ROSALEEN
“I can’t believe it’s been a year since we did this the last time,” she said as they entered the community center together. A lot had changed since the last Pumpkin Queen contest. The Bulleys were her family. Sunday dinners, holidays, and town events were often spent at least partially in each other’s company. Not only had they met her mother, but they also got along with her swimmingly.
“Time flies when you’re having fun, sugar.” Alaric wiggled his eyebrows, and she smirked.
“I know. Mom is a lot of fun, isn’t she?”
“Cruel,” Alaric huffed.
Joan laughed. “Now, kids, I love you both.”
“Trying to steal my mom right from under my own nose,” he said, shaking his head.
Rosaleen shrugged. “What can I say? She adores me, and I adore her.”
“I’m not complaining about that, trust me.” He steered them to the table, and she grabbed a paper and handed the other to Joan.
“I don’t think I can go through this another year,” Alaric said.
“What?” She turned toward him. He’d been so excited when they went over recipes and talked about how they would design things this year to spice the bake off up.
“I can’t compete against you.” He dropped on one knee.
“Oh my God.” She covered her mouth, shocked. Is he doing what I think he is?
“Because I want to be baking on the same side of the table and turn this into team Bulley.” Removing a blue velvet box from his pants pocket, he opened the case to reveal a solitaire pink diamond on a thick platinum band. “Rosaleen Plath, I only have pies for you. Will you marry me?”
She laughed wildly. “I’m the bakery owner, shouldn’t that be my line?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “It seemed fitting.”
“Yes, hero, I’ll marry you.”
He removed the ring with shaky hands and slipped it onto her finger. The room erupted into applause, and he stood, pulling her into her arms. Dipping her like a dancer, he devoured her lips, and they lost themselves in a kiss that represented a new promise. He set her back on her feet, and she blinked.
She was pulled back to the present when she heard a familiar voice. “Congratulations?”
“Mom?” Turning, she let the tears flow when she spotted her mother, Julie and her family, and Stephanie.
“You didn’t think we were going to miss this, did you?” Julie asked.
“Hero, you continue to amaze me. Thank you so much.”
“I think we’ll be needing just one paper this year,” his mother said with a grin.
“You knew?”
“I did. It killed me to act normal.”
She laughed and wiped her face.
Surrounded by those she loved in her new home, she’d never been more grateful that she’d taken the leap and chased her dreams two hours into the small town.
THE END