Swiping at the tears, she beamed up at him. This man. This wonderful, wonderful man. If she hadn’t admitted how much she loved him before, she would’ve been shouting it from the rooftops this morning when he’d brought a wagon over to pick up her father so that he could participate. Dad had been so overjoyed that he’d cried. And so many people rallied around him, telling him they were praying for his full recovery and soon.
It was healing for him to get out and be among folks again.To feel a bit normal again. To talk about the dig and share his excitement.
People were curious about the dinosaur and asked if they could come out and see what they were doing.
She couldn’t contain her smiles and enthusiasm as she talked about it. It wasn’t just Dad’s excitement anymore. It was hers. They spent a good portion of the celebration talking about what was entailed in a paleontological dig, but asked for people to please keep their distance until the team had excavated the fossils since it was a fragile work site.
It had been a perfect day.
“Ready to head home? I think your dad is fading in the heat.” Josh whispered close to her ear.
With a nod, she glanced at her father. It had been wonderful to see his face light up and fill with color. But he was drooping. At least the celebration hadn’t caused his heart to beat too fast again. “That’s a good idea. I’m quite tired myself.”
He loaded her dad into the wagon bed with the blankets and pillows around him and then helped her up onto the wagon seat.
“This was the best Fourth of July in history.” The smile on his face didn’t look like it could ever dim.
“I agree.”
They chatted about the weather and their daily tasks as they rode. Dad’s soft snoring accompanied the sound of the wheels rumbling along the lane.
Once Dad was back in bed and under Louise’s watchful eye, she and Joshua headed out for an evening walk.
Hand in hand, they strolled to the creek. Anna took a long inhale. “I love the scent of the water.”
He chuckled. “Guess I hadn’t thought about how water smelled.”
Turning toward him, she squeezed his hand. “Think aboutit. Take a good long breath. It’s alive with movement and growth. I’m so used to working in the dusty and dirty and extremely dry conditions that the smell of water and wet earth makes me happy. Probably why I love the rain so much.”
He shrugged. “It makes sense. Next time it rains in Chicago, I’ll be thinking about that rather than complaining.”
Unable to resist her feelings any longer, she stood up on tiptoe and threw her arms around his neck. With all the love that she’d shoved deep down for the past three years, she kissed him again. And not just a peck.
He placed his hands on her waist and leaned into the kiss.
For the first time, Anna felt complete. Whole. Like this was exactly where she was supposed to be. Forever.
He ended the kiss and then kissed the tip of her nose and then her forehead. With a soft moan, he pulled back. “That could be dangerous.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I love you, Anna. More than you could ever imagine. And that kiss ... well, that brought the fire of passion inside me to a roar.”
Feeling the heat rush to her face, she dipped her chin.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I have to be honest. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. You are the only one for me.” He trailed a finger down her cheek.
“I feel the same about you. I love you.” As they stared into each other’s eyes, it would have been easy to allow the magnetism of their love to take over.
But Josh stepped back. “I don’t want to do anything to disrespect you, so I think we should head back.”
With her heart beating wildly, she couldn’t argue. “You’re right. It’ll be a long day tomorrow.”
Taking her hand again, he led them up the trail back to herhouse. “I will probably smile the whole ride home. And all day tomorrow. And the next...”
She giggled and bit her lip. “Me too. Whatever will people say?”
FRIDAY, JULY5
