“I just launched this school and I’m putting together a junior symphony.” I slide my hands to hers. “I knew I couldn’t move to London with you right now so I saw it as the beginning of the end.”
“You didn’t have faith in my feelings for you.” Her lips dip into a frown.
“You didn’t tell me how you felt.”
She works on a swallow. “You didn’t tell me either.”
“I love you,” I say it clearly. “I love you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything in my life. I want you to marry me, grow old with me. I want it all.”
“I feel the same way.” Her lips brush mine. “But we have to be honest with each other to make this work.”
“Agreed.” I kiss her deeply.
“You should have told me about this place, Alexander.”
“You should have told me about London, Olivia.”
“No more secrets.” She leans into me. “I got a promotion here in New York.”
“I started a music school named after my mother.” I brush a strand of hair from her face.
“We’ll share everything.” She takes my face in her hands. “All the good moments and the bad ones. We’ll do it together.”
“Hand-in-hand.” I stare into her eyes. “Until death parts us.”
Chapter 48
3 Months Later
Olivia
“Hypothetically speaking…” I stop because I know Kate is about to interrupt me.
She does, right on cue.
“Spit it out, Olivia.” She rolls her eyes. “I have to get through my inventory check before we can go for pizza. I don’t have time for your friend-of-a-friend stuff. What do you need?”
I glance out the window of her shop.
The sun is shining. It’s the day after my birthday.
“A wedding dress,” I answer softly.
She drops the veil in her hand and turns right around. “What?”
“Alexander proposed last night.”
Her hand leaps to her mouth, her eyes instantly flood with tears.
I look down at my ring. It was Alexander’s mother’s ring. It’s a beautiful pear-shaped diamond set in a platinum band.
“It’s beautiful.” Kate peers at the ring. “It’s perfect.”
She doesn’t know how perfect. When he got down on one knee in our apartment, he told me I was his future. He whispered words about finding me in a sea of darkness. I’m his light, his hope and his promise.
When he slipped the ring on my finger, I fell into his arms.
We made love on our blue vintage velvet sofa and then in our bed.