A Knight in Central Park(106)

Alexandra, he noticed, had been standing next to her sister all along. Only she wasn’t standing there anymore. She was halfway down the makeshift aisle now, her hair appearing on fire about her shoulders as she focused her expressive green, unwavering eyes on his.

Joe didn’t have to be told what to do. He needed no coaxing this time. He just dropped down on bended knee, then fumbled around for the ring. Shelly had said he needed a ring, and she had provided him with one. He looked up at Alexandra. For the first time in his life he felt utterly vulnerable. His throat felt parched. “I’ve been a fool from the start. I love you. I realized it before I left you a month ago. I didn’t want to leave you. I’m an idiot.”

His gaze lowered to her stomach where he saw a small bump that was not there the last time he saw her. His eyes watered as he reached a trembling hand to touch her there. “Are you...”

“Aye,” she said. “I tried to tell you.”

“Can you ever forgive me for leaving?”

“I forgave you before you ever left,” she said.

“You are an incredible woman. One of a kind.”

“Did you not just mistake me for my sister?” she teased.

He grimaced. “I knew it was her all along.”

They exchanged knowing smiles before he placed the ring on her finger. She looked at the ring.

“It’s a moonstone,” he said.

She smiled down at him.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

“The ring is but already on my finger. Do I have any choice in the matter?”

“No.”

“Then aye. I will marry you. No regrets?”

“None. Never. Not one. I love you. I love your siblings, too.”

“’Tis nice to hear.”

“Yes, it is,” he said, “so?”

She cocked her head.

“Don’t you have something you want to say to me?”

She gestured toward the makeshift altar. “I do believe my sister would like to carry on if we are finished.”

He came to his feet, standing tall. Then he leaned forward and kissed her because there was no way he could wait another moment to do so. He didn’t have the patience of a saint. Something he’d have to work on. Holding her felt better than he remembered. She was everything he’d ever wanted, ever dreamed of. They parted at the sound of the priest clearing his throat.

Garrett rolled his eyes at Joe before he and the boy exchanged smiles, both understanding one another, both knowing it wasn’t going to be easy, but maybe someday soon they could be friends.

“And afterwards you’ll tell me?” he asked Alexandra as they both headed toward the altar, since he wasn’t ready to let her go.

“Every day for the rest of your life, Sir Joe.”

He smiled at her, his heart full. “Just call me Joe.”