The moment was perfect right then, but Sawyer couldn’t make himself reach into the other coat pocket and bring out the little white box with the ring inside. It was too soon. They needed more time.
“I feel the same, even if we did get off to a rocky start there at first.” He hugged her tighter, wanting never to face a morning without her. If she passed away the next morning, he was sure that in three days he would join her, just like the people in the story about the ring.
Miss Piggy and Miss Chickadee made a running leap for the sofa, climbed up the arm, and chased each other across the back. On one trip from end to end, they got tangled up in his coat and the ring box fell out.
Jill was so intrigued with her bracelet that she didn’t see it, but Sawyer saw it as a sign. She could say no, and he’d ask again every Saturday night until she said yes, but he was about to give her the chance to refuse or say yes.
He set her to one side, dropped down on one knee, and held out the box. “Jillian Cleary, I love you with my whole heart. Will you marry me?”
He popped the box open, and a fresh batch of tears started. “It’s the ring, isn’t it?” she whispered.
“I figure we might have seventy years together with it,” he said. “We can have it sized later. Please say yes.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” She threw her arms around his neck.
He removed the ring and slipped it on her finger. “Fits perfectly. Was meant to be. Your eyes are the same color as the emerald.”
“I love it. It can be my wedding band too. I don’t need another one, Sawyer.”
“Long engagement or a short one?”
“Thirty-six hours. We’ll be at the courthouse Monday morning as soon as it opens.”
He gathered her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom. “I was hoping for Easter. I didn’t dream you’d say yes and want a simple wedding at the courthouse.”
“Why wait? I’m sure that I want to be with you the rest of my life. And besides, you can have the office for your movies now. Rhett can have my room, and I’ll never have to sneak across the cold floor to sleep with you,” she said. “And you’ll always remember our anniversary, because it will be right after Valentine’s Day.
“I was going to propose in a romantic setting,” he said.
“Nothing is more romantic than this night. I love you so much, Sawyer. I never thought I’d be blessed to find my soul mate.”
“Oh!” she gasped when she saw the little bear from the antique store on her pillow.
“That is to remember our first Valentine’s Day together,” he said.
“I love you, Sawyer.” She brought his lips down to hers.
He kicked the door shut with his boot heel and gently laid her on the bed. “Infinity, darlin’, starts right now, and it has no end.”