Chapter 155
876 Words
She saw Dallas reach into the table and pull out something too small to see inside his large hand. She c****d her head at the strange look on his face.
“What’s up?” she asked. “You OK?”
“Ummm. Yeah.” He was suddenly terrified.
“Dallas? What?”
“It’s just – I wanted to – I’d like to ask – I was hoping…”
Oh, for f**k sake, man. Very smooth. Jesus Christ, pull yourself together, would you? Start again.
“Olivia.” He cleared his throat. “I love you.”
She blinked at his formal tone. “I love you too.”
“I know you do, and sometimes I still can’t believe it, baby. You’re just the most amazing, bravest, most stunning woman I’ve ever known, and I’m lucky to have you. And I want to have you for a long time… forever, if possible.” He produced the box now, opened the lid. “So… will you? Marry me?”
Olivia stared down at the ring in total shock. “Marry – marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, my God… Dallas. Yes.”
“…Yes?”
“Yes. A million times yes.”
“I don’t need a million, baby. Just one.”
“Then one time yes.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and she looked down at it. “How’d you know I love sapphires?”
“I didn’t, really. I just saw this and thought it looked like you.” He kissed her. “It’s clear and pure, it’s got depth and beauty. Just like you, Olivia.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you.”
“I love you… and you’re going to make me the happiest, most sexually exhausted man on the planet.”
She laughed. “Starting now?”
He flipped her over and pinned her under his hard body. “Starting right now.”
****
“Oh, my God!” Kat grabbed Olivia’s hand in both of hers. “Engaged!”
“Oh, sweetie.” Jenny’s eyes were teary. “Congratulations.”
“Don’t hog her hand, Kat,” Emma scolded. “Let me see the ring!” She examined it. “Oooooh. That is gorgeous, Liv.”
Olivia grinned. “The man has good taste, huh?”
“Of course he does,” Kat said. “He chose you, didn’t he?”
The four women smiled at each other.
“OK, so… when’s the wedding?” Jenny asked.
“We don’t know yet,” Liv said, retrieving her hand from Emma. “We don’t know anything – not when or where. But we both want it to be soon, like maybe mid-summer.” She grinned. “Nigel is thrilled.”
“Nigel?” Kat asked. “You mean your former assistant?”
“Yeah.” Liv brushed her hair back from her face. “I told you that he started his own wedding planner business, right?”
“Oh, yeah, of course,” Jenny said. “He’s going to organize your wedding?”
“Damn right he is,” Liv said. “He’s the only person who can pull it off in less than six months.”
“Six months… argh!” Emma said. “That doesn’t leave much time for planning your bachelorette party in Las Vegas!”
Liv blinked. “Vegas?”
“Yeah,” Jenny chimed in. “Why should boys have all the fun and the wild parties? Let’s go and gamble and dance and drink far too much!”
Kat was quiet.
I’m going to be long gone by then, for sure. In fact, since things with Jenny and Chris are going so well, I think I’ll be out of here by the end of next month. But damn, I’ll be sorry to miss Liv’s wedding.
“Sounds great,” Kat said with great effort. “Vegas, baby!”
“Yeah, but, Em,” Liv said. “What about you? You really think you’ll be up for a party weekend in another state?”
“Well, actually, I have some good news of my own,” Emma said.
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh. Dean took me for some follow-up tests two days ago, and I got the results back today. Turns out, the stem cell transplant has been successful: I’m responding to the chemo now.”
“Oh, Emma,” Jenny breathed. “Really?”
“Really. It’s too early to tell for sure, of course, but things look good. If I keep responding this way, I’m looking at remission. Maybe as soon as the fall.”
The other women looked at her beaming face and as one, they all got to their feet to hug each other.
“A wedding, good health news, Jenny’s doing well,” Kat said. “Looks like you guys are going to be OK.”
And that means I can leave soon… with no guilt or worry.
Since they all had tears in their eyes, Kat’s own crying was easy to pass off as happiness. But really, it was the beginning of grief, of loss. Of loneliness and fear and starting over, all alone. Again.
God. I’m going to miss them.
- Writer
