“You’re mine, hotshot,” she said, her voice a bit muffled.
She felt Xavier’s body shake as his rumbly laughter filled the room. “And you’re mine. Now and forever.”
EPILOGUE
A few weeks later, Xavier, True, Coach Lisa, and the entire Mavericks team were celebrating their first win of the season. Pizza and root beer were plentiful, and spirits were high. Xavier couldn’t have been any prouder of his team and how hard they’d worked. Jaylen was now officially an athlete and a scholar, having earned a gold medal at the state spelling bee. He was an incredible kid with a brilliant future awaiting him. And Xavier wanted to play a role in his life, if True let him.
After the team’s celebration came to a close, True, Xavier, and Jaylen headed back to her house. As they rounded the last curve in the road before entering True’s driveway, she let out a gasp at the sight of the mountains lit up by the moon’s luminescent glow. It was one of those moments when the beauty of her surroundings left her speechless.
“If I wasn’t here, this could really be a romantic moment for the two of you,” Jaylen piped up from the back seat. Both True and Xavier cracked up laughing at his comment. Her little brother and Xavier were developing a tight bond, one that Jaylen needed with a male figure.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to feeling as if I can reach out and touch the mountains, but I’m grateful to be here in Moose Falls,” Xavier said, squeezing her hand after he parked the truck.
“We’re happy you’re here too,” True said. She could no longer imagine her life without this incredible man. And she knew Hattie felt the same way. In the weeks and months ahead as Hattie’s condition declined, they would be with her, providing love, companionship, and support.
Once they headed inside, Xavier packed up Jaylen’s school lunch while True attempted to supervise Jaylen as he worked on math problems. There wasn’t much she could help him with, but simply being there was important. He would always have shoulders to lean on.
Jaylen went to bed at a relatively early hour, exhausted after finishing all his homework. True loved the fact that he worked equally hard at football and academics. He was so well-adjusted despite all he’d lost. Xavier always told her it was largely due to her, but True believed Jaylen had been born exceptional. She had simply taught him right from wrong and loved him with all her being.
Loving and being loved in return by the people who mattered most to her were the two most important things in her world. Finding a man like Xavier had truly restored her faith in romantic love. He’d erased every bad relationship she had ever had.
“So, what’re you going to do? About the company?” True asked as they cuddled on her couch.
“Honestly, I don’t know. We still have nine months to figure things out. All I know is that I want to be wherever you are. Whether it’s Moose Falls or Timbuktu, I’m in this for the long haul. If you’ll have me.”
True cocked her head to the side. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
A look of panic crossed his face. “Umm. Wait just one second.” He turned away and walked down the hall into the kitchen.
True wished she’d kept her mouth shut. His response to her question hadn’t been good. She hoped that she hadn’t scared him away, because she hadn’t really been serious. She heard sounds as if he was rummaging around in the kitchen drawers.What was going on with him?
A few minutes later, Xavier came striding back into the room, breathing a bit heavily.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “You look a little… rattled.”
He ran his hand over his face. “I think so. I mean, yes, I’m fine.”
Before she knew what was happening, Xavier was on bended knee holding out a piece of aluminum foil. “Will you marry me? I don’t have a ring or anything right now, but I have this.” He held the piece of aluminum foil out.
“What?” she asked. Had he really just popped the question? Was this actually going down?
Xavier let out a groan. “Never mind. It was a stupid idea.” He pulled back the aluminum foil that she now realized he’d formed in the shape of a ring.
“No, no, no. It’s not stupid, Xavier.” She held out her finger so he could slide it on. “It’s just perfect.”
A smile spread across his face as he put the stand-in ring on her finger. “It’s just temporary until we can pick out a ring.”
“I’m going to keep it forever.” True wrapped her arms around Xavier’s neck. “The answer is yes. A thousand times yes, Xavier. Nothing else matters but you and me. And Jaylen.”
“I can’t wait to see his reaction,” Xavier said. “He’sgoing to be over-the-moon happy.” Every time True saw Xavier with Jaylen, her heart melted at the rapport between them. He was such a strong role model, full of wisdom and encouragement.
“And Hattie’s as well. Something tells me she might take credit for all this.”
They both laughed at the idea of Hattie taking credit for their love story. Both of them knew it was quite likely.
“Knowing this will give her joy makes me incredibly happy,” Xavier said, smiling down at True, who reached up and hooked her arms around his neck.
“Me too,” True told him. “This is all happening so fast for us, but I’ve never believed that love has a timeline.”
