He kissed me. “You sit and see if there’s anything in Orenda you’d want to change.”
“I’d like to go see the meadow again,” I said when he set yogurt and fruit in front of me a few minutes later.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
We ate, I got dressed, then we pulled on coats and boots and left. Bishop had the plans tucked under his arm. It had snowed after we returned to Ohkwari last night. It wasn’t much. Maybe an inch, but it made everything look pristine.
We walked through the woods to the meadow’s opening. The trees had been cleared here decades ago, and the ground was level for a hundred yards before the slope broke toward the water.
Bishop unrolled the elevation sheet and held it up against the view. “It’ll be spectacular,” he said.
“I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer me honestly.”
He rolled the sheet and faced me. “Go ahead.”
“Are you sure this is what you want? Living here in the mountains?—”
“Yes,” he said before I’d even finished my sentence. “With you, kitten. Anywhere with you.” He spun me around to face the lake, then stood beside me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “The only view more beautiful than this one is what I’ll see every morning when I wake up next to you.”
Anna wasat the stove when we came in through the kitchen door. Lyra was at the table with Henry, with both laptops open.
I set the rolled plans on the counter and crossed to Anna. “You know, I don’t remember you being in the kitchen so much when we were in Lausanne.”
“It was either me or Mrs. Eggers, and she was the better cook.”
I laughed. “Not a chance.”
We cheek-kissed.
“So, you seem…different this morning. In a good way,” she said.
“Bishop asked me to marry him.”
She turned from the stove. “When?”
“Last night. On the shore.”
“Of course he did.” She called to Bishop in the doorway. “Come here.”
He crossed the kitchen, and Anna took both of his hands in hers.
“You will take good care of our girl.”
“I will.”
“I know. Polina knew it too.”
Anna let go. Lyra came around the table and pulled me into her arms. “Your grandmother would be so happy.”
I held out my left hand. “Bishop and I decided this is my engagement and wedding ring.”
Anna brushed away a tear. “Polina would love that.”
“We’re going away for a few days. After the briefing.”
“Good,” said Anna. “You should.”
“When we come back, we’ll plan a service for Babushka. In the summer, when the ground thaws.”
