Page 108 of Mountain Void

“Me?” Carmen laughed. “Maybe. But don’t blame me; all I did was pick Terry up at the airport.”

Lorenz settled back against the pillows. He reached out for her hand. Charlie couldn’t help it if her legs led her right back to his side.

“Look, Charlie,” he began quietly. “We’ve already been married once.”

Her throat tightened. She remembered their wedding. She’d worn a beautiful sleeveless gown—white and puffy, with tiny colorful flowers sewn onto the bodice.

“But we’ll do it better this time,” he said, his voice gritty.

Tears burned behind her eyes.

“The wedding,” he continued, “we can do however you want. Big. Small. Whatever you want. I called your sister here because I wanted her to be here when I asked you to marry me.”

“Forget the wedding,” Charlie said. “You’re talking about marriage.”

Which we failed at once before.

Lorenz licked chapped lips. “Yes. We’ll do it better this time. I’ll do it better. I promise I’ll protect you.”

Those damned tears started falling. He had protected her. Her and Théo. It’d almost cost him his life.

“I’ll cherish you,” he continued. “I can’t promise life with me will be easy, but I know … I don’t want to do this without you.”

This.

“Life,” he clarified. “I want to do it together. No running away when things get hard. No deciding things alone.”

Charlie pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. More tears fell before she could stop them.

God, she loved him.

She loved him.

She’d tried without him, but the two of them were stronger together.

“Mmm,” she finally said.

“Is that a yes?” he asked.

“Yes. I’ll marry you.”

Relief crossed his face. Had he doubted her answer?

Then Charlie narrowed her eyes. “But not today.”

“Absolutely not today,” Val agreed. This morning, the doctor’s red hair was tied back in a loose knot, held together with a pen. Charlie hadn’t heard her walk in, but clearly the doctor had heard everything. “You’re not going anywhere today, Lorenz.”

Lorenz laughed, a husky sound she didn’t hear often enough.

“Soon, though.”

“After I’ve had a chance to take a shower and wash my hair.”

“If you’ve sorted things out, I’d like a shower too,” Terry declared, dropping the garment bag onto a nearby chair. She threw her arms around Charlie. “I’m glad I brought the dress.”

Charlie laughed helplessly into her sister’s shoulder.

“I’m going to need a new dress as well,” Carmen said. “And maybe a hot date to go with it.”