“You did your part though,” Jude said. “You used what we taught you, and then you did what I told you to. I said drop, and you dropped. I couldn’t have protected you if you hadn’t done that.”
“I’m just glad it’s over,” she said, then frowned. “Itisover, right?”
“I don’t have any details on what’s happening with Craig, but as far as Jim is concerned, it’s over.”
Angela’s relief was palpable. “I’ve prayed that the situation would come to a resolution so that we could move forward with our lives, but I didn’t imagine this would be the way it ended.”
“Me, either,” Jude agreed.
“I wish you didn’t have to get hurt in order for that to happen.”
“I’m glad it was me and not you.”
Angela frowned. “Well, I wish it was me and not you.”
The very idea made Jude feel sick. In his mind, their roles being reversed would have been the worst possible outcome.
“Let’s just accept how it happened and move forward.”
He could see that Angela wanted to argue with him. But in the end, she nodded.
His memories from that time in the truck wouldn’t leave him alone, but not all of them were bad. Things had been said that couldn’t just be ignored.
“So, if I recall, you proposed to me while I was half out of my mind in the truck.”
Angela’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “No. Something must be wrong with your hearing. I believe I told you thatyou’dbe proposing tome.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very,” she said with a decisive nod.
“And you have no part in what’s supposed to happen?”
A small smile crossed Angela’s face. “I had a small part.”
“Asmallpart?” he asked. “And what part was that?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “The part where I said yes. So you see, it’s a small part. Just one word. You have to say four.”
Jude chuckled, then inhaled sharply at the pain that streaked through his chest. “Well, I must say, from my perspective, that even though it’s a small role, it’s the most important one.”
Angela wrapped both hands around his. “I guess we both have an important role to play in that little scene.”
“Did you have an idea of when you want this performance to occur?”
Angela’s thumbs brushed across his hand. “Sooner rather than later, perhaps.”
Jude’s heart thumped heavily against his ribs. “Really?”
He wasn’t sure that her definition ofsoonerwas the same as his. Sooner rather than later to him was more like a matter of weeks, if not days. Given how much younger she was than him, her definition might be in months. If not longer.
“I know that might seem like I’m rushing things, but when you know, you know.” She shrugged. “And this whole… incident has shown that life can end at a moment’s notice. I already know that I want a life with you. I love you, Jude.”
The words she spoke—this time without the pressure of life-threatening circumstances—resonated deep within Jude. He understood what she meant.
Life could be short. His dad should still have been alive. He might not still have the job as head of security. He might have been retired. But he still should have been alive.
His life may have been cut short, but Jude didn’t think his dad would have had regrets over anything. Jude didn’t want any either.
