Page 134 of Key West Homecoming

Leah smiled before she could stop herself. “What did Gretchen say?”

“She cried for about ninety seconds. Then she asked me three questions I wasn’t prepared for and said yes.” Will glanced down as Ernest began studying one of his bootlaces. “After that she told me if I made her daughter live on a houseboat, she would drive across the state and come get her.”

Leah laughed.

“Then Chelsea came over, so I had to explain the whole thing again.”

“You did it twice?” Tess asked.

“I did. I don’t recommend it.”

Ernest lost interest in Will’s boot and wandered into the herb bed.

“Ernest,” Tess warned.

The rooster ignored her.

“Tess, let him have the basil,” Leah said.

“He’s had the basil three times this week.”

“He’s going to have it a fourth.”

Will put both hands on the porch rail. His smile disappeared, and Leah understood that he hadn’t come only to tell them the news.

“Gretchen’s her mother, so I needed to ask her first. But I know what you two mean to Kaitlyn. I know how much she loves you.” He hesitated. “I don’t want to do this without asking you too.”

Tess’s eyes filled immediately.

“Oh, man,” Will said softly. “Here we go.”

“I’m not crying.”

“You are absolutely crying,” Leah said.

“I really love her,” he continued. “I want to spend my life with her, and I hope you’ll both be happy about that.”

Tess was crying openly now.

Down in the herb bed, Ernest lifted his head and made the loudest sound Leah had heard from him in years. It still wasn’t quite a crow, but it was close.

Tess laughed through her tears. “Even Ernest says yes.”

“Does he?”

“He does.”

Leah stood and went down the steps. She put her arms around Will.

“Of course it’s yes. We knew this day would come.”

His shoulders seemed to relax against her.

Tess came down after her and hugged him too.

“Thank you for asking us,” Leah said when they stepped apart. “You didn’t have to.”

“Yes, I did.”