Chapter 14 - THE QUESTION BENEATH THE STARS
Dante proposed on an ordinary Thursday.
No private jet.
No expensive restaurant.
No elaborate surprise.
Just the two of us sitting on the farmhouse porch after sunset.
The bees had settled for the night.
The fields smelled of fresh grass.
Eleanor was visiting for the weekend and had gone inside to make tea.
Dante sat beside me.
He seemed nervous.
I noticed immediately.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You're doing the thing.”
“What thing?”
“The thing where you pretend everything is fine while looking like you're negotiating a hostage release.”
He laughed.
Then reached into his pocket.
My heart stopped.
“Emma.”
“Oh.”
He smiled.
“That's a new response.”
I covered my mouth.
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a simple gold ring with a honey-colored diamond.
I began crying.
Dante took my hand.
“I spent most of my life believing power meant never needing anyone.”
His voice trembled.
“Then I met a woman who made me count forty-eight dollars in front of my bodyguard.”
I laughed through my tears.
“And somehow, that was the beginning of everything.”
He looked at me.
“You taught me that love isn't control. It isn't fear. It isn't making someone dependent on you.”
He swallowed.
“It's choosing to stand beside someone, even when they don't need saving.”
I squeezed his hand.
“Emma Whitaker, will you marry me?”
I laughed.
Then cried harder.
Then managed one word.
“Yes.”
Dante closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked overwhelmed.
Then he slipped the ring onto my finger.
I kissed him.
Inside the house, Eleanor began applauding.
I turned.
She stood at the window.
Marco was beside her.
He looked suspiciously emotional.
I laughed.
“How long have you been watching?”
Marco grinned.
“Long enough to know the boss was terrified.”
Dante shook his head.
“You're fired.”
Marco laughed.
May you like
“You say that every week.”
And for the first time in years, the farmhouse was filled with laughter.
