Epilogue
T wo Months Later
“I can’t believe I’m on a beach on Christmas Eve,” Daphne said.
“It’s not exactly warm,” he said.
“It’s sixty-five,” she argued. “It’s close to zero back home. This is great.”
“Not bad for your first real vacation then, right? Though you did say that you visited Aster for a week earlier in the year before you moved.”
Abe grabbed her hand and threaded their fingers together as they walked along the beach.
It wasn’t very crowded and that was fine with him. He didn’t want it to be for what he had planned.
“I did have a nice vacation visiting Aster. I know I said I’d never had one before but didn’t count that and should have.”
“You didn’t think it was one because you were so stressed about your life and worried about things,” he said. “You don’t feel that way anymore, do you?”
She turned her head to look at him and smiled. “Surprisingly, no, I don’t. A year ago I never could have imagined the life I’ve got now. I feel as if it all fell into my lap and I’m going to appreciate it daily.”
“As you should,” he said. “I’m a damn good catch.”
“You are that,” she said, winking at him.
“Glad you think that,” he said, swinging their arms like kids might do.
She laughed. She had been much more carefree in the past few months.
Her parents didn’t seem fazed over being told no to money, yet ended up in the place they wanted anyway.
All Abe could do was shake his head and be thankful he had the upbringing that he had.
He wanted to be able to give her that life. The one he had and the one they could have together.
Something he’d been looking for in all the wrong places in his life and luck was on his side in the casino over six months ago.
Just not the luck he thought he’d get when he walked in that night.
“You’re being silly again,” she said, laughing when he added a skip to his step.
“I feel like a kid here right now,” he said. “It’s nice to feel that way.”
“I can only imagine what you’re going to be like as a father.”
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’m a big kid, but you can handle me.”
“I can,” she said, smirking.
“Then stop moving,” he said.
“What?” she asked.
“Let’s just stop right here and look around.”
“What are we looking at?” she asked, her head moving around.
“I’m looking at you,” he said, dropping to one knee in the sand. “Hope you’re looking at me too.”
“Oh my,” she said. “Is this really happening?”
“It is,” he said. “Unless you tell me no. If that is the case, I just dropped to tie my sneakers.”
She burst out laughing. “I’m saying yes. I have a dream job and now I’m going to get a dream guy.”
“Thank God,” he said, pulling the ring out of his pocket. “I hope you like this.”
He’d had Rose make it for him. It was a thick sturdy white gold band. The four petals of a daphne flower were present but not overpowering. More like they were framed and etched to blend around the solitaire diamond in the center and connect to the band.
“I love it,” she said. “You had it made at Blossoms?”
“I did,” he said. “You’re part of that family now. Part of that life. We are all connected in some way or another and it’s time you felt it and showed it.”
“I do,” she said. “I feel it and see it. Are you going to ask me or keep gabbing about other things?”
He didn’t know where his head was at. He took the ring and slid it on her finger.
“Daphne Allen. My first and only one-night stand. Will you marry me?”
Her jaw dropped. “Why would you add that to the proposal?”
Her head was swiveling around to see if anyone was close by to hear what was said. There wasn’t.
“Because it was part of our journey and should be embraced, not be cause for embarrassment. Are you going to answer my question? My heart is racing. I might pass out on you.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said, smiling. There was a tear in her eye that trickled down her cheek. “Even when you’re goofing off and making me laugh because I know you can be serious when it matters.”
“You matter,” he said, standing up to kiss her and spin her around in the sand.
He put her down, then wiped his jeans and started to shake like he always did.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Getting the dirt off,” he said. “My mother will skin me if I bring it in the house. My future wife has a thing about dirt too.”
She leaned up and kissed him.
“I love you the way you are, who you are, and how you come home. I’m telling you now, Abe. Don’t ever change.”
“You mean I can bring dirt in the house?” he asked all excited.
“Why would you ruin all that good work your mother did teaching you? Are you crazy?” she asked, laughing.
“Only crazy in love with you!”
The End.
Check out the next in the series… A Home For Harmony
Putting yourself out there comes at a price!
Harmony James is the poster child for a ray of sunshine dropping sprinkles on the heads of those around her.
She's equally loved and envied by many. No one knows that deep down, she only wants to belong.
Finding success online gave her the satisfaction of a job well done, but it left her craving real-life connections. ..until one gets too close for comfort.
Captain Micah Barnes was on his way to work when he stops to assist a car on the side of the road. The woman inside is trying hard to show she's not terrified, but he sees right through Harmony's charade.
It’s not their age gap, the disturbing anonymous messages Harmony is receiving, or his sixteen-year-old daughter standing in the way of their relationship. It’s whether or not Micah can open his heart and trust again.