“I love you, Luce.”
“And I love you right back.”
He drew away, looked into her eyes. “Marry me.”
“Oh, Jake, yes. Yes, yes, yes!”
When the clapping started, they drew apart, both looking toward the door into the outer office.
“This mean you two made up?” Howie asked.
Both grinned at him in answer.
“Thank God! I’ll get to move out of the doghouse. Your mother told me in no uncertain terms that I was to fix things. Whatever it took.”
“That’s Mom.” Jake shook his head. “Guess I need to thank you, Dad.”
“No thanks necessary, son. I’m happy for you. For both of you.”
“It’d help a whole lot if you’d open these doors,” Jake said. “Let me actually get my hands on my Lucy.”
“Glad to oblige, son.” His dad unlocked the doors. They stepped into the corridor, just as the door to the front flew open. Jake’s Mom and Gram came barreling through.
“Hope that heart’s still doing okay, Gram.” Jake smiled at her. “Because Lucinda and I are planning a fall wedding, and we sure do want you there.” He looked at Lucinda, a question hovering around the smile on his lips.
She nodded and grinned back at him.
“Oh, goody!” Gram clapped her hands. “More grandbabies.” She did a little happy dance right there in the hallway.
Jake threw back his head and laughed, sweeping Lucinda tightly against him. “You’ve gotta admit, Luce. This is gonna make one heck of a story for our kids someday.