AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m sorry. I told myself I’d leave you alone and let you make the first move, and now I’ve bugged you twice since that decision. You can tell I’m kind of wishy-washy about sticking to my plan of action. I’m ready to live like a monk to wait for you.
Grinning at her phone, she was glad he’d added that last sentence because she did need him to wait.
In all honesty, I do need you to wait. I jumped into the relationship with you, which is obviously why I’m still not doing well with the whole ex-girlfriend break-in thing. So we’ll take it slow.
Cringing,take itsounded like she had already let him in again, and that wasn’t the case.
Her phone beeped, only this time it was Annie asking if she could call.
“What’s up?” Maggie asked.
“I think you made a match.”
“You mean you and Steve?”
“Yes! He can’t get here because of the store, so I’m coming there this weekend. Are you okay with that, because I’ll have to stay with you?”
Letting out a big breath, Maggie heard the answer to her prayer. A distraction, at least while she was around. Hopefully, Annie wasn’t going to move in with Steve.
“Yes! Come here. Are you driving?”
“I am. I don’t have four hours for the train.”
“Okay, well, it’s a little longer getting to Bayou Cottage from town, but then you’ll have a car, so it might work. When will you be here?”
“I’m leaving right after work on Friday. I can’t wait to see you!”
After they hung up, she ran upstairs with Brulee and looked in on the guest room recently vacated by her aunt. Nothing had been moved. It was ready for Annie.
***
On the expansive terrace overlooking a turquoise pool, with cherubs at each corner tipping marble urns of water yielding a soothing splashing sound, Elizabeth Bonnet and Val Amotte sat together having morning coffee after a night of romantic bliss.
“What’s today going to bring for us?” he asked.
“What would you like?”
He laughed at her answering a question with a question.
“I’d like you to accept my offer of marriage,” he said, taking her hand. “I’m serious. It’s been long enough.”
“Has it been long enough for us, though? Shouldn’t we spent a little more time getting to know each other?”
“You’re asking that after last night?”
Now it was her turn to laugh, he answered her question with a question.
“Last night was unbelievable,” she admitted. “But was it enough to marry me for the rest of your life?”
“I think so. Nothing has changed between us.”
“There are unanswered questions. I didn’t think it would be an issue, but it is.”
“You mean me and Linh?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry, Val, but I feel like you owe me that much.”
“I know this will sound inadequate,” he said. “But it had nothing to do with you.”
