Matt sucked in a deep breath and knocked on Farrah’s door.
This was it. He hadn’t intended to hit her with the soap opera of his life, but it had all tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself. For years he’d been bitter, but he’d managed to fill the holes in his life with other people’s children—especially his sister’s oldest son, Tyler—and he’d filled in the rest with his work at the Homeward Pet Adoption Center. He knew he was okay, but he wasn’t really happy. But now that he’d met Farrah, he could be, and even though he knew she’d suffered some serious losses in her life, he would do his best to make her happy, too.
The door opened and there she was. Beautiful as always, dressed in a nice blouse and matching pants, ready for church. Except, like him, she had dark circles under her eyes, like she hadn’t slept very well either.
“Hi,” was all he could say.
She looked up at him. “Do you want to talk now or later?” He was glad he hadn’t eaten breakfast because if he had, he would have lost it. “Now, I guess.” He certainly wouldn’t have his heart in the worship service or the pastor’s sermon if he left this conversation hanging over his head, and he doubted she would either.
“I guess you’ve been thinking about this”—she waved one hand in the air—“whatever thing is going on, all night, too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s probably pretty obvious that I’m not going to want a baby at this point in my life.”
All he could do was nod, and hope.
“I’ve told you before that I was engaged, but he died before we got married. And then my best friend died not long after that.”
“I’m in good health. I can get a doctor’s note for you.”
She rested one hand on his arm. “I don’t think that will be necessary. I want to ask you something, and I want you to be honest.”
Now he felt really sick, even with the empty stomach. “Go ahead.”
“Have you ever considered fostering an older child? You’re good at helping older pets find good homes. There are many older children and teens who know it’s not realistic that they’ll ever be adopted but really need a good foster home.”
His mind spun. “I’ve never thought about that before.”
“That could be because when we’re younger, everyone only thinks about babies. But we’re both older now, and even though I’m older than you, we’re at different places in our lives than ten years ago. I’m thinking, for example, about Kat. The only family she had was Luke, and he gladly took her in, but what about all the other kids like her who don’t have someone like Luke?”
Matt thought about Kat and Tyler and how his being involved with both of them helped everyone. He could do that. “I like that idea.”
Farrah slid her hand from his forearm to his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I do, too.”
His heart sped up. “So this means?”
She smiled. “This means that yes, this relationship—even though we’re off to a late start, just as you said last night—can go where you want it to go.”
He gulped. “Just in case I wasn’t 100 percent clear, where I want this relationship to go is to the altar.”
“Matt, are you proposing to me?”
“What a great idea! I’m glad you thought of it.” He couldn’t stop his grin. Still holding on to Farrah’s hand, he dropped to one knee. “Farrah, I love you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, of course I will. And speaking of late, I hope you know that now you’re going to be late for your worship team practice time at church.”
Matt jumped to his feet, grabbed Farrah by the waist, twirled her around, and then planted a fast but firm kiss on her lips. He wanted to do more, but she was right about the practice. Not only that, he was busting to tell his friends and family that God had given him the perfect woman he’d prayed for all his life.
He’d waited a long time, but with someone as special as Farrah, it was never too late for a happily-ever-after.