“God, Flynn, you sound like a spoiled brat.” Maureen rolled her eyes. “Do you know how lucky you are that you found someone you love? Who loves you? It doesn’t happen for everyone. Look at me. I’m almost thirty, and I’ve never had a real relationship. I’d give anything to have what you and Ali have. You love her. You want to build a life with her. Figure out how to make that happen, and stop whining about priorities.” She winked at me. “Compromise.”
The Colonel’s Last Stand was crowded. I eased the truck around to the side and pulled up out of the way of the real customers. Adrenaline buzzed in my system as I climbed out and headed for the front.
People were milling around the tables of vegetables and fruit, chatting with each other and loading up baskets. I spotted Cassie Deymeyer ringing sales at the register. She saw me before anyone else did and gave me a grin and a wave.
Ali was standing by a table of lettuce, earnestly explaining something to a pair of white-haired women. I waited out of her sight until she began to turn away to handle someone else. And then I called her name.
“Alison Reynolds.” She jerked her head toward me, and the smile that was mine alone stretched her mouth. She began to walk toward me, but as I kept talking, she slowed, curiosity covering her face.
“Alison Reynolds, nine years ago, I gave you an ultimatum. Leave town with me, as we’d planned, or we were through. It was a terrible thing to do. Probably the worst mistake of my life. You made the impossible choice I forced you to make: you stayed here to keep the promises you’d made to your brother. To your family. I hated that, because I thought it meant you loved me less.”
Some of the women in the crowd had stopped what they were doing and were watching us. I recognized some of them from town. Cassie leaned both of her arms against the top of register and smiled broadly at me.
Ali was frozen, her face tense as she stared at me. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides.
“I didn’t realize that you being a woman who kept her promises was one of the things I loved most about you. I was a stupid, immature fool.”
There was a buzz of voices among the crowd. Ali’s face relaxed a fraction, but she was still wary about what was coming next.
“When I came back to Burton, back to you, I realized everything that I’d given up by leaving you all those years. I gave up my family. I gave up my greatest chance at happiness. And I gave up the only woman I will ever be able to love.”
Whispers and awws came from the around the stand. I ignored them, focusing on the only woman whose heart would ever matter to me.
“Ali, I want a life with you. I want a life where we both get to live out what we’re passionate about. If you feel like we need to live in Burton, I’ll stay here with you. I’ll build you a house, I’ll get a job that lets me come home to you every night, and we’ll make that family. I promise you, I’ll do anything to make you happy.
“But if you might consider a compromise . . .” I smiled, letting the word roll off my tongue and feeling my dad at my shoulder. “I think there’s a way for us to work it out. The most important thing, though, is that you know who and what is the most essential to me. And that’s you, Ali. There’s no future for me without you, because youaremy future.”
I walked toward her slowly, my eyes never leaving her face. “So Alison Reynolds . . . marry me. Marry me, and make me complete. Marry me, and we’ll make the family we’ve always wanted.” I reached her and held out my hand, whispering the last words. “Marry me, because I’ll never leave you. I’ve loved you my whole life, Ali, and I’m never going to stop loving you.” I dropped to my knee and opened my other hand, where my mother’s engagement ring, the beautiful antique Celtic knot, lay on my palm. “Please.”
She was shaking now. I could feel it in her hand. Or maybe that was me, because I also tasted the tears that were rolling down my face as I stared into her eyes, willing her to say the only word that I ever wanted to hear.
The most beautiful smile I’d seen in my entire life curved her lips. She reached out her free fingertips to trace the side of my face.
“Yes.”
A smattering of applause filled the stand, but I hardly noticed. I stood up and pulled Ali into me, wrapping my arms around her as I buried my face in her neck. She threaded her fingers into my hair, and I knew without a doubt that I was where I belonged.
I was home.
THE SUN WAS BLAZING down on me as I walked from the house to the tent set up in front yard. It was hot for early May, and I was glad I’d gone with the strapless dress and sandals.
“Hey, Ali.” A pretty woman who bore more than a passing resemblance to Meghan greeted me with a hug. “This is absolutely perfect. Thanks so much for throwing Meghan’s graduation party. I can’t believe the turnout.”
I looked around at the crowds of people filling the tables and chairs we’d borrowed from friends and neighbors, at the line of folks enjoying the buffet table and the few who’d take up residence on the porch.
“This town loves Meghan, Jude. She’s one of us now.” I squeezed her arm. “Thanks for sharing her.”
“You all make her happy. That’s what matters.” She beamed at me. “And speaking of happy, I hear you’ve got some good news.”
I held up my left hand. The beautiful ring I’d always admired on Cory Evans felt right on my finger. I’d been a little worried at first about taking it away from her, but she’d pushed that away.
“Brice would want you to wear it. And so do I. It has centuries of love and happy marriages built into it, and I know you’re only going to bring it more.”
“Yes, I do.” I answered Jude with a grin. “It was a long time coming, but it’s worth every tear I ever cried.”
“Hey, are you talking about me?” Flynn slid his arms around my waist and drew me back against him. “I just got Bridget to sit down and eat something.”
I laughed. “Jude, have you met my fiancé, Flynn Evans? Babe, this is Jude, Meghan’s mom.”
