It was almost three in the morning by the time he finished expressing all he wanted to do with his life and what was in his heart. She came first, he told her. Always.
Then it was her turn. He asked her what she planned to do about Xavier. “Are you going to tour with him?” He felt her shiver. “So that’s a no?”
“I’ll tell him I’ll do one concert with him this year, and I’ll record a few songs with him, but that’s all. I’ll continue to write songs because that’s what I love to do, and Xavier will have first choice to buy or pass on every song. You like Xavier, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” he said. He yawned as he added, “But I’m going to have a little talk with him.”
“About what?”
“I’m going to explain that if he ever kisses you again the way he did onstage, I’m going to put my fist through his face.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, I would.” He kissed her bare shoulder, then her neck, then her earlobe, and whispered, “I want you to marry me.”
When she didn’t immediately agree, he nudged her. “Marry me,” he insisted. “You do want to marry me, don’t you?”
The worry she heard in his voice surprised her. “This is not the proposal story I want to tell our children.”
“What’s wrong with this proposal?”
“Children, your father and I were naked in bed . . .”
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll propose when we’re dressed and I have a ring. But know this. You are going to marry me. I love you, Isabel, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She fell asleep smiling. Bonehead loved her.
FORTY-TWO
MICHAEL OFFICIALLY PROPOSED TO ISABEL ON NATHAN’S BAY.
This proposal was perfect, the one Isabel wouldn’t be embarrassed to tell, should the subject come up.
Michael had gotten past the little incident that occurred on their way home from their appointment with Father O’Dowell at St. Michael’s Church to lock in a wedding date. Isabel had insisted he give her another chance to prove she was actually a good driver. She wore glasses now and assured him her vision was perfect.
Michael decided to accommodate her. He found a huge, empty parking lot the size of a football field in front of a brand-new supersize We-Carry-Everything hardware and appliance store that hadn’t opened yet, and then he let her get behind the wheel. There were a multitude of tall, round steel poles with giant numbers on top to help customers remember where they parked, but the poles were so far apart, Michael didn’t think they would be a problem.
Isabel maneuvered around the poles with ease, and Michael was pleased—and relieved—to discover that her driving was no longer going to be an issue.
He was wrong about that.
He couldn’t figure out how she had done it. One minute they were heading out of the parking lot, and the next he was examining the dent in his right-front fender. He didn’t yell, and she didn’t make any excuses. As he exchanged places with her, taking the driver’s seat, he simply said, “Okay, now we know.”
Neither one of them mentioned the damage, but after she snapped her seatbelt on, Isabel muttered,
“That exit sign came out of nowhere.”
“Uh-huh,” he replied.
? ? ?
IT WAS SUNSET WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE. MICHAEL DROPPED THEIR BAGS ON THE
porch, took her hand, and walked with her to the old gnarled tree she loved, overlooking the ocean.
The weather was lovely, warm and balmy with just a tinge of humidity and a gentle breeze. There was a golden blaze of color filling the sky as the sun slowly eased away for the night. After he slipped the
emerald-cut diamond ring on her finger, he kissed her passionately and told her how much he loved her.
The family was happy about the news of their engagement, but no one was surprised. Apparently, they all had known that Michael and Isabel belonged together.
? ? ?
TWO WEEKS LATER JORDAN AND REGAN HOSTED AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY FOR THE COUPLE.
Isabel didn’t want them to go to any trouble, but they insisted it wasn’t going to be anything fancy.
“We’re keeping it small,” Jordan promised.
“Only the family and a few close friends will be invited. There will be food and beverages . . .
and maybe a couple of tables with linen tablecloths and candles sprinkled around the lawn. People will want to sit, after all,” Regan explained. “Don’t you agree, Laurant?”
“Absolutely,” she said.