This Time(45)

"I'm so amazed," he said, barely above a whisper. "I can't believe He would give me another chance with you after what I did, letting my pride and shame keep me from you. I can't believe that you would even consider loving me again."

"I never stopped loving you."

"Marry me, Belle. Marry me," he said, his face against her hair, his lips brushing her ears.

She bolted up straight. Her lower lip quivered as she asked, "What did you say?"

"Marry me."

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she repeated, "Marry you? Just like that? Marry you?"

His wide, dashing grin spread across his face. "Yeah, marry me."

Overwhelming joy exploded within her and she answered without wavering, flinging her arms around his neck, knocking him back against the bleachers. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you. Yes."

Burke's debonair laugh rang out in the night; it's melody like a thousand chiming bells.

***

Saturday evening Burke rang the Jamison doorbell promptly at seven o'clock. As he waited for the door to open, he smoothed his silk tie and straightened the jacket of his tailored gray suit.

When Belle opened the door, he presented her with a single red rose and kissed her tenderly. "I've been thinking of you all day," he whispered in her ear, the scent of her skin intoxicating him.

She traced his jaw line with the tip of her fingers, smiling up at him. "I was so excited that I started getting ready at three o'clock."

"You look beautiful."

Belle stepped back and modeled her forest green pantsuit, pointing to her sequined shoes. "No cowboy boots," she said, winking at him.

Burke pulled her to him. "I like the cowboy boots." He started to kiss her, but Duke's call from the family room interrupted him.

"You kids gonna stand in the door all night?"

They laughed, and Belle invited Burke inside for a minute. "Daddy's pretty excited.

After a short visit with Belle's father, Burke suggested that they go. He helped her on with her coat, and they bid Duke good night.

"Where are we going anyway?" Belle wondered as they pulled away from the Bar J, Burke's sports car humming toward the edge of town. "Angelo's?"

"Where else? But first, a pit stop."

Belle slipped her hand into his. He melted at her display of affection. "A pit stop?" she repeated.

"You'll see."

Before long, the chapel came into view, its ancient window glowing like golden eyes in the night. Burke pulled off the road and into the chapel yard.

"What are you up to?" Belle wondered.

He turned off the engine and hopped out of the car, opening Belle's door for her. "Come on."

Inside, the chapel was warm, quiet, and peaceful. Burke took Belle's coat and draped it with his over the back of the last pew. He took her hand and led her to her favorite front corner.

Candles flickered from the windowsill and along the altar.

"Burke, this is beautiful."

He sat on the front row and pulled Belle down next to him. "I hope you don't mind stopping here before we go to dinner."

"Of course I don't. But why are we here?"

He slipped his arm around her. "I want prayer to be at the core of our relationship."

"So do I." She cuddled against him, kissing him softly on the cheek.

"We need the Creator of all romance to be our strength." He could see the emotion welling up inside her. "We've been engaged for less than a week, one busy week. I just wanted to slow down and spend some time with you in prayer."

"I'd like that very much."

The aura of the Lord filled the chapel as they prayed, submitting their lives as future husband and wife to Him, asking to be a family that would glorify His name.

"Father," Belle began softly after Burke's initial offering, "thank you for bringing Burke home to me."

When she finished, Burke added with feeling, "Thank you for Belle, for forgiveness, for second chances."

They waited, listening with their hearts for a few minutes, Burke smiling to himself as he sensed the Lord's pleasure and blessing. His peace covered them like a heavy blanket.

For a long time they sat, content to simply be in His presence.

When Burke checked his watch, an hour had passed. "Belle, we should get to dinner."

She wiped away the tears that had pooled in her eyes. "Oh, I just love when the Lord reminds me how much He loves me."

Burke kissed her forehead. "There's one more thing I wanted to do before we leave." He dropped to one knee in front of her.

She giggled nervously. "What are you doing?"

"Belle," he started, reaching for her hand. "Will you marry me?" Carefully, he slipped a square cut diamond ring in a platinum setting on her finger. Two smaller diamonds were set on either side of the main stone.

She gasped, covering her heart with her free hand. "Oh, Burke. Oh-it's gorgeous." Her wide green eyes darted from the ring to him. "But I still have our first engagement ring."

Burke chuckled low, shaking his head. "The commitment that ring stood for was broken. This is a new ring, for my new commitment. This time, it won't be broken."