Page 78 of Sweet Home

“Oh, West,” Dulcie sobbed. “I’m so h-happy.”

He pulled her to his chest again, pressing his lips to the crown of her head.

“And Elizabeth?” she asked through her tears.

“Yes,” he said. “She also knows, and she’sveryexcited. And before you ask, I told my mother too. I’m sorry, I guess you were kind of the last to know.”

Suddenly, she was laughing, and he was laughing too. Remi stepped in with a tray of delectable looking scallops and a worried expression on his face like he wasn’t sure if he should deliver the dish when the customers seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time.

“Come on over,” West told him with a smile. “My fiancée needs to eat.”

By the timethey got home that night, they had full bellies and full hearts.

West parked the truck and opened Dulcie’s door for her, taking her hand as they headed up the porch steps.

“This is the end of our first date,” he said when they reached the front door. “And the beginning of our engagement.”

She turned to him, her heart pounding as she waited for him to kiss her. But she spotted something over his shoulder that made her smile.

“We have an audience,” she told him, trying not to giggle as she pretended she didn’t see their friendly spies.

She moved slightly, giving him an excuse to turn so that he could catch a glimpse of Elizabeth, Delphine, and even Maggie peering avidly out the front window.

“Can I kiss you anyway?” West asked. “I’ll keep our fan club in mind.”

She nodded, feeling shy all of a sudden, even though they were engaged. West tugged her hand, pulling her close, and then his eyes met hers and all her shyness melted away.

When he cupped her cheek in his hand and bent to meet her lips, she felt like a thousand butterflies were taking wing in her chest all at once.

He kissed her gently and pulled back right away, his eyes dancing.

When they turned back to the window, the three watchers inside were all smiling. West pulled the front door open with a flourish and gestured for Dulcie to lead the way.

“Oh, you’re back,” Maggie said, pretending to be surprised as her blue eyes twinkled with merriment.

“Did you ask her?”Elizabeth demanded, running to her father.

“Yes, did you?” Delphine echoed.

“You two are not very good at keeping secrets,” West teased them with a big smile so they would know he wasn’t really disappointed in them.

Dulcie lifted her hand to show off her beautiful new ring, and both girls squealed and ran over to hug her.

“This is really okay with you both?” she asked.

“Yes,” they both answered at once.

Dulcie turned to Maggie, but the olderwoman was already coming for her with open arms and tears in her eyes.

“I’m so glad it’s going to be official,” Maggie murmured in her ear as she squeezed her hard. “But I hope you know you’ve been part of this family since the day you got here.”

Dulcie squeezed her back hard, and the others all wiggled into the hug too, with West wrapping his big arms around them all.

When she stole a glance up into the face of the man who had shown her what love was, his eyes were glistening too.

“Thank you,” he mouthed.

Dulcie was so filled with joy it felt like light was radiating from her heart.

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