Page 64 of Just For Her

“This is the fanciest outfit you’ve ever worn on one of our dates here, and this is probably the fanciest Italian restaurant in Bend. Trust me, I’ve either been to the other ones without you or heard about them from my friends. Youcan’thide this from me.” Kayla squeezed Tove’s hands. “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were about to propose.”

The smile fell off Tove’s face. “Why would you think that?”

“Idon’t,silly. You’re way too practical to do something as crazy as ask me to marry you after we’ve only been dating for four months.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” No, Tove hadnotplanned on proposing, for the same reason Kayla offered.It’s much too soon to speak of that!Yet the thought of marrying – if not eloping – with Kayla had a romantic whimsy to it. Tove had always thought Thomas had the right idea, if not a terrible taste in wives.Eloping in Vegas. There you go.No frills. No family. Just Tove and the woman who would be her wife for the rest of her life.Get it over with. Get on to the next phase.The big to-do with flowers, dresses, and cake was too much attention for Tove. Or maybe her opinion was colored by the elaborate weddings in her family, most of which cost over twenty grand to put on.Talk about a terrible financial decision…Her family members were always aghast that they couldn’t write off most of what they spent on a personal day.

Instead, she had something else she wanted to tell – and ask – Kayla that evening. A romantic dinner for two on a warm June night sounded like the perfect excuse ever since Tove woke up that morning warmed from a dream all aboutlove.

“So…?” Kayla never once stopped smiling. It was that grin that drew Tove closer, filled to the brim with feverish thoughts. “What is it? Quick. Before the wine arrives and I get drunk.”

“Maybe I should say it when you’re good and splattered.”

“Why? So I forget?”

“How much of the wine are you planning on drinking, anyway?”

Kayla’s giggle heralded the arrival of the wine and a carafe of ice water to go with it. Tove poured them both a glass before taking her girlfriend’s hands again. “Suppose I’m afraid to say it, in case I end up humiliated in a public place.”

“Are you sure this isn’t a proposal? Because it would be pretty ballsy of you to do it in a restaurant. Trust me. I’m not afraid to letanyonedown easily.”

“You’re not helping.”

Kayla released Tove’s hands so she could hop up and down in her seat. “Comeoooon.Tell me. Tellmetellmetellme.”

Tove didn’t want to disappoint that loving look that reminded her how much her life had changed that year.From seeing this bedraggled woman come hobbling into my office, to making love to her for the first time, to what I’m about to tell her now…Tove wanted to commit this to memory. Even if everything went belly-up before the end of the year, she would have at leastthismoment. This perfect moment that even her mother could not foresee for her little girl.

“I love you.”

The words came out a few seconds before Tove thought they would. She supposed that was her bravery taking a chance before she chickened out.

Because it was not every day she told a woman that she loved her.

Kayla’s visage went from neutral to overjoyed in fewer than five seconds. While that wasn’t enough time for Tove’s brain to catch up, she ended up on the verge of tears because she was so relieved to see the happiness on her girlfriend’s face.

“Eeee!”

That sound carried through the small restaurant. Every patron glanced up, some of them smiling to hear Kayla’s happiness while others looked either annoyed or indifferent. Yet Tove only had eyes for the woman who was so receptive to being loved by her.

“I love you too!”

Relief flooded through Tove, who grasped her girlfriend’s hands and allowed joy to crown her countenance. “Thank God,” she whispered. “I mean, I wasn’t sure how you’d react. It’s only been four months, and…”

“Are you kidding? I’ve been holding it in for like… at leasttwomonths, Tove!Iwasn’t sure how’d you take it, so I was really, really careful about not accidentally saying it whenever we were together. But, oh my God, isn’t itnatural?I love you!”

Tove had to agree. “Yes. I love you. Such a nice phrase, isn’t it?”

“I can’t believe it.Nobodyhas ever told me this before.” Kayla broke their handholding so she could plaster her palms together before her face. “To think it was one of the first people I met when I moved here…” Were those tears of happiness glistening in her eyes? “This is the happiest day of my life. I’m not even joking!”

Tove wasn’t one to easily unleash her emotions, let alone in public, but she couldn’t help but clutch herself in joy while thanking the stars about to shine above that she had finally,finallyfound love before she turned fifty-one.Is this what it feels like to be twenty again?She could hardly remember. What shedidremember were heartbreakers and one-night stands who treated her as an experiment for their college memories.

“I was worried that you might not want to move so quickly…” Tove said.

“Quickly?Quickly?It’s been four months!”

“I forget that long courtships aren’t a thing anymore. Or maybe that’s just an expectation in my family.”

“Forget your fam, Tove, we’re in love! Aren’t we old enough to do anything we want?”

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