He got down on one knee and looked up at me while smiling. “I think you know why I’m saying that, Ginger. It’s because you are the only woman I want to be with for the rest of my life. I suppose I knew that shortly after we started talking every week, and everything solidified after our first night together.”
Tears were streaming down my face a mile a minute, but I didn’t say a word as he continued.
“Yuslan was right about something, too. He told me that finding the perfect woman is what defines a man, and that’s exactly how I feel about you. Before we became more than friends, Ginger, I was lost. I can’t imagine my life without you. So with that being said, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Jorge! I’ll marry you!”
Everyone in the diner burst out in a round of applause.
“I’ll take you to the mines later on, and you can pick out your very own diamond in the rough. I’ll have it cut however you like, and then we’ll fit it on a platinum band.”
“Oh, Jorge! I’m so excited!”
“That’s what I was going for, Ginger. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us anymore.”
“Well, in that case, I should come clean about something. I lost my birth control when they were looking through my bags at customs. I should have told you last night before we made love, but I couldn’t resist. I’m so sorry.”
He brushed some hair out of my face while smiling. “Oh, well. All that matters is that we love each other and make the commitment to spend the rest of our lives together. And, of course, the next thing for us to do is start a family.”
Epilogue
Ginger
Eighteen Months Later
Brooks was having so much fun in the tub that morning. I still couldn’t believe that he was mine and Jorge’s son, but his crystal-blue eyes were definitely from his father. Guadalupe said that he had my eyebrows and lips, though. Every time I looked at him, all I saw was a bouncing baby boy created by two people who were soulmates.
Ever since I was a little girl, my dream home had included a full bathroom attached to every bedroom—even the guest rooms. And that was precisely what Jorge had done with our newly constructed mansion, which was just a few blocks away from Chase and Margo. Baby Brooks had a nursery that was twice the size of my childhood bedroom and an attached bathroom complete with a soaker tub and walk-in shower. Until he was a few months older, however, I bathed him in his bathroom sink.
My cellphone started ringing, and before Jorge even brought it to me, I knew it was Guadalupe.
“Put it on speakerphone,” I said while rinsing off Brooks.
“Is that Brooks I hear splashing away, Ginger?”
Brooks cooed and giggled upon hearing her voice.
“It sure is, Guadalupe! I’ll be heading to work in just a few minutes. Brooks got a little too carried away with his breakfast, and needless to say, I had to give him a bath.”
“You take all of the time that you need, dear. I only called because your messenger said that you weren’t available, and I wanted to hear him. Will you send me some pictures this afternoon?”
Guadalupe had pictures of Brooks all over her office, right next to Margo’s baby, Joanna. Even though we weren’t blood-related to her, she was still their grandmother.
“Of course, I will! Although I don’t think you’ll have too much room left on the walls!”
“Let me worry about that, dear. If I need to, I’ll have Yuslan make my office bigger.”
Jorge burst out laughing while bringing me a towel for my wet baby. “That poor man is always working at the spa.”
“Believe me, Jorge, I repay him with plenty of home-cooked meals. Speaking of which, when are you two coming over for some of my empanadas?”
“Oh, God, Guadalupe, I could go for some of your delicious empanadas right now! How about this weekend?” I asked.
“Sure, but only if Jorge can wait that long!”
“Guadalupe,” Jorge said while continuing to dry off Brooks, “you won’t hear me complaining if you bring me some of your delicious cooking. Just be sure to bring more than one serving because Ginger will get to it before I do!”
“It’s not my fault that you’re slow,” I said while kissing him. Both of us looked down at our son, who kept giggling as the two of us rubbed him with a towel.
