Page 99 of Save the Drama for your Mama
A leap of faith will change everything.
I glanced back up at the airplane that was still circling overhead, the one he had just jumped out of. If that wasn’t a leap of faith, I didn’t know what was.
“Go big or go home,” Cooper said. “My mom used to tell me that.” He pointed up to the sky. “That was my leap of faith right there, to prove I would do anything for you.”
Tears pricked my eyes, but words weren’t coming out of my mouth.
“What my mother wrote in her diary about me was only partially true,” Cooper admitted. “She was wrong about my intentions. I didn’t go on trips with those women to get what I wanted and then just leave. You can learn a lot about a person when you’re with them for forty-eight hours straight. And I know it may sound odd to you, but I hoped those weekends away would help me understand if we were compatible before committing my heart.” He squeezed my hands, gazing at me earnestly. “From the moment we started living in the same home, I knew we were compatible. I didn’t need a weekend getaway to convince myself.”
I nodded. “Then why did you ask me to go to San Francisco with you?”
“Our trip was supposed to be a celebration, and a chance for you to see that part of my world that I was leaving behind.” Cooper’s eyes locked intensely on mine. “I love San Francisco, and I love Coronado, but what I love most of all, more than anything, is you. Wherever you are is where I want to be. As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters. So, hear me now as I say it again. I love you, Melody.”
“I love you, too.” My heart swelled, and suddenly I was kissing him right there in the flea market, the pain of the last few days magically disappearing.
The crowd cheered us on as we kissed.
Cooper finally pulled away, grabbing my hand and leading us away from everyone and cutting down the aisle.
“Where are we going?” I asked, not that it mattered since we were together.
“I need privacy,” he said, pulling me to a stop, caressing the side of my face, then lowering his head to press his lips against mine again.
I could get lost in his kisses forever.
In fact, we were so caught up in the moment that we didn’t notice the precariously placed antique vase next to us that crashed loudly to the ground.
The shopkeeper glared at us. “You break, you buy!” She pointed to the sign. “Two hundred dollars!”
Cooper didn’t even blink as he handed the woman his credit card. As soon as she walked away, his lips found mine again. When we broke apart, I was smiling and breathless.
I tugged on his shirt, still shocked at what he had done. “I’m surprised it’s not illegal to jump out of the plane here. Don’t you need permits or authorization?”
“Both,” Cooper said. “I made a friend at the Federal Aviation Administration when I had been doing research for my book. He took care of all the legal stuff. And the parachuting team I hired are professionals with hundreds of jumps under their belts. They’ve done stunts for the halftime show at a few of the football games here. They knew what to do to make this happen. That lame landing was all on me.”
“I still can’t believe you did what Fernando did in your book,” I said.
Cooper shrugged. “You told me that when he parachuted out of that airplane to be with the girl of his dreams, that was the most romantic thing you had ever read.”
“Yes, but that was fiction, not reality,” I said.
“Not anymore,” Cooper said.
“Was it the thrill of a lifetime to do that?”
He laughed. “Honestly, I’ve never been so scared in all my life. But nothing would be as terrifying as the thought of losing you forever.” He cupped my face in his hands. “What do you say? Are you ready to take your own leap of faith with me?”
My heart overflowing, I whispered, “Yes.”
“Good.” Cooper grinned. “Because I think you left something very important in the attic that belongs on your finger.” He pulled out the engagement ring and then dropped to one knee.
“Oh, Cooper . . .” My hand shot over my mouth, and my vision blurred as tears streamed down my face.
“Melody, I adore you and want to spend the rest of my life enjoying every moment with you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I nodded and sniffled, then held my hand out as he slid the ring onto my finger.
Our lips met again joyfully under the California sunshine.
