Page 21 of Five Midnight Moment

She shifted slightly and he dropped down to one knee. Her heart started pounding so hard, she thought she would pass out. He held the same colored box as the other gifts, but this one was smaller. He opened it to reveal a princess cut diamond solitaire that had to be at least two carats surrounded by two rows of baguettes.Yep, I’m going to pass out.

“I don’t even know where to begin sharing the feelings in my heart. If you could see inside, you’d find a depth of passion and a love so strong it overwhelms me. Nothing in my life means as much as you, Lyn. You are my missing piece, the better part of me, my everything. I want to spend all my midnight moments with you from now until eternity. Will you marry me?”

Valencia barely let him finish the words before she yelled, “Yes!” She was crying and bouncing up and down as he put the ring on her finger. Dwayne stood, swung her up in his arms and kissed her with a passion she felt through her entire body. A roaring cheer went up, startling her. She whipped her head around and saw everyone crowded in the door. Leah was crying and pumping her fist in the air. “Mom? Dad?” She stared questioningly at Dwayne.

He shrugged. “I talked to your father last night.”

“You planned all this?”

Dwayne nodded.

“I can’t…I don’t even have words right now.” Her emotions welled up with such force, she couldn’t utter a word.

“As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

When she finally found her voice, she asked, “So, when do you want to do this?”

“Today works for me.”

“Today?” Once again, she found herself momentarily speechless. “We can’t get married today. Don’t we need blood tests, a license, or something? And who’s going to perform the ceremony?”

“We don’t need blood tests, we can petition to get an amended marriage certificate since we don’t have a license, and we can have a bigger ceremony later. As far as someone to perform the ceremony…I’ve got that covered. So, what do you say?”

Valencia’s head was spinning. When Dwayne said he was done with all the secrecy, evidently, he meant every word.It’s not like you don’t want to be married to the man, so why are you hesitating?her inner voice asked.

“Did I point out the two benefits to saying yes?”

“What benefits?”

“Two wedding nights and two honeymoons.”

That sealed it for her. “Well, since you put it that way, there’s no need to let all this winter white I’m wearing go to waste. Let’s do it!” Their families cheered again.

Dwayne threw his head back and laughed. “Uncle Gene, are you ready?”

A man stepped outside with a small book in his hand.

Valencia’s gaze flew to Dwayne’s.

“Sweetheart, I’d like to introduce you to Judge Eugene Albright.”

His uncle chuckled. “Valencia, you’ll learn that in this family, we don’t do anything by half.”

“I see.”

“All we need is a maid of honor and best man and we’ll be set,” Dwayne said, gesturing for Leah and his twin.

Once the two attendants took their places, Valencia and Dwayne spoke their vows. The love she had for this man overflowed in her heart and she couldn’t stop crying. She’d found her soulmate and she looked forward to every one of their midnight moments. From now until eternity.