He looked into my eyes. “I wonder if anybody has ever had a love affair like ours, Samantha. You know, I doubt it.”
“That’s part of what makes it special, I guess.”
The sun was warm on my face, the air was cool, and as I swayed in Doc’s arms, I felt alive in a way I never had before. This was even better than our weekends to Copper Harbor because for the first time we were absolutely free. I wasflying,Jennifer, but somehow my feet were still on the ground as we reached Library Park.
We found an empty bench next to the seawall. We watched theLady of the Lakecast off from the Riviera Docks, and Doc bought hot dogs and beers from the Veterans’ stand. We stayed way after the sun went down, watching the lit boat parade and the fireworks finale.
And here’s the amazing thing. It would be insulting if it weren’t so funny. During that whole day Doc and I spoke with people we knew, and not one of them noticed that we were glowing. I got it, of course. People just couldn’t conceive of romance between the two of us. How strange and backwards the world can be sometimes. So many people just give up on love, even though love is the best thing that can happen to them.
I turned to Doc and told him how much I loved him and that I couldn’t imagine a better surprise. He pulled me close. “Brace yourself, Samantha. Our day isn’t over.”
Seventy-five
Doc’s car purred contentedly as we drove away from the festival, past the outskirts of town. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Not until we pulled into the lot of the Yerkes Observatory. It was quiet, and all I could hear were the chirping of crickets and maybe my own pulse beating in my ears.
Doc grabbed a plaid blanket from the backseat, and as we’d done years before, we ran on tiptoes across the lawn fronting the imposing building. A pal of Doc’s had left a key for us in a crack between two bricks in the wall. We climbed the three flights of stairs to the largest dome and entered into darkness.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked.
I smiled and felt open to just about anything. “I’ve been ready for years.”
He used a penlight to find a lever that actually lifted the floor until it sat still about five feet below the eyepiece of the telescope. Then he operated the cranks and winches that opened the dome revealing a wide swath of sky.
“Look at that, Samantha. Just look at it. It’s heaven.”
“Oh my God” was all I could manage to say at that moment, because I was spellbound.
Doc stood close behind me with his hands on my shoulders as we peered through the world’s largest refracting lens. It did seem as if we were looking at heaven. The sky was bedazzling, to say the least. I didn’t know what to gaze at first, but my eye was drawn to a dappled red globe the size of a silver dollar.
“That’s Mars,” said Doc.
Doc told me that Mars and Earth were in opposition that night, lined up in their orbits so that Earth was between Mars and the sun. He pointed out polar ice caps, dark smudges called limb haze, and what might have been a dust storm blowing across the face of the planet under its misty pink sky.
“The last time Mars was this close to Earth, cavemen were freezing their buns off in New Guinea, hoping someone would discover fire,” he said.
Next Doc spread the blanket on the hardwood floor and led me to it. We sat down, shoulder to shoulder. I knew something good was coming, but I had no idea what it could be. “What?” I whispered.
“I’ve been waiting for just the right moment,” he said. “You did say that you liked surprises, Samantha.”
Seventy-six
“Samantha, I am such a lucky person,” Doc said in the softest voice. “I found you a little late, but I love you more than anything else on this earth, and here you are in my arms. You are absolutely my best friend, my soul mate, my confidante, my sweet, sweet love. I don’t like it at all when you’re not around. I still can’t believe that I found you, or you found me, at that awful Red Cross dinner dance. I really can’t, Samantha—and now here we are.”
I still didn’t know where this was going, but my heart was starting to beat uncontrollably. Ever since I had known him, Doc had always told me, quite beautifully sometimes, how he felt about me, but that night was even more special, more passionate, more touching, and sweeter—which, in my opinion, is a good thing. He showed me a small box, and I shone the penlight onto it.
“Open it,” he said.
I did, and my eyes widened immediately. Inside was a sapphire ring surrounded by small, gorgeous diamonds. It took my breath away, and not for the reason you think. Years before—once—I had pointed out this very piece in Tiffany’s in Chicago. I had loved it then, but now it brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t believe Doc had remembered and was giving it to me.
He slid it onto my finger, then said, “I love you dearly, more than anything.… Will you marry me, Samantha?”
My eyes were so wide with wonder, Jennifer. Doc’s face was framed by the sky and the stars above. I put my arms around him and held tight. I honestly had never expected this, never dared to think it could happen.
I could barely speak. “I loveyoumore than anything, too. I’m so lucky I found you. Of course I’ll marry you. I’d be a fool not to.”
And then I said Doc’s real name, over and over again, as the stars looked down on the two of us, and everything seemed pretty darn good with the universe.
Seventy-seven
