Page 109 of Until We Weren't

“Okay,” Mrs. Baker said. “Are you going to tell me why you’re really here?”

Destiny’s eyes widened and surprise covered her face.

“I can tell when something is on your mind and you need to talk,” Mrs. Baker said.

Destiny nodded. “You’re the closest thing to family that Faith has,” she began. “My family loves her and we have good friends, but her family let her down over and over. She considers you her family.”

“She’s my family, too, and so are you,” Mrs. Baker said, putting her hand over Destiny’s.

“Our trust issues ran deep, but together we have rebuilt our relationship and become stronger. We are closer than we’ve ever been. On this big day when we finish this project and start our dream of working together, I want to take away any doubt that Faith could possibly have left that we’re supposed to be together.”

“Okay,” Mrs. Baker said.

“After we do the final walk-through this evening, I want us to go back to the tiny house,” Destiny said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring. “I’m going to propose to her.”

“Oh!” Mrs. Baker exclaimed.

“First, as Faith’s family, would you give us your blessing?” Destiny asked.

Mrs. Baker laughed boisterously. “Give you my blessing! I’ve been trying to get you two back together this entire time. Of course you have my blessing!”

Destiny laughed and put her arms around the older woman. She pulled back to show Mrs. Baker the ring. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

Mrs. Baker had tears in her eyes. “She considers that ring you gave her for her birthday almost like a wedding ring. I don’t know if you’ve noticed how she plays with it on her finger. When she’s happy or needs a little strength, she touches it or twirls it.”

Destiny nodded. “I’ve noticed and it melts my heart.”

“I think she will love this,” Mrs. Baker stated. “When do you plan to pop the question?”

“Well, I could do it this evening when we walk through her garden with the fountain or when I show her the rock cairn design,” Destiny said. “But we’ve been our happiest at the tiny house, especially on her front porch where we talked. That’s when I knew we had a future.”

“I think the tiny house is the right place,” Mrs. Baker said with a grin.

Destiny noticed a twinkle in Mrs. Baker's eye. “Is there something else you need to tell me?”

“Nope,” Mrs. Baker said. “Wait, will you call me when it’s done?”

Destiny gave her a big smile. “Of course we will.”

She gave Mrs. Baker another hug and couldn’t wait until this evening.

Destiny picked Faith up at her shop and drove them to the site.

“Are you ready?” Destiny asked once she’d parked.

Faith gave her a big smile. “I’m more than ready.”

Destiny chuckled. “Just wait until after we’ve done our walk-through,” she mumbled as she got out of the truck.

“What?” Faith asked.

“I’m ready to see it finished,” Destiny said. Her heart was beating faster than it should and she had a nervous flutter in her stomach. She was excited and also anxious about proposing, but when she looked over at Faith she noticed her fidgeting rather nervously. “Are you okay, babe?”

Faith smiled and held out her hand to Destiny. “I’m a big ball of anticipation.”

“It’s okay, darlin’,” Destiny said, taking her hand. “We’re in this together.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or doing this with anyone else,” Faith said earnestly.

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