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She dropped the crutches and slid her hands behind his neck. “Probably kind of like the way I’ve always loved you. Even when I didn’t want to.”
“Good. Hang on to that, because you’ll probably need it.”
Clare smiled.
Gage tugged her close and kissed her, the way she’d always loved. Putting the missing pieces of her life back together in a way only he could.
She’d read a verse in the Bible about that recently, about how God restored years eaten by locusts. Which, honestly, felt like pretty much her whole life.
All she’d had for years was dryness. Famine. Gage was the rain that watered everything, and God used him to restore new life in her. Even after God had given her so much, there was Gage. An extra blessing on top of everything.
He pulled back. “Marry me.”
Clare’s hands squeezed reflexively on his shoulders. “Yes.”
He kissed her again and slid the ridiculous ring onto her finger. “We can decide about the house later.”
“I already know I love it. And it’ll be wonderful for the McCauleys to know they gave you this.”
Gage nodded. “Thank you.”
She had no idea why he was thanking her, but she kissed him anyway. Her life had changed so much in the last few weeks her head was still spinning. Gage swept her up with everything he was, and she’d told him so many times how amazing he was that he’d told her to stop. Which only made her feel like he was even more amazing. Especially when he blushed.
Something he was doing right now.
He touched his forehead to hers. “We need to go outside. Everyone is waiting.”
“What?” She had to laugh.
Gage grabbed her crutches and led her through the open kitchen, giving her zero time to look at the backsplash and appreciate the light fixtures. The counters were covered with bags and containers. A cooler had been stacked on another cooler, tucked against the wall.
“What’s going on?”
He stepped out the patio door, and she saw tables over the lawn. People hanging out. Cops. Vanguard staff. Three grills had been lined up in a row, and Bob Davis held court. He had a few cops around him, and FBI agents from town, plus friends she knew from out of town.
“Are we having a party?”
Gage glanced at her, a sheepish look on his face. “An engagement party. Your mom insisted.”
Clare burst out laughing. “This backyard is gorgeous. Let’s get married out here.”
“Soon.” Gage tugged her over and kissed her again. Then he turned to the crowd of people and yelled, “She said yes!”
A chorus of cheers erupted across the lawn.
Clare hoped she heard that sound a lot, for the rest of her life. The sound her heart made when she considered the love of God.
And a good man she’d always loved.
* * *
