“I get that,” Gracie said.
Well, MJ didn’t really get it. She didn’t understand why Matt was so cryptic or why she felt so empty, lonelier than she had when George died.
And that confused her most of all. She’d loved George with her whole heart, and she’d been blessed to have him for so manywonderful years. That love should have been enough to last a lifetime.
So why did she keep thinking about those words…
I need one year. It’ll take that long to…change my life.
How? Why? What did he need to do in that year?
“What time is it?” she asked Gracie, aching for a new topic.
“Ten minutes until midnight.”
Just then, Jack stepped away from Cindy and navigated the small crowd to reach MJ, a light in his blue eyes.
“I’ll let you two plan surprises that won’t surprise anyone,” Gracie teased, moving away when Benny called her over.
“You ready?” she asked Jack when he came up next to her.
“Nervous, but yeah, ready.”
“Before, during, or after midnight?” MJ asked.
“I think right before. Two minutes. I propose, she says yes—God willing—we cheer, then do a countdown to midnight.”
“Perfect!” MJ said. “While everyone is doing their New Year kissing, I’ll get the sparklers on some cupcakes and cue my musical surprise.”
“Don’t tell me,” Jack teased. “‘I Will Always Love You.’”
MJ just laughed. “Oh, I hate to be so predictable.”
“What you are is thoughtful and spectacular.” Jack gave her an impulsive hug. “I’ve missed having you as my sister these past ten years.”
“Then don’t disappear again.”
His smile faded. “Never, MJ. I give you my word I will not leave that woman ever again.”
They shared another quick hug, then she gave him a nudge. “Get to it, Romeo.”
In the center of the room, Jack tapped his glass with a spoon, and silence fell.
“Excuse me, everyone,” he said, his deep voice carrying easily over the room. Cindy turned to him, surprise and curiositylighting her features. Jack’s hands trembled slightly as he reached for hers.
“I just wanted to take this time as the year ends,” he began, his voice thick with emotion, “to say how grateful I am to be here tonight. To behome.”
Everyone reacted with claps and “Aww” and “Yes!”
“Life doesn’t always give you second chances.” He lifted Cindy’s fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. “When it does…” He swallowed hard, eyes locked on Cindy’s as he took her other hand. “You grab them with both hands.”
She laughed at the play on words, letting him pull her closer.
“We have exactly five minutes until midnight?—”
“Three and a half,” Benny called out, making everyone chuckle.
“Three and a half until a new year begins. A year that I hope will be very different for us, Cindy.” He took a step back and slowly lowered himself to one knee, producing a small box from his pocket.
