Dovetail(98)
Joe took a small jeweler’s box out of the picnic basket and said, “Kathleen, you’ve become everything to me. I’ve never felt this way before. I didn’t know I could feel this way. I love you, and every day I fall even more in love with you.”
“I love you too.”
He dropped to one knee and took her hand. “Kathleen, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He opened the box and revealed the engagement ring that had belonged to his great-grandmother. “If this ring isn’t what you want, we can get something different.”
Speechless, she motioned for him to get up, and he did, still holding the box. She took the offered ring and put it on her left ring finger. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”
“Kathleen, you didn’t actually answer my question. Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Oh yes.”
He lifted her off her feet and swung her around in a circle, making her laugh, then gently set her down, holding her in a firm embrace. Putting his lips next to her ear, he breathed a question. “May I kiss you, Kathleen Dinsmore?”
It was a good thing he was holding her close, because now she felt her knees weaken. “Yes, you may,” she said, and then his mouth was against hers, his lips warm and tender, and it was everything she’d ever dreamed it would be and yet not nearly enough. She marveled at how natural it seemed and felt elated to realize that this was just the beginning. They could kiss like this for the rest of their lives. And then someday, besides having each other to count on, they’d have a family and a home.
When she’d first moved to Pullman, life was something to be gotten through, each day leading to the next, nothing remarkable about any of them. Now she saw the years ahead unfolding in beauty like rose petals come to bloom.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A heartfelt thank-you to the Lake Union Publishing team at Amazon—Danielle Marshall, Gabe Dumpit, Kristin King, Erin Calligan Mooney, Nicole Pomeroy, Mikyla Bruder, Jeff Belle, and many others. You make writing and publishing books one of the greatest joys of my life.
To my family: Greg, Charlie, Rachel, Maria, and Jack McQuestion, you give my life love and purpose, and I appreciate you more than I can say.
What would I do without my early readers? Make a lot more mistakes would be my guess. Shout-outs go to Kristy Barrett, Kay Bratt, Tonni Callan, Kay Ehlers, Michelle San Juan, Barbara Taylor Sissel, and Cyndy Salamati for all their thoughtful comments and suggestions. Michelle San Juan gets an extra high five for really knowing her cocktail garnishes and generously sharing that knowledge with me.
I was lucky to have multiple people read over these pages in order to make corrections and suggest improvements. Sincere thanks go to Jessica Fogleman, Robin O’Dell, Karin Silver, Penina Lopez, Danielle Marshall, and Emma Reh. Copy editor Valerie Kalfrin gets a special thank-you for her astounding attention to detail.
A huge debt of gratitude to Alice L. Kent, who let me bestow two of her names on what is now my favorite character. Thank you, Alice.
To the other founding members of our reader Facebook group, My Book Tribe, thank you for including me in your inner circle. I love our drama-free, book-loving community. (If you’re reading this and aren’t part of our group, go join now. You won’t be sorry.)
And last but never least, thanks to the readers who make it all possible. I cherish your reviews and messages and am glad you enjoy my stories. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. Thank you for giving me that privilege.