Ben stopped walking to face her. “I was curious about the process of adoption and the prospects of us being able to successfully adopt a child together,” he responded.
Marg opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Ben stopped her. “I promise I’ll answer all of your questions soon, but can we go get something to eat? We can go by the boardwalk.”
“Okay,” Marg agreed, although the questions were swirling in her mind.
Ben took her to the boardwalk and proceeded to buy French fries and iced tea for the both of them. They sat on one of the benches facing the ocean and looked out at the boats gliding in and out of the harbor as they munched on their food.
“I remember this was the first place that we officially met,” Ben said, looking across at her before turning his attention back to the ocean.
“I remember.” Marg smiled, remembering how their chance encounter had shifted her mood after her blow-up with her mother.
“From that very moment, I knew I loved you.”
Marg widened her eyes as she turned to look at Ben. He smiled back at her. “I hadn’t put the emotion into words yet, but yeah, this is where I fell in love with you,” he affirmed. “I can’t imagine a life without you in it, Marg. I know I said I didn’t want to have any more children, but our time apart made me think hard about it, and I realized that having a child with you would be a wonderful gift because we get to raise him or her together. I am also confident that our child will have everything they need because they’ll have two loving parents.”
Marg’s heart hammered against her chest as she watched Ben put down his food and then stand. He then took her food and put it aside as he got down on one knee. The people on the boardwalk stopped what they were doing to watch.
“Marg, I love you. You are my heart, and I don’t think I could ever live this life without you being a part of it.” He opened the ring box to reveal a beautiful round-cut diamond engagement ring. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at it and at him.
“Will you marry me?”
ChapterTwenty
“Will you marry me?”
Marg’s heart danced with joy. A lone tear of joy slipped down her cheek.
“Please say something,” Ben encouraged her, his eyes filling with panic at her lack of response.
Instead of answering, Marg leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Her palm came up to cup his jaw as she deepened the kiss. When she separated from him, she finally responded.
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” She beamed widely.
A grin broke out on Ben’s lips as he reached into the box to remove the ring. Marg held out her hand, allowing him to slip the ring on her ring finger.He rose to his feet, pulling her with him, then bundled her in his arms and spun with her. Loud cheers erupted around them as Marg laughed merrily. Ben’s lips found hers again when he finally set her back on her feet.
“We’re engaged!” he shouted in triumph when they separated once more. The people around them cheered loudly, some even coming up to congratulate them personally.
Marg felt as if she was on cloud nine, and she never wanted to come down from the high. As Ben drove her home, she couldn’t stop admiring the ring on her finger. She was engaged to the love of her life, and they were considering adopting a child together.
Ben grasped her hand in his and brought it up to his lips, where he proceeded to place a gentle kiss against the back of her hand. “What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Of how happy I am that I get to spend the rest of my life with you,” she responded.
Ben glanced at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Reed,” he said.
“I can’t wait to be Mrs. Reed and call you my husband,” she returned.
“I was thinking that after we get married, we can move into your grandmother’s house if that’s what you want. I know it has a lot of sentimental value to you,” Ben offered.
Marg thought it impossible for her to fall more in love than she was with the man beside her, but just today alone, he was proving that it was possible. “I love you so much,” she breathed out.
“I love you too,” Ben returned.
“As tempting as that sounds, I think it’s time for a change.I’m starting the rest of my life with you. My home is wherever you are, so when we get married, I want to move in with you,” she informed him.
“Are you sure?” Ben asked, looking at her with hesitation written on his face.
“I am,” she affirmed. Ben reached for her hand again and squeezed it affectionately.
