Elliott noted the tightness in Dmitri’s expression. “All right. Talk.”
Dmitri drew in a long breath and then continued in a solemn voice. “Before Charles died, he asked me to provide for Mary and the children. It’s a promise I will never break to him, unless I know she is taken care of.”
“You give her money?” Elliott asked.
Dmitri nodded, s
taring out at the women swimming around in the water. “Once a year to her and the three kids.” He turned to Elliott. “Charles was like a father to me and guided me when I most needed it. Mary”—he smiled softly—“she’s made me into the man I am today. I owe them both a great deal.”
Elliott returned the smile, now understanding more about how Mary and Dmitri knew each other. Over the past six months, he thought their relationship was sweet. Mary had told him that she and Charles thought of Dmitri always as a fourth child, but seeing the love on Dmitri’s face for Mary only confirmed how special the relationship was. “How much do you give her?”
“Depends how good my year is.”
“Average amount?”
Dmitri glanced at Mary as she laughed at something Presley said. “A hundred grand, and about that much into each of the kids’ accounts.”
Elliott knew Mary didn’t need the money. She made a good income and she wasn’t materialistic, buying only what she needed. Yet he also knew the promise Dmitri made wasn’t about the money, it was about stepping into Charles’s role to see that Mary had a life without worry. Which is why he understood why Dmitri was bringing it up—that role now belonged to Elliott.
“You’ve been good to her,” Elliott said, placing his hand on Dmitri’s shoulder. “I would imagine that from what I’ve heard of Charles, I would think he’d be very proud of you.”
Dmitri dropped his head and blew out a slow breath filled with emotion. When he finally lifted his head, the appreciation shone in his young features. “I promised to take care of her.”
“A promise you didn’t have to keep.” He squeezed Dmitri’s shoulder, sensing a deeper friendship building between them. He understood why Charles and Mary loved Dmitri. He lived up to his word, and that was something to be respected. “You’ve done right by your vow to Charles, but Mary is mine to take care of now.”
“Which is where we have a problem.” Dmitri gave him a measured look. “I won’t stop providing for her unless I have your word you will step in and take care of her. And Mary won’t allow for you to give her and her children money. She fights me every time I do it, but she knows I won’t break my vow to Charles.” He shook his head in frustration and stretched out his legs over the side of the boat. “But having you take over my promise is something she’ll never allow. She has too much pride.”
Elliott pondered and turned to Mary, watching her swim. In his younger years he was hesitant in his choices, but he wasn’t young anymore. He’d been married. He’d dated all types of women. He didn’t have a lifetime to wait to discover if things were happening at the right time. He knew what he wanted. His choices had never been so clear. “Yes, that is a problem, but there is one way to ensure she can’t say no.” He rose, moving to the bow of the boat.
Mary swam over to him, smiling from ear to ear. She grabbed on to the ladder and pulled herself up to rest her arms on the side. “Come in. The water is amazing.”
“Not just yet.” He knelt in front of her, reaching into the pocket of his shorts. Then he pulled out the small black velvet box. For a month now, he’d kept his mother’s wedding ring with him, waiting for the right time. When he placed the box in front of Mary’s face, her eyes widened.
With no hesitation in his mind, he said softly, “Marry me.”
She stared at the two-carat vintage ring before she lifted her head. She blinked. “It’s only been six months. It’s too soon.”
“Is it?” He paused, allowing her the time to process exactly what had been on his mind since he’d met her. “I’d say it’s been nearly five years for you, and even longer for me, to find what we both needed and wanted in our lives. Doesn’t seem too soon, does it?”
Searching her teary eyes that were overrun with raw emotion, he continued. “Happiness and love, time means nothing when something is meant to be. I know what I want, Mary, and that’s you.” He smiled at her, brushing away her falling tears. “This, between us, is right.”
He took the ring out of the box, hearing Mary’s daughter scream in joy, as were the other girls. Though he couldn’t take his eyes off Mary and off the love shining in her features. Nor could he look away from the second chance they both had.
Holding the ring to her, he said, “You haven’t answered me, Mary.”
A bright smile, radiating warmth, spread across her face. “Yes, Elliott. Of course I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring onto her finger, fitting her perfectly. From a distance, Mary’s daughter and her friend were clapping wildly. Presley looked to be crying. Elliott jumped into the water and gathered Mary into his arms. Then he pulled her under the water with him and kissed her.
There, it was silent. Her lips against his were perfection. There was no noise. No one else but them.
Nothing else, but…
Hope.
Submission.
Love.