luke to come to my house in the middle of the night. Especially after the busy week we’ve both had. The church held what Luke is hoping will be the first of many “John 21” outreach weeks; a weeklong serving event based on the verses in John 21 where Jesus told Peter to feed and tend His sheep. The congregation passed out blankets and toiletry kits to the homeless, provided meals to low-income families in the area, turned the church kitchen into a soup kitchen for a few nights, offered free basic home repair services to needy families, and so much more. It was a beautiful week.

Even the students got involved. Grade level teachers all picked a service project to do. Specials teacher did too. In art class this week we made tie fleece blankets and cards to go with them.

That’s right. In art class. Because I’m the art teacher again. After all of the chaos of that night settled, everyone realized that they still didn’t have a replacement for me…meaning I’d need to continue on as a long-term substitute unless they wanted to not have art class for a while. Someone from the board volunteered to take on the job, probably in the hopes of earning some brownie points with Lexie.

As it turned out, though, her efforts were for naught, since Luke followed through on his intentions to meet with the Stones to discuss whether or not Grace Canyon was the right fit for them, and, since they didn’t want to change their behavior, they left the school. They claimed that Luke would regret this since their exit from the school was sure to initiate a mass exodus, but in the end no other families left.

Weird as this may sound, I was sorry to see them go. I really enjoyed having Mia as a student, and some part of me could recognize that Lexie’s issues weren’t so much with me as they were with herself.

But anyway, the long-term sub only lasted two weeks before resigning and showing up at my door with a penitent expression and a message from the board asking me to come back to work. Turns out without Lexie at the helm, the board members didn’t care so much about my lack of certification after all.

Amazingly, after all of these months of teaching, I’m not showing any signs of getting sick of it. To the contrary, each day I’m excited to go to work.

Of course it helps that I get to see Luke there.

That’s a definite employment perk.

Speaking of, the time is now 12:13. Maybe he’s not coming after all. It was silly to think he would. I mean, this hypothetical situation was only meant to occur when we thought we had to wait until today to date.

I’ve let my imagination get carried away with me again. Sure it would have been insanely romantic for him to show up at my door, but honestly every day with him is full of romance. There’s no need for me to get greedy about it.

12:14. Four more minutes and then I’m packing it in for the night. Across the living room Holly raises her head, cocking it to the side for a second before getting to her feet. I straighten in my seat. Does she hear something? Is Luke–

A persistent knocking interrupts my thoughts.

It’s Luke. It has to be.

I try to stand but my legs have gone wobbly like even they can’t believe this is actually happening.

The knocking continues, and I finally find my footing, hurrying to the door and throwing it open.

There he is, just like he promised: Luke.

“You’re late,” I say with a breathless smile. Luke doesn’t answer, too busy looking me over with such obvious admiration that heat unfurls in my stomach.

“Wow,” he finally breathes out. “Hannah, you look…” he seems to lose his train of thought as his gaze settles on my face. “Perfect,” he finishes softly.

“So do you,” I murmur, robbed of further words by the intensity of his appreciation of me.

Luke clears his throat. “I was a little worried I was going to wake you up,” he says, gaze still locked on my face. “I thought maybe you’d forgotten about our plans.”

This knocks the words back into my mouth. “Me forget something so romantic?” I exclaim. “Do you know me at all, Luke?” He chuckles. “Besides,” I add before he can answer, “you’re the one who had me wondering if you were going to come.” I tap the watch on his wrist. “You’re 14 minutes late, mister.”

Luke grins. “Hey now, that’s where you’re wrong.”

“No,” I reply with a smile, “you said you’d be here at 12:01 on March 1 to pick me up for our date.”

“I did say that,” he agrees, “but you’re forgetting what you said in response to me asking if 12:01 was too early.”

“What I said?” I wrack my brain and it clicks into place right as he supplies the words for me.

“Maybe just a tad. Give me at least until 12:15.”

I laugh, feeling the joy that produced the sound in every cell of my body. “Well, I stand corrected then,” I tell him. “You’re right on time.” I turn and reach up to grab my purse off the hook on the wall to the left of the door, asking as I do, “So where is this Italian place that’s open after midnight anyway? ”

He doesn’t answer, and when I look back at him to see why, I drop my purse because Luke isn’t standing anymore. Nope. He’s down on one knee, an open ring box in his hand. My own hand flies to my chest as I breathe out his name, “Luke.”

