"Yeah, but not good food!" he insisted.
"There are kids in the world starving; you'll be just fine," she reassured him. "Why don't you just grab an apple? It won't be long until supper."
"Yeah, maybe we should send some apples to the starving kids," he said playfully.
"Don't be cheeky," she laughed back at him.
As he bit into his apple, she looked at him, and a small smile curved her lips. She couldn't get over how much Jonathon looked like his father. When she had started dating Ed, he was only a few years older than Jonathon was now. It amazed her how time had flown by, and how young they had both been when they started dating in school.
"What are your plans for tonight?" she asked.
"I'm gonna go to Justin's," he answered through bites of the apple. "He has a new guitar I want to check out."
"Do you have any homework?"
"Nope, teachers have a professional development day tomorrow, so we're free,"
"Well, make sure you're in before your curfew whether there's school or not, you need to keep to a routine."
"Okay," he answered as he went to his room and grabbed some sheets of music.
"Wait, aren't you having some dinner?" she asked, as he slipped into his runners and headed to the door.
"Nah, Justin always has snacks. I'll grab something at his house," he said.
Well fine then, she thought to herself. Luke and I will just have more for ourselves! He was due to arrive shortly, and she removed all but two plates from the kitchen table. Opening a bottle of wine, she poured herself a glass. If she was honest, she was just as glad the boys weren't going to be here tonight. It was two days after their evening at his place, and she had only talked to Luke on the phone but had not seen him face to face. She preferred for them to be alone when that happened.
It was so awkward to be dating as a woman with kids who were almost grown. She wasn't always sure how to act, and the latest turn in their relationship left her wondering if things would be a bit uncomfortable between them.
She shouldn't have worried. When she answered Luke's knock, he met her with a kiss and a bouquet in his hands.
"Those are gorgeous!" she exclaimed. "You didn't have to!"
"Of course, I didn't," he said. "But I wanted to."
She walked into the kitchen to search out a vase for the arrangement. Luke followed her in and exclaimed.
"Wow, it smells great in here!"
"Thanks! I had a bit of a creative streak, and felt like cooking today," she said with a smile. "Sit down and prepare to be impressed!"
After dinner, they went outside for a walk.
"That was a great meal, but I'm stuffed," Luke said. "This walk will do us good."
"It would be great to go for a run, but I don't think that's a good idea after that meal!" she joked.
They walked in companionable silence for a while, heading toward the nearest park and strolling down the pathways.
"This is nice," Luke observed with a small sigh. "It's a beautiful evening."
"Yes, it is," she was content just to be holding his hand. They wandered until the mosquitos became unbearable, and then they headed back to her house. She was pleased that they were just as comfortable with each other as ever. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this was her first real adult relationship that included sex. She had been so young with her first husband that it seemed like a lifetime ago; a lifetime that had a totally different set of rules.
When they returned to her house, she assumed he would be going home, as it was getting late and he began his shifts very early.
"No, I think I'll come in for a while," he said. "The night is young."
They chose the floor in the living room as the perfect place to snuggle. He was leaning over her and began to kiss her. It was not his usual passionate kiss but rather gentle, light ones. Then he pulled himself away and sat up beside her.
"So, remember when I asked you if you would marry me if I asked you?"
"Yes, I certainly do," she answered.
"Well, if I asked you will you marry me?"
"I told you, I don't answer questions that haven't been asked," Olivia said with a laugh.
"You don't understand. Will you marry me?" he insisted.
It took Olivia a moment to realize he wasn't fooling around. She sat for a moment and just stared at him. She had known he was way ahead of her on the marriage road, and she had known this was a possibility, but she still couldn't quite believe that after four months of dating he was proposing to her.
"Ummm, I… Ummm," she stammered.
"Remember what I said, you better be ready to answer because I'll only ask once!"
"Ummm, ah… yes, I mean YES!" Olivia squealed as Luke slipped a ring on her finger.
She threw her arms around his neck, laughing almost hysterically. Luke held her tight, and wrapped his strong arms around her. The sense of love and acceptance she felt from him flowed through her anew.
"Have you even checked out the ring yet?" he asked eventually, laughing.
She glanced down at her hand for the first time and let out a gasp. It was a large, sparkling solitaire diamond.
"Wow, you did good, Luke!" she gasped.
"So that means you like it?" Luke joked.
"I do, I really like it," she smiled, as she sat back on the rug.
"I decided on platinum," he explained. "There is no way I want to take a chance that my ring would give you a rash."
"You made a good call, it's just perfect," she exclaimed. "Thank you!"
"No, thank YOU! I know you would prefer to wait, but I wanted to get my ring on your finger as soon as possible," he said with a smile. "We don't have to get married right away."
"Yes, we need to still take some time," she agreed. "We can spend the next few months getting to know each other more and then get married."
She couldn't believe it. If someone had told her a couple of years ago that this day would come, she would have thought she was daydreaming. The man of her dreams, who made her feel so wanted, sexy, and loved, actually wanted her for his wife. He was everything she could have imagined.
To hell with it being too soon, to hell with playing it safe and keeping her head clear. She was so madly, passionately, head over heels in love with this man, there was no way she wasn't going to throw caution to the wind.
Chapter Thirty
She
S he was going through papers that had accumulated over the past year or so, hoping to distract herself by taking on a project she had been avoiding for months. Things had been going well between her and her husband, but she still felt like she was walking on eggshells. She didn't want to bring up the topic of them moving because, if she were honest with herself, she would have to admit she had no interest in giving up her job and moving across the country. Some part of her hoped if she just left it alone that the idea would lose its appeal for him. He had talked about moving home before, although not with this much conviction and excitement. It had always been something he was hoping to do someday.