“I teach fourth grade.”
Damian cleared his throat, and she smiled at him. “Actually, I’ve just been appointed principal.”
“Congratulations. That’s wonderful.”
They spent another hour with his parents—his mother insisted on fixing an elaborate lunch—getting to know one another, and leaving no doubt in Karen’s mind that she wouldn’t be standing in the shadow of another woman. When the time came for Karen to leave, Damian’s parents walked them out and again expressed their happiness. She waved at them until they were out of her sight. On the drive to the airport, she and Damian spoke very little, both reluctant to part. He parked in the lot and walked her inside.
He kissed her deeply. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” She turned and started to walk away, but Damian held on to her hand. “I can’t leave if you’re holding my hand. You have to let go.”
“I can’t let you go.”
She chuckled. “What do you mean you can’t let me go? I have a plane to catch and work to go to in the morning.”
“I can’t let you go—not without you agreeing to be my wife.”
“Wait!” She gasped and stared at him in shock. “What did you...? Your what?”
Damian dropped to one knee in front of her. “Karen, I never thought I’d be able to give my heart again, but then you came along. Your presence calms me, your touch comforts me and your love reminds me what’s most important each day. When I look at you, I know the love we share will continue to grow. You mean everything to me. Marry me. Let me give you all of me from this day forth.”
Tears began to fall before he could finish and ask the question. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She lowered to her knees to match him. “And I want to give you all of me.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small box from Tiffany. Her eyes widened like saucers when she saw the ring nestled inside. He slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly. “Oh. My. God. It’s amazing,” she whispered through her tears. She launched herself at him, knocking him to the floor. “I love you, Damian.”
Laughing, he said, “I love you, too.”
They lay on the floor kissing until he said, “If you don’t let me up off this hard floor, you’re going to miss your plane.”
She groaned and buried her head in his chest. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up to see a smiling Kyle. Karen sprang up, hearing the clapping and whistling.
“I can’t wait to show Troy this video,” Kyle said with a laugh, holding up his cell. “That was some proposal. Congratulations.”
Her mouth fell open. “What? How did you...?” She narrowed her gaze at Damian. “Did you do this?”
He smiled and shrugged. “I wanted proof, just in case you changed your mind.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, Damian Bradshaw.”
He laughed. “Hey, you’re stuck with me now, for better or worse.”
She glanced down at the ring on her finger, then back up at him. “Yeah, I am, huh?”
He kissed her once more and held her tightly against him. “You’d better go. Call me when you get home. I love you.”
Holding him tight, she whispered, “I will. I love you, too.” Karen released him and then walked away while she still could.
The trip home seemed much longer, but the knowledge that she would see Damian the following weekend and the exquisite ring on her finger made it bearable. She giggled to herself. Grandma can scratch me off her matchmaking list. She couldn’t wait to see her parents’ faces when she told them.
She and Damian still had a lot to work out, but Karen felt confident about their future together. She stared, once again, at the ring on her finger and knew she would love him forever.
Epilogue
One year later
“So, how does it feel to know in less than thirty minutes you’ll be a married woman?” Janae asked, coming into the room where Karen waited for the wedding to begin.
“I’m so excited, I can barely stand it.”
“This dress is spectacular.”
Karen walked over to the mirror and ran her hand down the front of the strapless beaded gown with a sweetheart neckline, lace-up back and trumpet skirt. “I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it.”