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“And?”
“We never got the dog.” Gunner laughed. “I haven’t thought about that for years.”
“Poor Gunner,” Zary teased. “You never got your Christmas wish.”
“Yes, I did,” he said, kissing her. “You are all I ever really wished for. You’re more. There’s only one more thing I want this year.”
“What?” she asked, sitting forward.
Gunner slid off the sofa and got down on one knee. “I love you in this lifetime just like I did in all the past lifetimes that I know we’ve spent together. I’ll never stop loving you, Zary. Not even when I take my last breath, because I know that in my next life, you’ll be by my side again.” He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Marry me, Rocket Girl.”
“Oh, Gunner,” she cried, sliding off the sofa like he had and throwing her arms around his neck.
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a thousand lifetimes of yes,” she said, brushing her lips against his.
“Let’s see if this fits.” He slid the ring on her finger. “Perfect,” he murmured.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said, gazing at the oval diamond surrounded by rubies.
?
?There’s something I want to tell you, my sweet, wonderful, soon-to-be wife.”
Her eyes met his.
“I’d like us to be married on the Fourth of July.”
She nodded. “Okay…”
“Do you want to know why?”
Her expression turned puzzled. “Sure.”
“It’s your birthday.”
“What?” she whispered.
“I asked your mother.”
“I didn’t know.”
Gunner helped her back onto the sofa and pulled her close to him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away, but I wanted to surprise you.” He ran his finger over the rubies on her ring. “These are your birthstone.”
—:—
Zary couldn’t stop crying, but Gunner just smiled at her between kisses.
Most of her life, she’d believed whatever year it was would be her last. People in her line of work didn’t live to be very old, especially women.
This year was so different. Not only was she with Gunner, her only dream come true, but by next Christmas, they’d have a baby. Her mother was sleeping safely and soundly upstairs, and even her uncle was here.
“July Fourth,” she whispered.
“Is that okay with you?”
“I love it, Gunner.”
