Someone knocked on the front door.She walked through the house and pulled it open.
“Adam?”
She stared, not at him, but at what he was holding.She recognized the dried flowers and crumpled tulle.Her bouquet!She’d wondered about it.Her mother had saved her dress and veil, but had told her the flowers had disappeared.Had Adam kept them all this time?
She looked up at him.His brown eyes gazed warmly at her, but she couldn’t tell what that meant.
“Can I come in?”he asked.
She stepped back.“I don’t understand.”
“About the flowers?”
She nodded.
“I kept them.”He set the flowers on the table in the small foyer, then shoved his hands into his shorts pockets.They were standing so close that she had to tilt her head to look at his face.
“Why?”
“At first they reminded me of what you’d done.They fed my rage.Then I kept them because I couldn’t bear not to.They were all I had.The flowers and this.”
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out.Automatically she raised her palm up to take what he offered.She gasped.Her ring.
She stared at the circle of gold, the sparkling diamond.Tears burned, but she blinked them away.What did it mean?Her heart thundered in her chest.
“Adam?”
He touched his forefinger to her chin and nudged her until she raised her head.He stood so tall and handsome.A special man she had loved her whole life.Just him, she thought, knowing she would accept whatever he offered.She had no choice.There would only ever be Adam.
His gaze caressed her face.He brushed his thumb across her lips.“I love you,” he said.
She stared, mute, not able to believe.
“I love you, Jane.I’ve always loved you.Even when you were gone and I told myself I hated you, I couldn’t let go of what we’d had together.”One corner of his mouth lifted.“You don’t have to marry me, but will you come live with me in my house?The two of you.Can we be a family?”
“Oh, Adam.”She flung her arms around him.“Yes, love, yes.I’ll live with you.I’ll even marry you.”
He clutched her upper arms and held her away from him.“Really?”
She nodded.
He leaned forward and kissed away the tears she hadn’t felt fall.Then his mouth captured hers.Warm and probing, his tongue swept her lips before plunging inside.She gave herself up to him, clinging to his strength, knowing that her world was at last complete.
A gagging sound broke through her passionate haze.Adam lifted his head.
“You’re kissing,” Billie said, sounding more disgusted than unhappy.“Gross.”
Jane held out her hand.Billie shuffled forward, but refused to be drawn close.
“I don’t like this kissing stuff,” she said.
“You will.”Jane smiled at her.“We’re—” She glanced at Adam.“You tell her.”
He took her hand, the one that held the ring.He slid it on her finger and kissed her palm, then crouched in front of Billie.“Your mother and I are getting married.”
“Really?”Billie grinned.“So we’ll be a real family?”
“Yes,” Jane said.“And we even get to live in Adam’s house.”
