Page 147 of The Werewolf Upstairs
“Welcome to the pack,” Wendell said. “We’ll have a formal ceremony at the next full moon.”
“Oh, no. Does she have to endure that?” Konrad asked.
Roz’s eyes flew open. “Endure what?”
“Oh, nothing will happen to you. You’ll just have to put up with a whole bunch of wolves taking their turns sniffing you so they can distinguish your scent in their other form.”
Roz smirked.As long as they stay away from my crotch, everything will be fine.
Konrad glanced around the table. “They’d better.”
***
Their group sailing lessons had finally ended, and Roz and Konrad were taking an O’Day sailboat for their maiden solo voyage. The autumn wind could be strong, but that day it was perfect, ten knots, winds from the southwest. There was a clear blue sky overhead, and Roz had applied plenty of sunscreen.
The instructor who had spent several weeks with them beamed as he watched them stow the canvases covering the sails. Roz knew she and Konrad worked as a team in perfect synchronicity, yet the instructor would never understand why.It really helps to communicate directions to each other telepathically.
“Yeah, and no need to shout over the wind.”
As soon as Konrad had tightened the ropes in the widgets, the instructor asked, “Ready to cast off?”
Konrad saluted the instructor. “Aye, aye, captain.”
The seasoned sailor laughed. “You’rethe captain now.”
“Co-captain.” He pointed to Roz with his thumb.
Konrad started the motor. Roz waved to the instructor as she used the stick to guide them out of the marina. Navigating the harbor required a little mechanical power before raising the sails.
Eventually they cleared the buoys and most of the islands dotting Boston harbor. Konrad cut the power, and Roz stood, ready to raise the jib. He clamped his big hand around her wrist. “Wait a minute. There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Ask me while I’m at the bow. As you said, there’s no need to shout over the wind.” She tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go.
“Roz, sit down.”
He sounded so serious that her warning bells went off. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Everything’s perfect.” He smiled and patted the seat.
She sat back down, slowly.
He lowered himself to one knee.
Her loud internal gasp may have communicated itself to him, but he didn’t comment on it.
He took her right hand in both of his and rubbed the surface gently with one of his thumbs. “Roz, you mean the world to me. I can’t imagine a future without you, and I don’t want to. I love you, I need you, and I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. A lump started to form in her throat, but she wanted to answer out loud. Before it grew and made it difficult to talk, she said, “Yes, I’d love to.”
He rose enough to grasp her in his arms and stood, holding her tight. The boat rocked a tiny bit, but not enough to throw them off balance. Nothing was enough to throw them off balance anymore, not the stress of a trial, not the stress of a job search. No more stressors were on the horizon, except moving to Newton…together.
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her deeply. “I love you, Roz.”
I love you too. Thank you for making me so happy.
It seemed that their dating disasters were over.
