In the distance, a flashlight moves.
“Hazy, someone’s coming.” I slap the ground beside me. “Hurry.”
He drops down next to me, then kisses me. This is both humorous and horrifying. No one is going to believe that two adults snuck into the cemetery to kiss. If you want to be alone, there are better places for that. And even if someone fell for that whopper of a tale, how would we explain the shovel or the gaping hole in the ground?
Hopefully, I’ll be able to put my foot up in jail.
Archer whispers, “You okay?”
“No. I just got you back and now you’re going to jail, and I don’t even know why.” I’m still wrapped in his arms, and we’re whispering in each other’s ear. “But no matter what happens, I love you.”
“Mr. Hayes, is that you?” Mr. Hoover shines the light right at us.
Archer kisses my cheek, then stands. “Yes, sir. I came back to get something important. Something I stored here right after I graduated. I’m sorry for digging the hole, and I’ll put the dirt back, good as new.”
Mr. Hoover grabs Archer’s hand and gives it a shake. “Good to see you again.” Then he swings the light down toward me. “Hello, Miss Delgado. I should’ve known you’d be here too.”
“Hello, Mr. Hoover.” I feel like a kid who’s been sent to the principal’s office.
Mr. Hoover pats Archer’s shoulder. “You didn’t find that important thing, am I right?”
“No, sir. I was so sure about where it would be, but I won’t dig up the whole area. I promise.” Archer sounds resigned, sad.
“You’d be surprised how many people come digging around in here. I have to chase people off from time to time. And I didn’t want your important thing to get stolen, so when you left after burying it that night, I dug it back up.” He taps his pocket. “And tonight, when I saw a shadow digging under this tree, I had a feeling it might be you.” He holds out a small box. “Here you go.”
Archer clasps the box, then hugs the man. “Thank you. You don’t know what this means.”
“I think I do, son. And I’ll be on my way so that y’all can be alone. But I do expect that hole to be filled.”
Archer and I answer at the same time, bobbing our heads. “Absolutely.”
Whistling, Mr. Hoover strolls away, and I stare after him.
No more of this no-asking-questions bit. I turn to ask Archer about what’s in the box.
He’s on one knee.
“The cemetery might be the worst place on earth to do this, but I’m not waiting.” His chin quivers, and he pinches his lips, his gaze fixed on my face the whole time. “My mother had a pair of earrings she loved. There wasn’t much that survived the fire, but those did. And I kept them as a reminder. But then midway through our senior year, I took them to a jeweler and ask him to use the stones and work them into a ring.”
I swipe at my cheek, but tears just keep coming.
He opens the box. “Violet Delgado, I love you. Even when we were far apart, my heart found you. We were made for each other. I’d walk through fire for you and do anything to keep you safe. Please make me the happiest man alive and marry me. Will you?”
I throw my arms around him and sob into his shoulder.
“Lettie, sweetie, is that a yes?”
Nodding, I try to catch my breath. “Yes, and I’m so sorry.”
He cradles my face. “I want you. I want a houseful of kids who look just like their mama.” He lifts the ring out of the box and slides it on my finger. And amazingly it fits. If he’d given it to me the day after graduation, it would’ve fallen off my finger, but not now. “We’ll find a place to stay the rest of the night. There’s a new hotel right down the street. Then we can talk about what my grandmother said and plan our wedding. Anything you want is fine with me.”
“Good idea.”
“But first, I have to clean up my mess.”
“Wait. Let’s take a selfie. I want to send it to Layla.”
Archer leans in close. “Will this work? It’s dark.”