She shrugs, neither proud nor ashamed.
“Jack, I wanted to bring you here to apologize in a place I feel closest to God. A church. For as long as I’ve known, a house of worship has been my sanctuary. I find comfort and strength here, and I need those things right now.”
I smirk. “Okay. Go on.”
After taking a deep breath, she continues.
“You were right. I live in la-la land too often. I let my parents control me, and I blamed you for not committing the way I need you to.”
“It was my fault, too.”
She holds up her index finger. “Hold on. I have more. I’m sorry for not accepting and respecting your beliefs. Or lack of beliefs, I should say.”
Damn. Who is this woman...
“And I am sorry for not doing the right thing and announcing the end of my engagement to Blake. I released a statement half an hour ago.”
step back and press a hand to my chest, feeling my own heartbeat, reaching for something physical to prove this is not a dream.
Finally.
Blake is not impeding our future. He was the strangest rival. There was no love between him and Morgan, yet he was a barrier between us that Morgan wouldn’t let go.
He wasn’t the problem. Morgan’s inability to step out from the institution he represented was.
It brings solace that she ended things with him.
“You did it?” I say, shocked.
“Mm-hm.” She takes my hands in hers. “I want to marry you and build a family, but on your timeline. When you’re ready.” She winces and adds, “Hopefully a fast timeline... but, uh, if you don’t want to marry, that’s fine too. I won’t expect you to convert either. Ever. I love you just the way you are.”
Don’t want to marry. What a laugh. This girl has noidea how badly I want to make her mine so the whole damn world knows it. I want to be the church she turns to. I want to be the one she trusts above all others, especially her parents.
But she said something bigger. Something that I am still trying to process.
She loves me just the way I am.
“Holy sh—”
She stops me once more, giving me a sly smile. “We’re in a church. No swearing allowed.”
I laugh and nod, but I cannot believe she is saying these things. “You want to be with an atheist? Openly?”
“I wish I could share every part of my faith with you. Maybe I always will. Wishing for that is not the same as requiring you to become someone else for me to love you.” Then, she smiles widely and taps my nose. “But I believe there is a heaven, and that you’ll be by my side whether you like it or not.”
“Okay, church girl,” I reply, and kiss the top of her hand. “So I don’t have to go to church.”
“Nope, but I would love for you to attend on holidays. Not to watch me preach. I’ll sit with you.”
“Deal.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.” She beams. “Also, I want to help out financially. Maybe not a chef, but an extra hand at the center, a little remodeling around the house. I’m still a womanwho likes pretty things.”
I chuckle and easily agree. Honestly, I’m still stunned she accepts me as a nonbeliever.
