Chapter Twenty-One
Kristin’s rational mind knew that long distance relationships rarely worked out, but that didn’t stop her emotional heart from holding out hope that hers would be the one that did.
When the frequency of Sean’s calls, texts, and emails slowed, her mind argued that the chance had faded for them. Her heart countered that it was simply his job was keeping him busy. But when her graduation day arrived that blue-skied, sunshiny December morning with no word from him, her mind and heart formed the same conclusion: he’d moved on.
She went to her department’s graduation ceremony at her mother’s insistence, hiding behind the neon sunglasses her class had decided to wear, the fog of grief making her distracted and disjointed. The guy behind her in the lineup had to elbow her to walk across the stage to get her diploma when her name was called and then, later, to progress down the aisle at the ceremony’s close.
As she and the other graduates moved down the aisle to applause and cheers, she glanced into the crowd of happy onlookers for the first time to find her parents. She had been too lost in her own misery throughout the ceremony to look for them, and it shocked her how suddenly and keenly she needed to see the faces of people who cared about her.
She saw her father first, a head taller than most in the crowd, with his perfectly styled, still-dark hair shining and his normally tight mouth slanted into a smile that seemed to suggest he was proud of her. Standing next to him, her mother smiled through a torrent of tears. That her mother was crying was no surprise. What was surprising was her hand holding onto the arm of the much younger man beside her. A tall man, with squirrely blond hair, shining dark blue eyes, and a heart-stoppingly familiar grin on a kissably full mouth.
Kristin stopped in her tracks, slid up her sunglasses, rocked back a step oblivious to the fact that she was blocking everyone behind her. She stared at the handsome, sexy man beaming with love and pride at her. The man moved toward her with his eyes locked on hers. She stepped out of line to let the others pass.
Was it really him? Could he really be here? In the same room? Standing in front of her?
“Congratulations, darlin’.” Sean held out his arms and she needed no more proof, no more encouragement, and no more convincing that it was indeed him.
“Oh, my God! Sean?”
She threw herself into his arms, delirious at the feeling of having them so tightly around her. He kissed her and she drank in the comforting and exhilarating taste and feel of his mouth. Her body—and heart and mind—heaved a sigh of joy and relief. Everything was right, now.
“What are you doing here?” Tears of joy stung her eyes, and she couldn’t stop smiling.
His eyes sparkled, and his smile mirrored hers. “I came to ask you something.”
“You could have called.”
“Something this important deserves a face-to-face. But I could leave if you’d rather I call.”
She flushed at the memory of the last time those words were said. “Don’t you dare!”
He took her left hand. “When I left in August, you said you had to finish your degree before we talked about our future. Well, darlin’, that’s a diploma there in your hand, so I’m back to ask whether you still want a future with me.”
“Yes. More than anything.”
He blew out a breath as if relieved by her answer. “Then I have one more thing to ask you.” He kissed her hand and slowly dropped to one knee.
She dropped her diploma. Her right hand flew to her mouth and tears swam in her wide eyes, blurring her vision. “Sean?”
The room seemed to have gone silent, like they were the only two people there.
“Forever isn’t long enough for me to show you how much I love you, Kristin, but marry me, and every day I’ll be at your side showing you. I promise to be yours only—in body, mind, heart, and soul—forever. Say you’ll be mine, too…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring, perched it on the tip of his finger. “…by accepting my ring, the symbol that my love for you is precious, solid, and eternal.”
Tears as fat and shiny as the diamond on the engagement ring rolled down her smiling cheeks. She nodded and managed to whisper yes as he leaned in to slide his ring on the finger of her shaking left hand.
He stood then and wrapped her up in his arms. She put her hands on his face and stared into his shiny eyes. “I accept your love, your promises, and this…Wow! This damn-fine symbol.”
He chuckled.
“I love you, Sean. I’d be honored to be your wife, your lover, your friend, your partner. Forever.” She leaned forward then, her mouth at his ear. “As long as I get to kiss The Legend whenever I want.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “You got it, darlin’,” he whispered, then pulled her into a long, languid kiss that left no doubt in her mind that she’d made the right decision.