Joseph took a deep breath. This was the beginning of something that could be amazing for everyone. “We’d better make Shona and Adele their drinks before we leave the kitchen. Otherwise, we’ll be fired.”
“Good idea. Mom gets grumpy if she doesn’t have a cup of coffee after dinner.”
* * *
Shona was laughingwith Adele when Joseph and Nate came out of the kitchen.
“Here you go.” Joseph placed their drinks on the table. “One coffee for Ms. Quilter Extraordinaire and one frothy, milky drink for our talented singer and author.”
Adele grinned. “You remembered the chocolate!”
“You can thank Nate for that. I forgot.”
“Thanks, Nate.” Adele frowned. “Where’s your lemonade?”
For a moment, he looked confused. “I changed my mind.”
“You can have the rest of mine, if you like?”
With his cheeks flaming redder than his T-shirt, he reached for Adele’s drink. “Thanks.”
Joseph wiped his hands on his jeans. Sweaty palms were the least of his worries. His heart was beating so fast it was hard to breathe.
He cleared his throat, hoping to get everyone’s attention, but Adele was telling Shona about the next story she wanted to write. With a magic kingdom full of singing walruses, talking rabbits, and adventurous donkeys, it would be fun to write and read.
When Adele finished talking, Nate nudged Joseph’s leg under the table.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Even Nate was telling him to ask Shona the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Tapping his fork on the edge of his glass, he didn’t have to wait long for everyone to look at him.
“Not more speeches,” Shona said teasingly. “Mabel said just about all there was to say about the choir.”
“I don’t want to make a speech about the choir, but they were amazing.”
Adele sent him a beaming smile. He didn’t know whether it was because of what he’d said about their singing or because she knew what was coming next.
Holding Shona’s hand, he gently pulled her to her feet.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
She took one look at his face and frowned.
It wasn’t a good start to one of the most important speeches he’d ever make. “About two years ago, I saw a beautiful woman sitting in The Welcome Center with tears in her eyes. It turned out she was watching her son receive a college scholarship. From the first time I saw you, Shona, you touched something deep in my soul that I never thought I’d feel.”
Shona’s hand trembled and her eyes were brimming with tears.
Taking a deep breath, Joseph squeezed her hand and focused on what he wanted to tell her. “I know I’ve told you this before, but I love you. You take my breath away with your kindness and generosity. You make me believe in happy ever after and fairy tales that never end. I want to be the man you wake up to each morning and the last person you kiss each night. I want to be your safe place to fall and the person you’re proud to call your husband.”
He looked at Adele and Nate. “I’d like us to be a family, to learn from each other, and love each other for eternity. Shona Milligan, will you marry me?”
She looked into Joseph’s eyes and smiled through her tears. “I love you, too. I never thought I’d love another man, but you were like a gentle current that swept me off my feet. I can’t think of anything I’d like more. But I can’t say yes until I ask Nate and Adele what they think.”
“We’ve already said yes,” Nate told her.
“And you’re going to be my mom and Nate’s going to be my brother,” Adele added. “And I’ll have two granddads and a puppy if you say it’s okay.”
