“You saw me again?”
“Yes.” I reached across the table and took his hand in mine. “And you told me all about the portrait and how this all came to be.”
He frowned, clearly confused.
“You’ll understand more later.” I couldn’t help but smile as I said, “You also told me the best news of all.”
He placed his free hand over mine. “What is that?”
“In 1938, we’ve been happily married for almost fifty years.”
Austen was quiet for a long time as he regarded me.
I couldn’t read his emotions, so I finally asked, “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He pressed his lips together as emotions overcame him. “I’m just amazed that I get to have breakfast with you every day of my life.”
Tears gathered in my eyes, and I left my chair and sat on his lap as I put my arms around him.
“You also told me that I’m your greatest adventure,” I said.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and shook his head. “You’ve always been my greatest adventure, Kate.” He looked down as he took a deep breath, and I knew he was collecting his emotions. When he finally looked up at me, he said, “Everyone I’ve ever loved has left me. When I thought you would leave me, too, a part of me died. The part that has come alive again these past two months. I can’t help but be awed that God would promise me at least fifty more years with the woman I adore and love more than anyone else on this planet.”
“It’s a gift.”
“A priceless treasure,” he said.
I was quiet a moment as I marveled at that treasure with him,then I wrapped my arms around him. “I know this isn’t the way it’s done, but my father has secured a special license for us and arranged a date for a wedding at St. Paul’s—”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ll go now, if they’re ready for us.”
I shook my head in wonder. “We’ll have to wait until Saturday.”
He groaned as he pulled me closer.
“It’s only six more days, my love.”
“It feels like a lifetime.”
“No.” I laughed. “A lifetime is what we have to look forward to after the wedding.”
A smile tilted his lips, but then he said, “Will I see you every day until then?”
“You won’t be able to get rid of me.”
“Is that a promise?”
“That’s a promise.”
“Then I will find a way to make do.”
He kissed me again, taking all the time in the world.
Epilogue
November 11, 1938
London, England
