One year later
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Lana watched Aaron through the kitchen window of his parents’ house. He was talking with his mother on the back deck, and his mother’s expression turned excited as she nodded vigorously. He’d been helping his father grill steaks, and Lana had helped Aaron’s mother and his sister Mandy whip up the rest of the dinner in the kitchen.
After dinner Mandy and Lana had shooed Mrs. MacPherson outside to rest on the deck while they washed the main meal dishes and got dessert ready. Aaron had said he needed to talk to his parents. He’d headed outdoors into the July heat with a smile.
Aaron’s sister had become good friends with Lana over this last year, and when Lana turned around to look at her, Mandy smiled like the proverbial cat who’d caught the canary.
“What do you suppose that’s all about?” Lana asked as she planted her hands on her hips.
Mandy came to the window. “Good question. Wow, he’s hugging Dad. We don’t see them do that too often.”
“More than they used to.”
Mandy looked at her and grinned. “It’s great.” Mandy’s smile didn’t disappear. “You know, I’m so glad you came into Aaron’s life. He’s one hundred percent better. He’s like the old Aaron.”
Lana felt the heat in her face. After all, he’d turned some corners. So had she. “I feel one hundred percent on most days too. We’ve learned a lot from each other. There are days that aren’t perfect, where we backslide. But everyone has days like that, don’t they?”
Mandy smiled and slipped her arm around Lana. “I’m so glad to have you as a sister.”
Lana loved the fact they’d become as close as sisters. “Thank you. Me too.”
Though Lana’s parents hadn’t fully come around and accepted anything and everything that had happened with Lana, she’d found a new peace in Aaron’s welcoming family. Progress was progress.
They’d moved into his apartment as soon as her lease was up, and they’d enjoyed their life together day by day as they healed from the past and forged a new future. They’d tackled PTSD together, even the residual from Roxanne’s suicide. Addy had led their group, without Magnus, to a good conclusion. Magnus had refused to return and no one had heard from him since. Lana continued to work from home, while Aaron had entered a Master’s program in counseling with his aim to help military veterans. It would be awhile until he finished the program, but he took a full load of classes and was acing them all. She was so proud of him.
Before they could say anything else, Aaron opened the back door and leaned inside enough to snag Lana’s gaze. “Hey there, wanna come out with me to the gazebo?”
Aaron and his father had built the gazebo last year after Mr. MacPherson had decided to retire.
Curious, she returned his smile and headed toward him. “Okay.” She took his hand and they walked past his parents, who both had conspiratorial smiles of their own. “Hmm. You all have me curious now.”
They didn’t say a word as they took the steps down and crossed the grass. It didn’t take long, and he drew her toward the middle of the pretty white gazebo.
He held both of her hands, and she squeezed his fingers as she smiled. “Okay, marine, what’s up?”
He sighed and released her hands. He reached in his front jeans pocket and brought out a red velveteen box. Her heart about stopped, and she put one hand to her mouth to hold back a gasp. Was this…could this be…?
Still grinning widely, he dropped to one knee and opened the box. Inside sparkled an incredible cushion-cut diamond nestled in a vintage design setting of white metal.
“Will you marry me, sweet Lana?” Aaron’s heart was in his eyes.
“Oh, my God.” She whispered the words as her hands went to her cheeks and happiness burst to life within her. “Oh, my God, yes!”
He laughed, the sound deep and satisfied. He lifted the ring from the box and stood. He stuffed the box in his jeans pocket again and took her left hand in his. He slipped the sparkling ring on her finger. “I love you, Lana. Always.”
“And I love you,” she breathed the words, her throat so tight and eyes so moist she knew she’d burst into tears any minute.
Aaron pulled her into his arms and gave her a lusty kiss, and Lana forgot everything in the outside world. In the background she heard his family erupt into cheers, clapping, and whistles. When they drew back from the kiss, they turned to look at his still cheering family, now racing across the lawn toward them.
“I think they like this idea, too, marine,” Lana said.
His smile said it all as he lifted her hand to kiss it and the diamond sparkled in the brilliant sunlight. They had a lifetime of love ahead of them. “Come on. Let’s celebrate.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
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