She shrugs. “Well, you know I don’t have many fond memories of home.”
“I know.” I take her hand. “But your mom is all better now, right? Maybe it’s time to make some new memories.”
Violet says nothing.
I stroke her hand. “Besides, I want to meet her.”
Violet’s eyebrows arch. “You do?”
I nod. “I want to thank her for bringing such an amazing person into this world.”
Violet blushes as she shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“And I want to tell her that I’m going to do my best to be a good husband to her daughter.”
Violet’s eyes grow wide. “What are you talking about?”
I take the satin box out of my pocket and start to go down on one knee. Violet stops me.
“What are you doing?”
“Proposing,” I tell her. “At least, that’s what I was going to do.”
Her eyebrows furrow. “But we’ve only been together for three months.”
“I know. But you also said you’ve loved me for a long time and that I shouldn’t lose you again.”
“But—”
I place my finger on her lips. “I can’t believe you’re arguing with me on this.”
“I just…” She swallows. “I don’t know if we’re ready.”
“I know we are,” I tell her as I touch her cheek. “You know how I know? Because there’s nothing the two of us can’t overcome. We’re amazing.”
Violet says nothing.
I give her a puzzled look. “What? You don’t believe that?”
“I do. I know we’re amazing. It’s just that—”
I silence Violet with a kiss. If there’s one thing I’ve learned these past few months, it’s that the best way to stop her from arguing with me is by kissing her. Thoroughly.
After I pull away, I look into her eyes.
“Marry me, Violet.”
She gazes back into mine. “You really don’t know how to take no for an answer, do you?”
“No.”
She chuckles. “Then I guess my answer is yes.”
My lips curve into a smile. “Good.”
I kiss her again. This time, as I do, I slip the diamond ring onto her finger. She takes a look at it and gasps.
“This is…”
“Real? Yes. Expensive? Yes.”
“I was going to say it’s incredible,” Violet says.
“Just like you.” I take her hand and kiss it. “I love you.”
Her eyes glisten just like the lights of the tree. “I love you, too.”
I never thought I’d find love, but now that I have, I’m never letting it slip through my fingers again.~The End~