“Hannah,” he says, his voice clear and sure, “you are everything that I could have ever asked for in a wife and also so much more. You’re kind, funny, and so incredibly full of imagination and life. You love others with your whole heart and your awareness of the power of God’s grace inspires me to seek more of His grace in my own life. On top of all of that, you’re just…so stunningly beautiful.” His eyes trace my face with wonder as if to emphasize this last point. He drags in a breath, before continuing. “I know this may seem fast and if you’re not ready, I’ll wait, but I’m pretty sure that I’ve been ready to marry you since the day I walked into your classroom and saw you doing the robot with 20 kindergartners.” A strangled laugh escapes my mouth, but he’s not quite finished.

“Of course I also realize that I’m not just asking you to marry me, I’m also asking you to be a pastor’s wife–which is a big job. You have already proven yourself to be more than up to the challenge with your generosity and compassion for the people of Grace Canyon, and while I would love nothing more than to have you by my side as I lead this church, I do know that’s something you may need to think about. Basically, I understand if you don’t have an answer ready for me tonight, so you should consider this a standing proposal…in place until you make your decision.” His eyes lock on mine as he lifts the ring even higher and finally asks, “I love you, Hannah Garza, will you marry me?”

I stare down at him, my thoughts swirling rapidly around in my head as I try to find words adequate enough to answer him. He’s right. This is definitely fast. But I can’t seem to find any doubt or hesitation anywhere in my body. Not even the warning voice of Jill that usually follows me around when I’m being impetuous. Instead I only feel the pressure of a thousand yeses trying to burst out of me. But also, I want to say more than just yes. He’s so good with words and I’m…not. How can I express the way I feel about him? Ask him to hold on a quick second while I grab a paintbrush and paint my yes on him?

No.

I need him to know now that I want to marry him.

“Luke,” his name comes out raspy as I try to get my bearings, “I…you…” Oh goodness, I think I’m going to cry. I swallow hard, waving my hands at my face. “I want to watch Star Wars with you,” I blurt stupidly.

Luke blinks at me. “What? ”

I groan. “Sorry, I messed that all up,” I go on, moving into ramble mode as I try to course correct. “What I meant was…that’s how much I love you. I hate those movies, but if I was watching them with you, I know I would like them because when you’re with the person you love they make even unpleasant things enjoyable.” “I see.” Luke’s mouth twitches with amusement.

I press on. “Sorry, that wasn’t as romantic out loud as it sounded in my head. The point is…being with you makes all of life brighter. Even the hard stuff feels less hard when I’m with you. I love you, Luke Abbott, and my answer is yes! I will absolutely marry you!”

I barely have the words out before Luke is up off his feet and kissing me with a passion so fierce I’m swept away in it. The press of his mouth against mine is like a seal stamped on an official document, authenticating his love for me in a way that leaves no doubt of its veracity. I clutch him tightly and try to communicate the same thing.

“Oh, Hannah,” he murmurs against my lips as our kiss slows, “I cannot wait until you’re my wife.”

Dizzying heat sweeps over me. He holds me for a moment longer before slowly releasing me.

“But you’re not yet,” he says regretfully, scrubbing a hand over his face .

“Not yet,” I whisper back, leaning against my door as I try to get my body under control. “But soon.”

“Soon,” he agrees with a rakish smile that makes me want to pick up where we left off. Not a good idea, though. Not with my empty house behind us–entirely too tempting.

“I guess it’s true what Belinda said,” I quip in an attempt to put us back in safer territory, “a single pastor in possession of a congregation must be in want of a wife to help shepherd his flock.” Luke throws his head back and laughs.

“Nah,” he says, “I wasn’t in want of a wife…I was only ever in want of you.” He bends down and picks up the ring box–he must’ve dropped it when we kissed–and takes the ring out, holding it up to me. The diamond glints in the moonlight. “May I?” he asks, gesturing to my left hand. I nod and gently he lifts my hand.

As with many other things in my life, I’ve imagined being proposed to many times over the years. Who the guy would be…where it would happen…what the ring would look like…what he would say…but as Luke slides the ring onto my finger the moment wipes out all of those past imaginings completely because this moment is so much better than anything I ever could have imagined .

THE END!!