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“I wish you could promise that.”
“I can promise to be with you wherever you are. I realized the minute that John called to tell me you were in trouble that you are a hundred times more important to me than the baby, or the job, or living in San Francisco. I have been falling in love with you for weeks. Maybe even before we stopped seeing each other.”
“What?”
“I’m at fault all around. Do you think you could consider a long-term arrangement, one that only ends when one of us dies in many, many years to come?” he asked.
“Oh, Trace, you don’t have to ask me again. I’ve said no twice.”
“I’m hoping the third time’s the charm,” he said. “I want you with me, Cath. I can’t take this much more. I love you. Please, think about it. Wouldn’t it be good to share the good times and bad? You have brought sunshine into my life. Don’t take it away.”
“You love me?”
She looked astonished.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“You’ve never given me a hint.”
“Are you crazy? I’ve been seeing you despite my firm convictions people employed together should not date. I’ve introduced you to my parents, only the second woman I’ve done that with. I’ve asked you to marry me before—twice. What hint aren’t you picking up on? I know that what I feel for you is nothing like what I’ve felt before for anyone. I love you, Cath. Please, be my wife.”
A dreamy look came into her eyes. Slowly she began to smile.
“I love you, Trace. It broke my heart to refuse to marry you. But you never said you loved me. You said it was for the baby.”
“Now your heart can stay whole and you can stay with me. I’ll fire Phil. You can go to Brussels if you still want and I’ll find something over there. And we’ll raise our baby together.”
She laughed.
“This is not the Trace I know. But maybe I should get some concessions while you’re feeling so magnanimous.”
He lifted his head and lowered the side rail, carefully sitting on the edge of the mattress.
“I’m open for negotiations.”
“If I have this baby, maybe I should stay at home and raise it closer to its grandparents. I could become the perfect CEO’s wife, arranging parties and events and seeing to our kids.”
“Oh, and are we having more than one?” Trace asked startled at this abrupt change.
She still hadn’t said yes.
“If one miracle happens, why not another?”
“I don’t see you as the happy homemaker. It worked for our mothers, but you have too much to offer Signals, Inc. for one thing. Brussels will always be there. But I won’t always be the CEO.”
“What do you mean?”
“In a few years, I plan to move on to something bigger, more challenging. Maybe I’ll try for an international firm headquartered in Europe. We’ll be together and you’ll have your shot at the division headquarters.”
“Or maybe I won’t want to by then. But thanks for the thought. I want to hear more about your loving me,” she said with a satisfied look in her eyes. “I’ve loved you since August. I believe I always will.”
“That’s good, sweetheart, because I think that’s about how long I will love you.”
He leaned over and gently kissed her.
Epilogue
July
