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“He does. He’ll go into sportscasting, and I can try coaching, and we can stay here where all the important people are.” They’re too much a part of both of our lives—the stability we both need, the good example of what a family should look like that neither one of us had growing up.
“I don’t like to think about any of the guys getting traded,” Charlene says softly.
“I know.” I press my lips to her temple. The idea of anyone not being here is difficult to fathom, but it’s a reality we’ll all have to face. “They’ll all be back eventually. Chicago is home.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I think I am.”
The sound of babies finally settling gives way to crickets. I’m nervous now, edgy, this thing I want to ask her making my throat tight and my palms damp. I think we’re at the place we need to be.
“Oh!” Charlene sits up and points out into the darkness. “Fireflies.”
I take the opportunity for what it is and stand, holding out a hand to her. “Let’s go catch one.”
We take the stairs down and cross to the beach where it’s darkest. Charlene is still, her eyes scanning the inky night for a tiny green glow. When she spots it, she jumps and claps her hands around it.
“Did you get it?”
“I don’t know.”
I come up behind her, ducking down to rest my chin on her shoulder, and we wait, patient and quiet to see if her palms light up.
“I think I missed it,” she whispers when it seems to be taking too long.
“Just wait.” I slip one arm around her waist and kiss her neck. And sure enough, a minute later her palms glow green in the inky night. She opens them immediately, and the firefly rises into the air, giving me the opportunity I need.
I clap my hands around empty air. “I think I got something,” I whisper.
I hold my clasped hands out in front of her, lifting the top one to reveal the small velvet box.
“What is that?” Charlene strains to make out what’s in my palm in the darkness.
I flip the lid open, the moonlight catching on the ring, making it sparkle as I come around to stand in front of her.
She lifts her wide, uncertain gaze to meet mine. “Darren?”
In my head I’ve done this a million times, practiced all the words I want to say to her. I drop to my knee in the sand, hoping I’ve got this right, that I know her as well as I think I do.
“I’ll never put the lid on your jar, Charlene. I love you too much to do that. I know I already have you in all the ways that count, but I want this with you. I want your fire and your softness, your innocence and your adventure. I want to love you and protect you and take care of you, exactly as you do for me. I want to watch you glow every day for the rest of my life. Say you’ll marry me. Be the only forever I need. Please.”
Charlene’s fingers lift to her lips and then drop to her pearls. Her eyes are soft and glassy as she takes my face between her hands and bends to kiss me. “Of course I’ll marry you. You’re my only forever.”
