Page 95 of In the Dust

“Things with Dixie seem to be going well.”

“Really well. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

He rests his hand on the table. “Okay.”

“A couple of nights before the fire, I did something.” I take a breath. “As luck would have it, I pulled Dixie and her mom’s painting out of the shed.”

Burl’s face turns white as he clutches his chest. “They didn’t burn in the fire?”

“No, sir. They’re safe. I know Gina owns an art gallery in New York, and those paintings deserve to be on display. Dixie just needs a push. I have this whole trip planned—”

“She can’t know,” he interrupts.

“What? Why?”

“She’ll never believe you,” he reveals. “It has to be a surprise. I’ll make sure she goes if it’s the last thing I do.”

“You should come, Burl. See the paintings up on a wall in the gallery.”

He laughs. “Colt, I’m too old to fly. I do wish I could see her reaction when she sees the paintings are safe, though.”

“I could take a picture.”

“That works for me.”

I let out a deep breath. “There’s something else.”

He nods for me to continue.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

He chuckles. “I’ve known that since y’all were little.”

“That obvious, huh?” I laugh. “I know I still need to ask Ray for his blessing, but I wanted to ask you if it would be okay if I propose to her with Lilly’s ring?”

After what feels like an eternity, he nods his head. “Follow me.”

* * *

“I’ve hadthe ring ever since, waiting for the perfect moment. I was going to do it after we got back from New York, but the timing wasn’t right with everything that was happening.”

“He knew?” Her voice trembles.

I nod. “Of course. He’s how I got the ring.”

I take the ring out of its cushioned home and grab her left hand as I continue my speech.

“I want to wake up every morning with you next to me. This all means nothing without you. I let you walk away once, and it almost ended me. I promise to fight for you, for us, like there’s no tomorrow. Be mine forever, baby. Make me the happiest man in the universe. Will you marry me, Dixie May?”

My heart pounds as the seconds tick by treacherously slow. Come on, Dix.

Her breaths become labored.

Oh, fuck. Did I break her?

Was this too much too soon? I thought she was ready.

“Yes.”

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