Page 121 of Someone to Watch Over Me

“That’s a fact.”

“We should do something to celebrate.”

“What do you have in mind?” he asks.

“Champagne lunch followed by a nap before the party tonight?”

He comes to me, puts his arms around me and kisses me. “What kind of nap are we talking?”

“The good kind.”

I’d forgottenwhat it’s like to be newly in love, insatiable for more of him in bed and out of bed. Our lunch outing was full of laughter and excitement for my new job. The relief of having my debt settled continues to be a natural high, the likes of which I’ve never known. Even falling in love—twice—can’t rival the massive feeling of liberation that comes from being free of that horrible weight.

Lying in his arms now, after making love again—I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve done it now—I’m as content as I could possibly be in the “after,” as widows often describe life following the loss of a spouse.

I’m in love again, and my future looks bright with promise.

“I’m going to want you to marry me, sweet Lexi. I hope you know that.”

“I’m down with that.”

“This isn’t a proposal. That’ll be epic. This is just a fishing expedition to make sure a proposal would be welcome.”

I look up at him, so handsome and relaxed and happy. I like that I make him so happy. “It would be.”

“And you’d say yes?”

I pretend to think about that long enough that he pokes my side and makes me laugh. “I’d say yes.”

“Don’t be mean to your future fiancé. It’s not nice.”

“I’m very sorry.”

“Lying is also discouraged.”

“I love this, Tom. Thank you for waiting for me to be ready for you.”

“Sometimes it was hard to be patient, because I felt so strongly that we could have something great. And PS, I was right about that.”

“Yes, you were, and I knew it, too. I’ve known it all along, in fact.”

“You could’ve told me that!”

“What fun would that have been?”

“I’m not sure how I feel about mean Lexi.”

Smiling, I move close enough to kiss him. “I wasn’t ready, and I wouldn’t have been doing either of us any favors by trying to be ready before I was.”

“I get it, sweetheart. I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

“Just for the record, I could’ve done without the heart attack, however.”

“Same. I’ll always be sorry I did that to you.”

“No need to be sorry, since you survived.”

“I had the best possible reason to survive. Took until I was thirty-eight to really know what it means to be in love, and to be in love withyouis the ultimate dream come true for me. I hope you know that.”

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