Page 557 of Summer Heat
The quotation this time was from Ben Jonson. “‘The thirst that from the soul doth rise/Doth ask a drink divine.’” Below it was a child’s handwriting: “Go to the Wild Moose.”
Her hands started to tremble, and Tamara had to take several long deep breaths before she pulled her car out and headed to the Wild Moose, where the waitress gave her another card. There was a secret in her eyes, and Tamara’s heart began to thud painfully. This one contained another part of the Ben Jonson poem, “To Celia.” Tamara knew it by heart. “‘Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine,’” he’d written.
Tamara finished it under her breath: “‘Or leave a kiss but in the cup/ And I’ll not look for wine.’” With effort, she bit back a rush of tears.
The chase led all over town, to the gas station, the courthouse, the school. By the time Tamara got the last note, telling her to go to Lake Rosalie, her heart was shimmering, and her hands trembled violently and she didn’t think she could bear to have the suspense drawn out another second.
There seemed to be no one about. Tamara drove up and turned off her car. It was utterly still and peaceful when she got out. A magpie called out boldly, and she heard the twitterings of sparrows hidden by the pines. In the late-afternoon sunlight, the lake sparkled. Only her heart, pounding like a drum, seemed to break the quiet.
A picnic table sat by the lake, and on it was a simple flag made of paper and glitter, with her name in a childish scrawl. Below it was a card and a small package. She looked around, but there was no one.
She picked up the card. It was hand folded, and she recognized Cody’s crayon style in the design on the front. For a moment, she thought of Lance patiently helping him as they put together the treasure hunt, and her chest hurt.
There was only a quotation this time. Shakespeare, from Hamlet. This time, Tamara could not breathe, and she could not stop the overflow of tears that spilled out of her eyes, hot and silent, as she read it aloud.
“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love.”
Blinking, she picked up the wrapped package, unable to see for a moment. It was wrapped simply in white tissue paper, and on the top, written in blue ballpoint pen, was a single word—“‘Please.’”
She opened the box. Inside were three rings—a simple, stunning diamond that gave off hot sparks in the low sunlight, and two gold bands. Her hands were trembling so violently, Tamara could barely hold the small box.
From the trees came a rustling. Lance, holding Cody on his hip, emerged from the bushes. Man and boy had leaves in their hair, and the knees of their jeans had dirt marks from kneeling.
Lance said nothing. On his face was a sober, earnest expression, and Tamara had never been so in love with him as she was in that minute. She burst into tears.
He came forward and gently set Cody down on the ground. Tamara flung her arms
around Lance’s neck and wept with pure, unbridled joy. He caught her close, his arms like a vise around her body. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his precious scent. “I can’t imagine anything more touching. Not if I live a thousand years.”
“I meant every word,” he said in a husky voice. “I know I haven’t had the best reputation, but I can’t stand to think of my life without you, Tamara. I love you so much.”
She clung to him, almost dizzy with joy. She thought of his faithfulness to his son, of his need to care for them, of his patience and honor and goodness. “You are such a good man,” she whispered.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, and to her surprise, there was genuine doubt in his words.
She raised her head. “Yes.”
He sighed, and the sound was replete with relief. He hugged her again, so close Tamara felt he would inhale her. “Thank God.”
“And Valerie,” Tamara said.
Lance smiled. “And Valerie,” he agreed.
“Mommy,” Cody piped up suddenly. “Don’t you want to put on this pretty ring?”
Tamara laughed. “Oh, yes,” she said, and held out her hand.
Cody looked hopefully at his father. “Can I do it?”
“Let’s do it together.” He took the ring out of the box and held it in his hand. Cody jumped on the picnic table to put his fingers over his dad’s. Together they slid the ring onto Tamara’s finger. She admired it happily, then hugged them both at once. “You guys are terrific,” she said.
“That’s because of you, Mommy,” Cody replied seriously.
