Chapter Forty

Roarke…

It’s a few nights after our return to Sweetwater, and Hannah and I are at Jason’s. The women are all inspecting brochures for the festival and making plans. Jason is in the mix of it all with them, so I head out onto the porch. The door opens behind me, and Jessica steps outside, joining me at the railing, shivering due to a chilly breeze, which is a hint of our version of a mild winter.

“I hear you might want to talk to me.”

I turn to face her, and she does the same to me. “What do you know?”

“Pretty much everything. I can’t believe her parents did all that they did. It’s going to hurt her. She talks about them a lot. She’s trying to get them here for the festival.”

“Should I tell her now?”

“I think handing her the deed to the land gives her something positive to focus on in the middle of the negative you’re going to share with her. And Jason says he really thinks he can make that happen for you.”

“But it’s weeks out,” I say. “It’s killing me not to just tell her. It’s killing me not to just propose, but I feel like I need to deal with this first.”

“Are you ready to propose?”

“I never wanted her to take the ring off. Hell yes, I’m ready. I was thinking Thanksgiving, though, just to give her time to feel how damn much I love her.”

“That’s perfect. You should have the deed by then, or at least, that’s how Jason makes it sound, but honestly, I think you should propose before you tell her, and hear me out. The family rivalry will take away from what should be untarnished and special. Give her a chance to enjoy that moment with nothing to tear it apart.”

“I have to tell her about this. It’s eating me alive.”

“Propose and then let her enjoy the success of the festival, the one she’s worked hard to make perfect. Then, tell her well before Christmas, so it doesn’t screw up Christmas.”

I take in her suggestions, and they sit well. “It’s a good plan. I’ll propose on Thanksgiving.”

“Do you have a ring?”

“Her old ring, but I took it in yesterday to have it turned into a necklace. I picked a new ring. A new us. A new ring.”

“Is it bigger than the last one?” She holds up her hands. “Not that it matters.”

I laugh. “Yes. It’s bigger.”

“Can I see it when you pick it up?” she prods.

“You can see it when Hannah puts it on her finger,” I say, vowing to keep this one on her finger.