Page 133 of Until You

“How long have you been dealing with your unhappy neighbor, and why do you think they want to stop you from opening?” a reporter asked.

Lanie gave her a gracious smile. “I understand why another store might feel threatened, but I want to assure them, as well as the community, that Margo Benson plans to blend into the community and improve the lives of women through both fashion and community service. With that in mind, I’d like to announce that Montgomery Enterprises is donating fifty thousand dollars to the Rose Brooks Center, an emergency shelter for women and children threatened with domestic violence.”

The crowd behind her cheered, and Lanie shot a smile toward them.

Several more reporters asked questions, and Stephanie and Lanie took turns answering.

Then Tyler stood at the edge of the crowd with his hand raised. “I have a question.”

Stephanie gave Lanie a quizzical look.

What was he up to? “Okay.”

“What do you think about grand gestures?” he called out.

She shook her head in confusion. “What?”

Suddenly a marching band started playing.

Stephanie’s eyes flew open, and she leaned into Lanie’s ear. “I didn’t arrange that.”

The tune of the song became recognizable as the band rounded the corner of the side street—Bruno Mars’s “Marry You.”

Lanie’s mouth parted in shock.

“Lanie,” Tyler said as he closed the distance between them and lowered his voice. “I love you.”

She shook her head. “Tyler…”

The band was now marching in front of the store, and Lanie saw Eric standing in the front, playing a saxophone.

“What’s going on, Tyler?” she asked louder.

“I know you’re leaving, but I’m more determined than ever to make this work. I don’t want to lose you.” He pulled a ring box out of his pocket, then bent down on one knee as he grabbed her left hand.

She gasped.

“Lanie, I love you. Marry me.”

She had always considered marriage a trap until she’d seen Britt and Randy. Randy made her cousin happy and they brought out the best in each other, not the worst like her parents had. Marriage had never been part of her life plan, but she loved Tyler more than she thought it was possible to love someone, and she didn’t want to live without him.

Lanie’s silence must have worried him. “It can be a long engagement,” he said. “Or short. Whichever you want. As long as you say you want to be with me, I’ll wait. We can wait years.”

Lanie shook her head, trying to get the words past the lump in her throat.

“No?” he asked, his voice tight as he climbed to his feet.

She nodded, still unable to speak.

“Yes, you don’t want marry me?”

“Yes!” she forced out. “I want to marry you. I want you.” Then she laughed as she brushed a tear from her cheek. “But you’re doing it all wrong.”

“You don’t like the marching band?” he asked with a grin. “That was Eric’s idea.”

Lanie gave the boy a quick wave, and he beamed.

She turned back to Tyler. “No. I love the band. It’s the ring. Most men show their fiancée the ring.”

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