Page 100 of Until We Weren't

Destiny slid the ring onto Faith’s finger and she held it out to admire it. “I love it, baby.” Faith leaned in and cupped the side of Destiny's face. “Thank you.” She pressed her lips to Destiny’s and felt truly loved. She knew Destiny’s love came with no conditions, no agenda; she loved Faith and wanted to live this life together. This might be the most perfect moment of love Faith had ever felt. Here, immersed in this beautiful place they’d created with their own hands, expressing their love in a sweet kiss and their hearts beating as one.

Faith pulled away and looked into Destiny’s eyes. “Do you feel it?”

Destiny nodded. “Instead of a droplet, it’s a moment.”

Faith nodded. Destiny felt it too!

They stared at each other, locked in this sweet moment.

“Uh, I’ve been thinking about something,” Faith said.

Destiny raised her eyes and waited.

“Are you sure you don’t mind living in the tiny house behind the shop?” Faith asked. “We don’t have much of a view.” She raised her hand and swept in front of them, gesturing to the beauty.

“I don’t care where we live as long as I’m with you,” Destiny said.

Faith smiled. “I had a feeling you’d say something like that. We’re going to be busy with the project, but I was thinking after that…” Faith trailed off.

“After that?”

“We could look for a bigger place and make Fields of Green a reality, not just a one project thing,” Faith said. “We could combine Lush Fields and The Green Thumb.”

Destiny smiled. “I’m listening.”

Faith shrugged. “We could move the tiny house somewhere that isn’t also our business.”

“And get a bigger building and yard that would hold all of our equipment and inventory,” Destiny added.

Faith nodded, a hopeful look on her face.

“We’d be doing this like we used to talk about?”

“Only better,” Faith said, “our businesses have grown, but so have we. I’m a different person, Des. Thank God you still love me.”

“You’re not an altogether different person,” Destiny said. “You’re the person I’ve always had faith in.”

Faith could see the twinkle in her eyes. “I’m glad you did, but what’s different is that I have faith in myself now, too.”

“And you can trust your feelings, babe,” Destiny said. “We have so much love and we have to let it make us strong, especially when the doubts creep in.”

Faith nodded. “I know things aren’t always going to be like this. We’ll have challenges, but we have to make room for the happiness.”

“I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing,” Destiny said. “We put the past behind us. No matter how it happened, we’re together now and that’s what’s important.”

“I know what it feels like to be without you and I never want to feel that again. I trust you. I’m not afraid to tell you what’s in my heart because I know you won’t leave me.”

“I’m never letting you go,” Destiny said.

“You don’t have to because I’m holding on.” Faith smiled and leaned in for a gentle kiss. “Let’s sit here a little longer then walk down to the river.”

“Whatever you want, birthday girl.”

“You’ve made it hard on yourself, babe,” Faith said with a playful grin.

“I have?”

“Yep.” Faith nodded. “You’ll be trying to top this next year on my birthday and I don’t know how you can do that.”

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