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“Sutton got everyone together yesterday and announced that he’s dying. Of course, you already knew that.” Carson looked at her, probably searching for some confirmation in her eyes. She kept a neutral expression. “I’m not sure he and I will ever be close, but I understand now what you meant about giving it a shot while I have the chance. We’re far from good, but I’m open to the possibility, at least. That’s a big step for me.”
“Good for you. What about your brothers?” she asked in a flat tone. It would be hard for Carson to accept his father if his brothers felt different.
“Well, it turns out they’re just my half brothers. Sutton is not their father.”
Georgia nodded. This was also not news to her. She’d been right when she said Sutton was a jerk, but not a liar. “He told them that, but Graham wouldn’t listen.”
“I’m sure he did. Listen, I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Sutton, or my brothers, or anything else there, but I know that I want you back in Chicago when it happens. The Newport Corporation needs you, Georgia. The plans for the charity gala have fallen apart since you left. The donation from Sutton needs to be put to good use and frankly, I need help. You’re an integral part of the Newport family, and we need you. I want you there when we have the ribbon cutting because this only could’ve happened with you at my side.”
Georgia felt her hopes start to crumble. Was that all he wanted from her? Public relations skills? He’d wasted a trip if that was all he had to offer her. “You’ve come an awfully long way just to offer me my job back, Carson. You could’ve done that over the phone.” Not that she would’ve answered.
He winced slightly and shook his head. “No, I couldn’t. And you know full well this is about more than just your job, Georgia.”
“Then what is it about? Because that’s all you’ve talked about.”
“Okay. I know. Work is just easier to talk about for me.” Carson swallowed hard and thrust the roses out to her. “These are for you. They’re American Beauties. I thought that was the perfect rose for you.”
She accepted the bundle of flowers and brought them up to her nose. They were amazingly fragrant and delicate with velvety petals. No one had ever given her flowers before. She hadn’t even gotten a corsage at the prom because she didn’t go. She never could’ve afforded the dress and everything that went with it. Since then, her relationships had been far too casual for a romantic gesture like flowers.
“Thank you,” she said, unable to tear her eyes away from them.
“What I really came here to say…aside from apologizing…is that I miss you so much. Once you left, it was like I had this hole in my chest that I couldn’t fill. I’ve always felt that way about not having my father in my life, like there was a part of me missing somehow. I’m sure you know how that feels, too, growing up without any family.
“After our fight,” he continued, “I realized that those two feelings were different. In reality, I couldn’t control my father and if he wanted to be in my life or not. But I was the reason you were gone, and I could do something about it. Blood doesn’t always make a family. Sometimes it’s more about who you choose. I don’t just want you to be a part of the Newport Corporation family, Georgia. I want you to be a part of my family. We’ve both felt like we haven’t really ever had one, or that we’ve lost it along the way. What I’m offering you is the chance to have a family, a real family, at last. With me.”
Georgia clutched the roses in her hands as he spoke. Her chest grew tighter with every word. Was he really saying what it sounded like? That was impossible.
“I love you, Georgia. I’m stubborn and stupid and scared to death of this, and I know that I almost ruined it…maybe I have…but it doesn’t change how I feel for you. I’ve spent my life being afraid of losing people because I wasn’t worthy of their love. When I thought the same thing was happening with you, I reacted. I exploded. I pushed you away to protect myself, and it was absolutely the wrong thing to do.
“In the end, I was just as alone, just as heartbroken as if you’d left me, but I did it to myself. I don’t want to make that same mistake twice. So this time,” Carson said as he reached into his pocket, “I’m going to make it permanent.”
When Carson pulled his hand from his inner brea
st pocket, there was a small, distinctively aqua-colored box in his hand. A Tiffany and Co. jewelry box by the looks of it. No one had ever given her jewelry, either, and since her mother had cleaned her out, the contents of that box were all the jewelry in the world that was hers. Or might be hers.
Georgia watched as Carson sank down onto one knee on Sheila’s doorstep. “Georgia, I want us to start our own family here and now. You and me. I want us to put the past and all our pain behind us and start our lives together anew. If you’ll agree to be my wife, I promise to do everything I can to make you feel loved, valued, safe and special every day for the rest of your life.”
Carson took the lid off the box to reveal a classic round Tiffany solitaire in a platinum band. She was no expert, but it had to be at least two or three carats. “I hope you like it. I wanted to go with something classic and traditional since neither of us have had much of that in our lives. You’re beautiful and timeless and I wanted your ring to be the same.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she said, although her words were muffled by her hand covering her mouth.
“Will you marry me, Georgia?” Carson held up the ring between his fingertips. The sunlight caught the large gem, and it sparkled with a thousand colors.
“Say yes, you fool!” a voice whispered harshly from the back of the house.
She didn’t need Sheila’s prompting to make up her mind. “Yes,” she said, tossing the flowers onto the nearby table. “Not just yes, but hell yes.”
Carson grinned wide and slipped the ring onto her finger. Squeezing her hand in his, he stood up and looked down at her with eyes that reflected the love and adoration she’d never expected to see. “I’m pleased by your enthusiasm,” he said.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Georgia smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing her lips to his.
* * * * *
