Page 166 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
Katlynn pointed toward the path. It had gotten dark, but the full moon illuminated the night sky. “I think I see them.”
“About time,” Dana called out.
“Shut up, or we’ll go back to the truck.” Blake’s voice filled the air.
When they arrived back at the fire, I noticed Robyn’s red-rimmed eyes.Shit.Had they gotten into an argument? I studied Blake, but if anything, she seemed buoyant.
Blake nudged Robyn and said, “Are you gonna tell them?”
Robyn smiled and held up her hand. The firelight danced off the ring on her finger. “Blake asked me to marry her, and I said yes.”
We all leaped to our feet. Hugs and congratulations abounded. Once the revelry died down, Dana clapped her hand on Blake’s shoulder. “I thought you’d do something splashier.”
Blake grinned. “I considered asking at the dedication ceremony.” She gazed at Robyn with so much love in her eyes, it nearly took my breath away. “But I know Robyn. She’s understated, so I did it the way I knew she’d want me to.”
“In the place I knew I’d fallen in love with her,” Robyn said.
“With all the crickets and frogs as my witness.” Blake kissed Robyn’s hand. “And this time, I knew which was which.”
Robyn threw her arms around Blake and hugged her again. “Thank you. You just made me the happiest woman in the world. And thank you for asking me the way you knew I wanted to be asked.”
My heart filled. My sister had gotten it right.
I shifted my gaze to Vera and sidled up next to her. “Maybe we should wait,” I said in a low voice. “I don’t want to steal their thunder.”
“Nonsense,” Vera whispered back. “This will make it even more perfect.”
Before I could protest, Vera waved her hand. “I have an announcement, too.”
Still on their feet, everyone turned toward Vera.
“I’ve been working on the class schedule for this summer, and I’d like to tell you about our new instructor.”
Robyn glanced at Vera with a puzzled expression on her face. No doubt confused why Vera would choose this moment for an announcement.
Blake gave Vera a supportive smile, but I noticed the irritation in her eyes.
“As you know, the drill sergeant, as all of you called her, wasn’t the right fit for the program, so I’ve replaced her.”
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Helena said.
“Amen to that,” Annie added.
Blake stared at Vera, her eyes narrowed. I heard my sister’s thoughts,why in the hell is Vera doing this now?
Vera pretended to be oblivious and continued. “I’ve interviewed several replacements but settled on an instructor who’s moving to Madison from New York.”
“Really?” Blake groaned. “Wouldn’t you rather have a local?”
Vera shook her head. “Not in this case.”
Robyn still hadn’t said anything, but I noticed a smile playing on her lips. I believe she’d begun to suspect.
“Go ahead,” Vera nodded at me.
I took a step toward Blake and Robyn. “I’ve missed you. A lot. And Andrew knows it. Remember when he flew to Madison last month?”
“Yeah.” Blake’s brow furrowed. I expected her to figure it out, but by her reaction, I didn’t think she had. “I’m still mad you didn’t come with him.”
