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I didn’t even think about it until right now, but I know. Of course I know. I nod.
“I’m guessing it was you who put those flowers at my parents grave, for Mom”
“She’d have done it for me.”
“You didn’t just take care of her when she was sick. You continued taking care of her after she was gone. That means more to me than I can ever tell you.”
“You don’t need to tell me. I know.”
He moves in front of me, walking backward, smiling as he holds one of my hands, watching me smell the flowers.
He stops in front of a gazebo that sits in a flower garden in the middle of the city in January. This is Vegas after all. Then, I watch as he unbuttons his suit coat and takes a knee.
“What are you doing?” I ask, looking around, shocked when I see our friends all standing behind us, all with their phones up, either shooting a video or taking pictures.
When I look back at John Paul, he’s still on his knee, but this time, he’s holding a ring box.
“Whitley Mae Belington”—he opens the box—“will you marry me?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s why we’re here instead of celebrating your wins, Major League.”
He gives me a seriously sweet smile. “Whitley. Mae. Belington. Will?—”
I cave to his charm as well as the effort he’s put in. “Johnathon Gregory Paul, yes.”
As he puts the ring on my finger, I hear cheering and laughing and more cheering as York walks up and shows me the screen.
“Mommy, you said yes!”
“I did.”
Nora’s smile grows as big as her face.
She turns and looks behind her. “Can we go now? Can we?”
I see Gram dabbing a tissue under her eyes. “Yes, baby girl, we can go.”
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“You’re gonna get married at church tomorrow,” Nora shouts as she jumps up and down. “So, we gotta go home and get everything ready.”
In the camera screen, I see Pope move behind me, and he leans in, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Love you, Nora. See you tomorrow at church.”
She claps her adorable little hands. “And then you’ll be my daddy.”
“Yes, little slugger, you’ll be my little girl.”
“Love you.” I blow her a kiss, and she catches it.
“Love you, Mommy.” She smacks her hand on her cheek, placing the kiss I threw her.
Once the screen is black, I turn my head and look at Pope, who hasn’t moved. “You did that?”
“Damn right I did. She needs to see how a man should treat the woman he’s going to call his wife.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”
