“Will you marry me?”
He gets right to the point. No flowery speech or grand gesture. No diamond engagement ring.
His features are pensive, hands shaking in mine. But I don’t care. It took a lot of guts for him to ask me this life-changing question. I know that underneath his nervous exterior, he’s just a simple man kneeling before his girl, asking her to marry him.
“I was going to talk to you about marriage too.”
“You were?” He seems shocked.
I kneel in front of him, the two of us eye to eye on the dirt path.
“Yes. I told you I want to help, and I think we’ll be able to keep the farm secure with us being married. You won’t have to sell off any part of it. I can help you manage the day laborers, the contracts, the money…” I stop when I notice his disappointed expression.
“George, look at me. Please. Did I say something wrong?” I ask.
He looks at me, his blue eyes cloudy with concern. “I want to marry you because I love you.”
I struggle to find my voice, my head bobbing up and down. I didn’t mean to go into business mode on him. Leave it to George and his pure honesty to remind me of what’s most important.
“Yes. I absolutely love you too. And you’re right. That’s the main reason a man and a woman should get married.”
I stand and clear my throat, brushing the dirt off my knees. “Can we please try this again? I promise I’ll only answer you with one word.”
His lips twitch, holding back a smile. I thrust both hands out, and he clasps his fingers with mine. His voice is deep, his eyes never leaving mine. “Madison Adler, will you marry me?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yes.”
His entire mouth morphs into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. A smile so large and wide it eclipses my memory of the smile he offered the first day I met him. He stands tall, and we collide in a passionate kiss among the colorful daylilies.
“I love you, George,” I mumble against his lips, nipping and kissing him.
“I love you too,” he rasps, cradling my face gently. “One mustn’t ever forget their ‘I love yous.’”
The tips of his fingers drag across my cheek, sending ripples of pleasure to my core.
We hug, and I clasp my hands around his neck, my eyes filling with tears. We’re both silently crying in each other’s arms for a solid minute before George pulls back and swipes my cheeks with his thumbs.
“We can get through anything together, Madison. Especially these next few days and weeks ahead.” He pauses as if he’s afraid to say something more.
I frown and tenderly run my hand across his hairy face. “I know. But remember, I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere.” I grin and remind him with an eyebrow wiggle, “I said, ‘yes.’ We’re gonna get married.”
The strong column of his throat moves in a swallow. “I want us to get married as soon as possible. Is there anyone I should go to and ask permission to marry you?”
I immediately understand and nod in agreement. “Well, why don’t we ask…”
“Pop,” we both say in unison.
Chapter Twenty-Six
George
I have no idea what I did to deserve a woman like Madison. She’s my favorite face. My favorite smile. My favorite voice.
Besides my grandma and grandfather, Madison is my favorite person.
I thought I might faint when I got down on one knee and proposed to her among the daylilies. I knew deep down that if I ever got the chance to be with her again, I’d throw all my angst and isms to the side and ask her to be my forever.
My person.
