Moira pulled back and searched his face.
Gil cleared his throat. “Um, let me rephrase. I have an offer for you. How would you like to do the honors of cutting the ribbon for this ceremony?”
“Me?” Moira pressed a hand into her chest, where her heart was still beating fast from the mention of a proposal. Didn’t a man know not to utter the P-word without a ring to back it up? “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll be right beside you, but you should be the one.” Gil hugged her closer. “What do you say?”
Moira’s eyes stung. She wasn’t about to cry, but her emotions felt raw today. It was a bittersweet occasion, and she was glad to share it with the man she loved. “I’d like that.”
“Good. Me too.”
Moira cleared her throat, eying Tess, Trisha, Lucy, Della, and Lara huddled toward the front of the crowd. “The cutting isn’t for fifteen minutes, right?”
Gil followed Moira’s gaze. “Say hello for me. You don’t have blood-related sisters, but your friends definitely fill that gap.”
Moira grinned. “In that case, they’ll be your adoptive sister-in-laws one day.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Moira did too. “Back in a few minutes.” She turned away from Gil and headed in her friends’ direction.
“Big day,” Tess said, stepping forward and hugging Moira first.
“Yes, it is.” Moira hugged the other women one by one. “Where are the guys?” she finally asked.
Lucy tipped her head toward the back of the crowd. “Miles is working.”
“Same,” Trisha said. “Plus Jake told me he knew I’d rather be with you-all anyway.” She reached for Moira’s hand and squeezed it. “And he wasn’t wrong about that.”
Moira glanced back toward Gil. “I’m afraid I can’t stay. I’m actually going to be the one cutting the ribbon.”
Lucy bounced on her heels for a beat. “Wow. That’s so cool.” She glanced over at Trisha. “I might not be able to stay either though. My patient here could go into labor at any moment.” She was referring to Trisha, whose belly was swollen and carrying low.
“I know a few months ago we had said we’d do anything to stop this parking lot from happening, but that plan has changed,” Moira teased. “No need to go into labor right here in the crowd to put a stop to things.”
Trisha’s cheeks appeared to flush. “I think we’ll be okay. Although I’m predicting book club might have to take place at my home with the baby next week.”
The women squealed in unison.
“I’m so excited!” Tess said. “Our first book club baby. I mean, I know you have an older child, Trisha, and Della has two boys, but those boys are half-grown. This will be a tiny human.”
“And the first girl,” Moira pointed out.
Trisha’s smile dropped and then she groaned, pulling a hand to her belly.
“What’s wrong?” Moira asked, suddenly concerned.
Trisha looked up and smiled again. “Just a kick. Let me tell you, this girl is tough.”
Tess placed her hand on Trisha’s belly. The other women all did the same, stacking their hands to cover the baby bump. “Tough just like her mama,” Tess said.
“And all her mama’s friends,” Trisha shot back.
* * *
The ceremony went off without a hitch, and then Gil announced the plans for a skate park. Everyone in the audience seemed to love the idea. There was laughter and cheers and lots of excited chatter once Moira cut the ribbon. Afterward, she stopped to talk to several friends and would-be voters while Gil worked the crowd as well. Then they made their way back to one another.
“We have one more place to go,” Gil said as he walked her to her car. “My truck is just up ahead. How about I drive, since the next place is a surprise?”
“A surprise?” Moira asked, holding his hand. “I used to think I hated surprises.”
“And now?” Gil asked.
“Now I love a lot of things I never thought I liked before.”
“Including me?” he asked, one side of his mouth quirking.
“Especially you,” she said, wrapping her arm around his.
When they arrived at his truck, he opened the passenger door for her. Moira climbed in and buckled up while he jogged around and got in on the driver’s side.
“It’s a good surprise, right?” she asked, suddenly feeling a little anxious.
“Mm-hmm. A life-changing surprise.”
Moira felt her eyes round. Her life had already gone through so many changes this year. Sweetie’s was gone. She’d dipped her toe in politics and joined the town council. And she was in a serious romantic relationship for the first time in her life. One thing that hadn’t changed was her job at the emergency dispatch, which she continued to love. No more following up on her callers’ lives though. Even though it was difficult, she trusted the system. Somerset’s emergency response team was amazing, and if there was ever anything she needed to know, Reva would be sure to get the word out. No doubt about that.
“Life changing?” Moira repeated. Maybe there was another proposal up Gil’s sleeve. Was he considering marriage? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that just yet.
“You’ll see,” Gil said in an upbeat tone. He turned the key and started the engine and then drove toward the outskirts of town while Moira’s imagination got the best of her. Finally, he pulled into a driveway that led to a log cabin home that sat on a creek.
“Have you guessed what your surprise is yet?” Gil asked, bringing the truck to a stop and cutting the engine.
“I am absolutely bewildered. Where are we?”
Gil pulled his keys from the ignition and dropped them in the middle console. “Beth Chimes’s house. She fosters.”
Moira shook her head, still not tracking. She had spent a lot of time volunteering with Beth and the rescue animals. She and Beth had become friends, although Moira had never come to her home. It was a beautiful place. “I’m still not following. Why are we here?”
Gil pushed his truck door open and stepped out. “Come on. Beth is waiting for us.”
Moira opened her truck door and stepped out. The ground was soft beneath her flats. She was dressed for a ceremonious occasion, not playing in the dirt or creek. Were they here to look at a dog? Moira stopped in her tracks. “Gil, I’m not ready for this.”
He reached for her hand. Before he could respond, Beth walked out of her home and headed in their direction. She was holding a leash with a blur of brown and white fur tugging at the end.
“Hey, you two!” Beth said excitedly. “Molly has been beside herself with anticipation. I think she knows what’s going on.”
Moira looked down and blinked. “That makes one of us.”
Beth looked at Gil, concern knitting the area between her eyes. “You didn’t tell her?”
He shook his head. “I wanted this to be a surprise. Hopefully, a happy one.”
Moira had to blink again because there were tears blurring her eyes. “Is this…Molly?”
“Surprise,” Gil said with a small smile.
Moira looked between him and Beth. “What is she doing here?”