“I know. And I realized I was being unfair to you. I was denying both of us a chance to be happy because of what my parents did.” He turns to face me fully. “You bring joy to my life, brighten my day and make me want to be a worthy man. And a worthy man—a man worthy of you—would be brave enough to say that he’s been wrong all along. And he’d tell you that he was too stupid to realize he’s already in love with you until it was too late.”
My throat constricts with emotion, and I stare at him as shock, hope and love all surge within my heart.
“Josephine Martinez, I do love you. Will you take me back?” Edgar asks.
I nod, unable to speak as tremors run through me. My family nods in approval. Angel adds a grunt.
Edgar moves around the table until he’s next to me. Then he takes out a small box and drops to one knee. I see the gorgeous ring he brought last time to propose to me with—the one that struck me speechless with admiration.
“And will you marry me?”
Tears finally fall from my eyes. I blink them away so I can see his beloved face better. The serious set of the bold lines, the bright, tender light in his green eyes.
He isn’t asking it lightly. This is a true commitment.
Tía Bea makes an impatient sound in her throat. “Just say yes!”
Tío Manny pushes her shoulder. “He’s not proposing to you.”
I laugh and put my arms around Edgar. “Yes. Of course, yes!”
The tension in his mouth eases, and he finally gives me a small smile. “So you forgive me?”
“Yes. Everything’s fine as long as you love me.”
He grows a bit concerned again. “I forgot to mention one more thing,” he says quietly so only I can hear it.
“What?”
“I quit my job. So I’m…unemployed now.”
I giggle. “Well, you did say you bring a lot of money to the table, so I’m sure we’ll be fine. If not, I’m still working. I’m sure we’ll find a way to manage to maintain the awesome life you’ll become accustomed to.”
“Deal.” He puts the ring on my finger. The diamond winks as if to say, You’re going to have the most awesome life ever with the man of your dreams.
My family breaks out in applause as Edgar and I kiss.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Edgar
–four years later
Tío Manny is mashing ripe guacamole in a bowl. He calls it toddler-friendly guacamole for his favorite girl.
Gwendolyn Willow Beatrice Blackwood is watching her grand-uncle slaving away in her grandparents’ kitchen. Her hair’s done in complicated braids, and she’s in a forest-green dress that brings out her wide eyes.
She’s the most precious thing in the world to me, along with her mom, who’s sitting next to me on a loveseat, her head resting on my shoulder and soaking in the scene.
“Unca, your food is the best,” Gwen says in that sweet voice of hers.
“Of course!” Manny booms with a laugh. “Because I’m the best. Wait until you taste my super-special cake, birthday girl!”
“Who reads the best stories, though?” Jo’s dad says, in a transparent bid to get Gwen’s attention and adoration.
“You, Grandpa!”
She claps her hands and runs to a bookcase in the living room. Gone is all the classic literature for high school kids. It’s now full of children’s stories. Above it is a shiny Teacher of the Year award plaque he received upon his retirement. She pulls out a book and brings it over to Jo’s dad.