“Change.”
She pulls back and frowns at me, like she can sense the way my heart’s picking up and my veins are starting to buzz. “What kind of change?”
“A good kind.”
Her brows lift. “There’s more good change?”
“There is if you marry me.”
Her mouth forms a perfect O.
Junie squeals softly. “He finally did it,” she whispers to Vivian.
“Oh my God, this is so romantic,” Vivian squeals back. “Say yes, Ms.Maisey!”
“I didnotapprove this question,” Maisey’s mom says.
“Sit down, Grandma,” Junie replies. “I did.”
Maisey’s still staring at me, her eyes going shiny. “Are you serious?”
I pull her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. “You’re already my wife in my heart. The woman who makes my soul complete. I want to make it official. Share it with the world. Celebrate. Love you. Forever.”
She stares at me a moment longer, and then the brightest, biggest, most beautiful smile lights her entire face.“Yes!”she shrieks, and when she throws her arms around me, tackling me in the chair, we topple backward together, landing in the dusty earth with a thud.
“That’s not a very auspicious start,” Maisey’s mom murmurs. “But I suppose if—”
“Don’t start, Grandma,” Junie says while Maisey peppers my face with kisses. “He’s gonna be the one helping Mom pick your nursing home in a few years.”
Everyone cracks up.
Charlotte and Regina help us out of the broken chair.
Opal kisses Maisey on the cheek. “I knew you were special the minute I saw you, and I’m so glad to have you in my family.”
Junie tackles me in a hug. “She said yes! I’m so proud of you. Look how far you’ve come.”
I hug her back. “Thank you for your permission.”
“I wouldn’t give it to anyone else.” She turns to Maisey. “I’m so happy for you. And I want you to know, I only agreed because he said he’d take you somewhere tropical to elope, and I get to come along.”
Maisey wheezes out a laugh. “I’m sure that was your only consideration.”
“You two are so cute together. I’m so happy for you.”
“You areamazing,” Maisey whispers to her daughter.
“Because I learned from the best,” Junie whispers back.
Yep.
This is my family.
All my family.
And they were all worth the wait.
