Page 21 of A Place to Call Home
“You both hit more than half of your shots from the free-throw line tonight,” she said. “That was awesome.”
Jack smiled at her. “We didn’t beat you, though.”
“Not yet.”
Jack’s smile turned to a grin. “Do you think I’ll ever beat you in Horse?”
“Absolutely. Especially with you working on your three-pointers.”
Jack grabbed a crushed soda can and tossed it into the recycle can. He threw his hands in the air and ran around the kitchen, mimicking the sound of a crowded arena cheering for a basketball star.
Craig slipped up behind Ada and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her temple. “You’re amazing. You know that?”
“My business cards assure me that I’m ‘the best.’” She turned in his arms, facing him. “But I’m willing to be reminded.”
He kissed her soundly and thoroughly.
“Gross!” Jack called out with a laugh from across the kitchen.
That set Craig and Ada laughing as well. He kept her in his arms. Meeting Ada really was the best thing that had happened to him in years, and he never wanted to let her go.
***
Craig had made a habit of walking with Ada along the beach on Friday evenings. Even as summer came to an end, they’d kept at it. She’d become a necessary part of his life. He never wanted to be without her again.
Walking on the sand in the cool mid-December breeze as the sun dipped low over the Pacific, Craig was keenly aware of the ring box in the pocket of his windbreaker. He couldn’t deny the fact that he was more nervous than he could ever remember being. He knew Ada loved him. And there wasn’t even a hint of doubt about whether he loved her as well. But asking her to marry him was a nerve-racking prospect, no matter how much evidence he had that her answer would beyes.
“You’re very quiet tonight,” Ada said, wrapping her arm around his. “Did something happen at work or with Jack?”
“No, nothing like that.” He shook his head.Quit being a wimp.He put his free hand in the pocket with the ring. He could do this. He could.
“So, we’ve. . . we’ve had a great six months, haven’t we?”
“Had?” She eyed him questioningly.
That came out wrong. “We’ve had a greatfirstsix months.”
“Much better.” She leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked.
“The next six are going to be even better,” he said.
“I like the sound of that.”
He liked the sound of it too. He just needed to summon the courage to say what he wanted to say. “You didn’t freak out when I accidentally told you that I loved you after only six weeks, so I’m hoping you won’t freak out over what I’m about to say after only six months.”
“When have you ever known me to freak out over anything?”
True enough. She was probably the most mellow, levelheaded person he knew. “That’s one of my top ten favorite things I like about you.”
She smiled. “You have a list?”
On any other night, he would have tossed back something witty, but he was a little too stressed. He pulled her over to an outcropping of rocks. They sat, and he faced her.
“Ada, I— I love you.”
“I know you do.”
He took her hand in his, then took a breath. “I love you, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You are everything—everything— I could have hoped to find in a woman. With you, my life feels complete.”
