Page 74 of Falling Again
“Thanks, Ginny. I really appreciate you helping with whatever this is.”
With a smirk, Ginny collected Natalie’s makeup bag and ushered her toward the exit. “Trust me.” She snagged her keys and added, “I’ll drive us over there. I don’t want you to overdo it in your heels.”
“Okay,” Natalie agreed and followed Ginny out the front door. While Ginny locked up, Natalie noticed a few neighbors walking by. They gave knowing smiles, and Mrs. Sanders even stopped to wink.
“What is going on?” Natalie asked mostly to herself. It felt like the whole town knew something she didn’t.
Ginny got in the car and honked the horn, waking Natalie from her daydreaming. “You coming?”
Natalie carefully hiked up her dress and slid into the passenger’s seat. “You’re sure you don’t know what is going on?”
“Nope,” Ginny said, popping the P and keeping her gaze squarely on the road. Within three minutes they were pulling into the diner’s parking lot. Ginny pulled into the rear lot where the staff parked. As Natalie reached for the door handle, Ginny’s hand landed on her forearm. “Wait.”
Natalie turned back and frowned. “We were in a hurry to get here, but now I have to wait?” With her gaze on Ginny, Natalie missed someone walking around to open her door.
“You can get out now,” a familiar baritone boomed from outside the car.
Ginny offered a sheepish smile and waved. “You don’t need me anymore. See you inside.” And with that, Ginny ran into the diner.
Natalie took Anthony’s proffered hand and stepped into the waning sunlight. This time of year the sun stuck around until nearly eight o’clock, making the days just long enough. “Anthony, what’s going on?”
She studied her husband, who kept her hand clasped firmly in his own. Then she realized he wasn’t dressed for work; he was dressed for an event. He wore her favorite suit of his, a tailored pinstripe pattern that made him look like a Calvin Klein model. It was a far cry from what he wore a few hours ago during their diner fight. Natalie flinched at the memory.
“You look amazing,” Anthony said, raising her hand to his mouth and kissing her knuckles. “I’m so glad you came.”
Trying not to swoon over the feel of her skin on Anthony’s lips, Natalie struggled to stay in the moment. “I’m here, but why?”
Suddenly, Anthony looked nervous. He licked his lips twice before taking a deep breath. He was clearly psyching himself up for something. “Nat, I’ve made some huge mistakes, most recently making you feel unloved and unappreciated. We made such progress at the lake house, and I stupidly came home and kept a secret from you.”
Natalie bristled at mention of his secret, but she didn’t interrupt. She needed to know what all this was. Nodding her encouragement, Anthony continued. “The secret I was keeping wasn’t a bad one, but it was a secret nonetheless. I was planning an anniversary party with Max, and that’s why I wouldn’t show you the papers. That’s why I’ve been cagey and trying to answer calls and texts at home like the lamest spy in history.” Natalie’s lips quirked at the memory of Anthony trying to text someone without looking while she was brushing her teeth. He’d had one hand in the medicine cabinet and kept knocking things into the sink.
“I wouldn’t go into espionage if I were you,” she teased, reaching forward and taking Anthony’s shaking hand in her own. “So you were planning a party?”
Anthony shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. “I was, but not anymore.”
Natalie deflated at the idea that she ruined his grand gesture. It warmed her to think of Anthony planning a party to celebrate their marriage. And here she’d gone and ruined it by not trusting him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”
Rushing to correct her, Anthony said, “You didn’t. In fact, I think you made it better.”
“How?”
Anthony nodded at the diner, keeping his grip firm on her hands. “I just moved up the celebration.”
Laughing, Natalie’s eyes welled with tears. “You did?”
“Kind of,” Anthony said. “I had some help from our friends. There’s been a slight change of plans.”
“What kind of change?”
Anthony exhaled and stepped closer, bringing their bodies against each other. Even through the fabric of her dress, Anthony’s warmth seeped in, anchoring her to the moment.
Raising one of his hands, Anthony cupped her cheek. Leaning in, he placed the softest kiss on her lips and rested his forehead on hers. “Will you marry me, Natalie?”
Confused by the question, Natalie hated the goofy laugh that escaped her lips. “Marry you? Was there a mix up at town hall with our marriage license? They’re about ten years too late on that.”
Leaning back so he could meet her gaze, Natalie saw nothing but passion in her husband’s eyes. “No. The mix up was with me. I’ve taken you and our life for granted, and it’s time to make things right.”
*
