“Don’t be so down,” Margaret said as Kate unhappily dressed for a dinner party at Nancy and Jack’s. “You confronted him with a lot right after his birth mother’s funeral. He’ll see the error of his ways. He came back, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but then he said he needed some space.”
“Men.”
When she arrived at Nancy’s house, she tried to be friendly with Grant, but his expression was unreadable, and he didn’t seem all that pleased to see her.
While they were all gathered for pre-dinner drinks, Grant approached Kate. He was very serious.
“Can I speak to you, please? Outside.”
Her stomach churned as she followed him into the garden. He led her down the path to the statue they had stopped at the first time Grant had come to Nancy and Jack’s house. It was colder now; fall had come to New Cardiff. Soon, it would be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then a brand-new year. Kate wanted to spend that time with Grant. She wanted to be with him during the holidays and kiss him under mistletoe.
The garden was dormant, but she knew it would be in bloom again come spring. Time marched on, whether they were ready for it or not.
Grant looked somber as they stood in the small alcove beside the statue. He cleared his throat then turned to face her.
“I’ve been talking to a therapist. It’s been positive,” he said. “And I’ve been going over a lot of things in my head about what I want my life to be like and what type of man I want to become. I’ve had to set my priorities and come to terms with the reality of my situation.”
Kate chewed on her lip. She didn’t like where this was going.
“Therefore, I have to tell you something, and maybe it’s not going to be what you want to hear.”
She looked up at him, hoping her face wouldn’t betray her.
“You know how you said to give us a shot?” he asked, his face unreadable. “What did you mean?”
“I thought,” she said awkwardly, “maybe we could go on a real date? See a movie, maybe. Nothing serious.”
Grant thought for a moment. “Hm,” he said. “To be quite honest with you, I don’t want that.”
Kate looked crestfallen. “Oh, I didn’t…oh.”
Grant pulled out a box and got down on one knee. Kate started crying.
“I want to do more than give it a shot. I want to be with you forever. I’ve been ready to spend the rest of my life with you since the day I met you, Kate Thurlow. I know you’re too good for me, but I would like to ask you to be my wife.”
Kate couldn’t speak. She nodded yes, and Grant slipped the ring on her finger. She hugged him, and he picked her up and spun her around, her shoes flying off into the bushes. He set her down, laughing, and helped her collect them. Kate saw their families’ faces glued to the windows, watching the scene unfold.
They walked hand in hand to the house, and Nancy welcomed them with champagne.
“Were all of you in on this?” she demanded, blushing. She couldn’t stop smiling, and she looked down at the ring, marveling at it sparkling on her hand.
“I had to help him pick out something you would like,” her grandmother exclaimed.
“It’s a beautiful ring,” Kate said.
“It’s a family heirloom,” Nancy told her. It was a white-gold ring with a large diamond surrounded by spirals of smaller ones in a distinctly Art Deco style.
“It’s really stunning,” Kate repeated.
Grant had a big smile on his face. His father clapped him on the shoulder and shook his hand. “Look at him. He’s so relieved!”
“I thought I was going to puke,” he said.
Kate laughed and kissed him.
“I guess I’ll have to quit my job,” she said.
