End of Story(82)

In the five days since my proposal, nothing had been resolved. Nothing much had even been said. Whenever I raised the topic, Lars was suddenly busy or required elsewhere. But every day he would ask, “Still want to marry me?” And I would say, “Yes.” He’d tip his chin and go about his business. Even though I never planned on getting married, this delay was annoying as all hell.

In the meantime, I decided to make an event out of destroying the divorce certificate. While I planned to make use of the fire bowl in the back garden, the weather forced us indoors. Wood was laid in the fireplace in preparation, and Cleo and Tore were invited over to witness the momentous occasion.

“How’s the couples hobby hunt going?” asked Cleo.

“Chess, Scrabble and salsa have been scrapped. He kept winning at chess, I kept winning at Scrabble, and we both lost at salsa,” I said. “Not a trace of dance talent to be found between us.”

“What’s up next?”

“I’m thinking a couples Romance book club. We tend to discuss the plot lines and characters anyway. Might as well make it official.”

Cleo nodded.

“We’ll need T-shirts.”

“Of course.”

“Did you have a busy week?” I asked. “How’d the meeting with the activewear people go?”

“It went well.”

“Excellent.”

“I need to show you the update to Photoshop sometime. Some of the new features are fantastic,” she said. “And Tore and I decided to book a holiday in Maui after that conference in November.”

“A beach vacation? Nice.”

“Oh yeah,” said Cleo. “By the way, Mom said to tell you she found a pet cemetery that will accept the ashes of your mystery doggo. She said the rates were reasonable.”

“That’s great. He deserves a nice afterlife. Something better than sitting forgotten in a corner of the basement. I’ll text her tomorrow for the details and to say thanks.”

Cleo nodded. “Her church group will also take any unwanted items from your boxes for their fundraiser next month. Anything you think they could sell.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’m actually almost finished. Apart from the attic. Lars is going to help me start bringing things down.”

“When you consider what the place looked like last Christmas,” she said, taking in the living room, “you’ve come a long way.”

“For you, my love.” Tore passed her a glass of wine. The beer in his other hand he raised in a toast. “To burning weird messages from the future and forging your own path.”

Lars passed me a gin and tonic. “I’ll drink to that.”

He knelt in front of the fireplace and carefully lit the kindling. Flames raced up the neat stack of wood in no time. He added a photo of his family to the mantel last week and his belongings were spread through the house. His presence now seemed more real and permanent. I liked it. We were building a life together.

“While I’m down here,” he said, retrieving something from his jeans pocket, “might as well give you this.” He held out a small black velvet box.

My eyes were wide as the moon. “What is this?”

“Open it and see.”

“Holy shit.”

He just smiled as he held it out to me.

With trembling fingers, I opened the box. Inside sat a square cut diamond on a platinum band. Simple and perfect, and so damn sparkly. It took my breath away. “Lars, is this you saying yes?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Oh my God.”

He rose to his feet and took the ring out. “Are we doing this?”

I nodded as tears welled in my eyes. “But you didn’t need to buy this. You could have saved the money for the business.”

“You’re more important. Don’t cry,” he said, slipping the ring on my finger. “That looks like a good fit.”

“Yes, it is.” I turned my hand this way and that so the diamond could catch the light. Amazing. “It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” His gaze was so soft and sweet. The expression on his face was full of love. “I love you, Susie.”

“I love you too.”

He tossed the box onto the coffee table, cupped my face, and kissed me good and hard. Like he was staking his claim. This was heaven. His lips were on mine, and his tongue was in my mouth. His hands firmly held me, and I could feel the heat of his body. I could have happily stayed right there forever.

“Congratulations, guys,” said Tore.

“Did you know about this?” I asked with a sniffle.

He just shrugged and smiled. The man totally knew.

Cleo gave me a hug and her eyes were suspiciously moist.

If anyone told me at the start of the year that I’d be stupidly happy and beside myself to be getting married... I would have called them a liar.

Which left only one thing left to do. One last loose end.

“All righty,” I said and headed into the bedroom. “The time has come. This divorce certificate is going down, once and for all.”

I pulled open my underwear drawer and pushed aside an assortment of lace thongs and boy shorts. All of my favorite panties. I figured the divorce certificate could use the good vibes. Only, there was nothing there. Just the wooden bottom of the drawer. Next I shoved aside period panties, bras, and a vibrator. But there was still no sign of the damn thing.