Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1)(85)

“Hey,” Haley says, coming in through the back door. She takes one look at Dane and me and stops in her tracks. “Oh. You haven’t told her yet, I see.”

“You know?” I ask her.

“I’ll just be outside.” She jabs a thumb over her shoulder. “Come get me when this is over.”

“Dane. What in the heck did you do?”

“Settle down, settle down.” He chuckles, finding more amusement in my reaction than I do. “I thought, you know, maybe we should start fresh.”

“But I love this house,” I whine. “And what about Mia? How will she feel about leaving this place? It’s the only home she’s ever known.”

“I can’t wait!” Mia shouts from upstairs.

“She knows too?” I walk in a circle, covering my face with my hands. “Why do I feel like there’s a big joke being played on me?”

“It’s not, Neely. Promise!” Mia shouts.

I look at Dane and we start laughing at the same time.

“Stop eavesdropping, Mia,” Dane yells.

“I’m excited!”

“So am I, but give me a chance to do the whole thing, okay?”

“Well, hurry up.”

“This is all adorable and all,” I tell him, “but I’m starting to lose patience.”

He takes my hands in his, swinging them back and forth between us. I sense his nervousness, and that makes me nervous because this isn’t like Dane.

“What would you do if I told you I bought Malone’s Farm?” He motions toward the board on the table. “Because I did.”

My jaw falls to the floor as I look at the board. Then up to him. “I think I misheard you. I thought you said you bought Malone’s Farm.”

“Yeah. I did.” He gulps. “I got a good deal on it. The house isn’t in that bad of shape, actually, and I thought it could be our house, you know?”

Tears well up in the corners of my eyes as I propel myself into him, almost knocking him off his feet. “Are you serious?” I ask, looking up at his face for any sign of a joke.

He doesn’t flinch. “I’m serious. I bought it. We bought it.”

“No way.” I let out a little screech as I clap my hands. “I can’t believe you bought it. Dane! This is amazing.”

He still looks nervous. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Can we go see it? Today?” I ask, trying not to squeal again. “Oh my gosh. I don’t know what to say. I love this.”

“Say yes.”

“Yes. Of course. I love the idea of moving out there. I’m in shock, I think,” I say with a laugh, walking in a circle. “But it’s a gorgeous piece of property, and oh my God.”

When I turn back around, Dane is down on one knee. A streak of white paint down the side of his face, his hair a mess from being under the new Dodgers hat I bought him last week, he couldn’t be more perfect.

In his hand is a little black box with a ring in it.

“I wanted to do this somewhere more private, but Mia had definite issues about that. And if I’m guessing, Haley is probably spying through the window right now too.” He shrugs. “But it’s all because we love you, Neely. But nobody more than me.”

Tears don’t even warn me this time. They just fire away down my cheeks and drop onto my shirt. I can’t move. I can’t see the ring or kiss his face or even say yes again because my legs promise me they’ll let me fall if I try.

“Did she say yes?” Mia shouts.

“The house is my engagement gift to you. I got you a ring, too, because that’s what people do. Maybe because I’m a carpenter, I think a house means more. It’s a place we can build our future together. Home is where your loved ones are, and I want a place where we can live together and love each other forever.”

“Did she say yes yet?” Mia shouts.

“Will you give me a second?” he fires back.

“If you wouldn’t have made me hide upstairs, I wouldn’t be yelling.”

My laughter comes out in the middle of sniffles and sobs. He places the ring on my finger, and I can’t even see it. But what I can see, what I know, I don’t need eyes for. I can feel it in my heart.

“Yes,” I say, tugging him to his feet. “I would be honored to marry you, Dane Madden.”

He kisses me through my snot and all, laughing as he wipes both of our faces after.

“She said yes, Mia,” he says, but his words are hung up on a lump in his throat.

Mia squeals as she tumbles down the stairs and launches herself at us. We stand in the kitchen, next to the Malone’s sign, and celebrate the first day of the rest of our lives.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to thank a few special people who helped make this book happen.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank God for His blessings and the ability to do what I love.

I’d also like to express my appreciation to my family for their patience, love, and support. Saul, Alexander, Aristotle, Achilles, and Ajax—you are the reason I get up every morning. I’m so lucky to call you mine.

I’ve been blessed to have the world’s best parents, Mandy and Dennis, and in-laws, Rob and Peggy, and Tom and Violet. I love you all so very much.