“I could have guessed that.” He kissed her forehead. “We should probably tell people. Your family’s going to have opinions.”
“My family has opinions about everything.”
“True. But they’re going to have extra opinions about this.”
Meg thought about it — the chaos that would ensue, the questions, the excitement, the inevitable party that Anna would insist on throwing. The Circle ladies would have a field day. Bernie would probably start a betting pool about the wedding date.
“Can we have one day?” she asked. “Just us? Before we tell everyone?”
“We can have whatever you want.”
“One day. Today. Just... this.”
Luke pulled her close, arms wrapped around her, chin resting on top of her head. They stood in the kitchen, swaying slightly, the ocean audible through the open window.
“I have to work later,” Meg said into his chest. “Client call at two.”
“I have a research meeting at four.”
“We should probably eat breakfast.”
“Probably.”
Neither of them moved.
“I love you,” Meg said. “I should say that more. I’m going to say it more.”
“I love you too.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “Though I figured you knew that, given the kitchen proposal and all.”
“The kitchen proposal was very romantic.”
“It was extremely unplanned.”
“That’s what made it romantic.” She pulled backenough to look at him. “You saw the moment and you took it. That’s very unlike you.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
“The worst.”
“I know.” He kissed her again, quick and light. “Breakfast?”
“Breakfast.”
They made eggs together—the way they’d made countless meals together over the past months, moving around each other with the ease of people who’d learned each other’s rhythms. Luke handled the pan while Meg sliced bread for toast. He seasoned without measuring—she arranged everything in precise portions on the plates.
Different approaches. Same result.
“We need to tell everyone as soon as possible,” Meg said, settling at the table.
“Agreed. Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow. And then the whole town will know within approximately forty-five minutes.” Meg speared a bite of egg. “Bernie probably already knows. He has a sixth sense for Walsh family developments.”
“Should we be concerned about that?”
“We should accept it as an immutable fact of existence.”
Luke laughed. “Fair enough.”
