“Say what?” Emily said carefully, because it was too much to hope for.
Jake took a deep breath. “I love you, Em. I love you with all my heart, and you’d damn well better tell me you love me, too, and that you really do believe in forever because if you don’t...” He stopped and looked deep into her eyes. “If you don’t,” he said softly, “I’ll be lost and lonely, for the rest of my life.” He lifted her face to his. “Em? Tell me you love me, too.”
Emily wanted to laugh. She wanted to cry. Instead, she kissed Jake’s mouth.
“Of course I love you. And I believe in forever, so long as it’s with you.”
Jake grinned. “The only things I don’t believe in,” he said, “are long engagements.”
Emily laughed. Jake did, too, and he drew her close and kissed her. She kissed him back. Horace, observing all this, burst into song.
Beyond the kitchen, in the living room, Serena and Angela sighed, smiled tearily at each other, slipped into their coats and tiptoed out the door.