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Esther
Esther ran a brush through her short hair, put on some lip gloss, and checked herself in the mirror. Well, it was what it was.
She went out to her car and turned the key with a shaking hand. Get it together.
It was a few miles out to Richie’s Head Road, but those miles went by fast today.
Soon she found herself standing on Walter’s front steps trying to muster up the will to knock.
“Esther?” a voice said from behind.
She whirled around to see Walter covered in various shades of green debris. He held a Weedwacker in his hands.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi,” he said back, beyond amused.
She stepped down off his porch and went to him. She put one of her hands atop one of his stained-green ones. “I practiced getting down on one knee, and it is the most unattractive thing you can imagine.”
He barked out a laugh and let go of the Weedwacker so he could hold her hand properly.
“So I’m not going to try that, but I still want to ask you, Mr. Walter Rainwater, if you would do me the honor of being my husband?”
He belted out another laugh, dropped the Weedwacker, and flung his arms around her waist. Then he squeezed, picked her up off the ground, and spun her around. The surprise of it took her breath away. She patted him on the arm. “Put me down!” she cried. “You’ll hurt yourself!” He did put her down, and not exactly gently, but then he covered up her rough landing by pressing his lips to hers. They were salty and sweet and tasted a little like fresh cut grass. It was the perfect kiss, and she was sorry when it ended. She smiled up into his eyes. “Sorry to be pushy, but I was afraid it might be a while before you asked again, and time’s a wastin’.”
He grinned back, looking a little foolish. “Did you tell Zoe yet?”
“No, I had to wait for you to say yes.”
Walter laughed. “Yes! Yes!”
Someone behind Esther whooped, and she turned to look, but all she saw was the house. Then she saw Derek’s face pressed up against a window screen. He too was grinning foolishly. “It’s about time, you two!” He whooped again. “I’m going to go tell everyone!” He disappeared.
“Oh boy,” Walter said.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest. “It’s good. It’s all good.”
