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“But now I’m crazy about him.”
“What’s wrong with that? He clearly isn’t averse to you either.”
“You think so?” It sounds like she doesn’t even know.
“Of course. He’s hard to read, but there’s definitely something there. Have you not talked about it?”
“Uh, yeah. Kind of. But everything isn’t sorted out. And...” Her face breaks briefly. “It’s hard not to believe he wants someone other than me.”
“I don’t believe that.” I’m not sure why I’m saying this. I know almost nothing about their relationship, and for all I know, Amber might be right. “But if you’re worried about it, you need to talk to him again. Kind of talking isn’t enough.”
She makes a face at me.
“I’m not saying it will be easy. But you won’t get what you need unless you do.”
She gives a jerky kind of nod and then takes a deep breath, visibly pulling herself together. “Sorry to dump that on you.”
“You didn’t dump anything. I asked. If you want to talk more, give me a call. The truth is, I can use some more friends.”
Amber smiles, just slightly wobbly. “Me too.”
***
THE REST OF OUR TIMEtogether is pleasant and enjoyable, and I’m tired as Arthur and I return home to the Worthing estate.
Fred is waiting for us at the front door. He runs circles and wiggles and accepts pets and gives us a couple of reproachful yaps for deserting him so cruelly.
Arthur mentioned earlier that his back is bothering him a little, so I tell him to take a hot shower. I take off my cocktail dress and jewelry and put on a pretty gray nightgown, brushing out my hair in the mirror and wondering if the woman there is really me.
A year ago, I was living on the island with my dad, sad and lonely and miserable and completely isolated from life.
Now I’m here. With a life and a career and a dog and a future and a really good man I love.
Life always surprises you. And occasionally the surprises are good.
I’m still staring at myself in the mirror when Arthur gets out of the shower. His hair is wet, and he’s wearing nothing but a pair of dark pajama pants. He comes up behind me and presses his front into my back, wrapping one arm around me.
“Hi,” I say, smiling into the mirror at him.
“Hi.” He’s smiling with his eyes but not his mouth. It looks like he wants to say something. His other hand is behind his back for some reason.
I’m not sure why I notice that, but I do. “What is it?”
He opens his mouth but doesn’t get it said immediately. Instead, he brings his hand around, showing me an open jeweler’s box with something sparkling inside.
A ring. A beautiful diamond solitaire on an antique band.
I make a weird sound in my throat.
“I thought about doing something special and elaborate, but all my ideas didn’t seem... right.” His brown eyes are deep and soft and speaking, meeting mine in the mirror. “But I love you, Scarlett. I didn’t expect it, and I still don’t know how such a miracle happened to me, but I’m not going to let you go now that I’ve found you. You’re already everything to me, and I hope you’ll also be my wife.”
I choke on a little sob, turning around in the circle of his arm and looking between the ring and his face.
His mouth turns up just slightly at the corners. “Do you have an answer for me?”
“Yes! The answer is yes!”
I throw myself against his chest, and he wraps both arms around me. After a minute, he pulls away and takes my hand so he can slide the ring on my finger.
