Before she knew it, it was time for intermission.
Brent stood up and looked down at her. She stood too. She didn’t know where he was going, but she wanted to stretch her legs.
Brent took one step backward into the aisle and then stood there and stared at her. He’d gone a bit pale.
“Are you feeling okay?”
He nodded and went down on one knee. People in the aisle stepped around him and then stopped to watch.
Realizing what was happening, Samantha didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her hands went to her mouth. She hadnotbeen expecting this. And even though she’d been fantasizing about it since the divorce, she hadn’t really allowed herself to hope for it.
He pulled a small, black velvet box out of his pocket and opened it in front of her. “I’ve loved you since our freshmen year of high school, when we used to write notes in Romeo and Juliet language.”
She giggled.
“Samantha Gallant, would you do me the honor of being my wife ... again?”
She fell to her knees, threw her arms around his neck and planted a firm, enthusiastic kiss on his lips as the audience around them started applauding and cheering.
She pulled back to say. “Yes, Brent Gallant, I would be honored to be your wife ... again.” She kissed him again, silently thanking God for this man, for this second chance at life, and for never letting her revert back to her maiden name. She’d never stopped wanting to be a Gallant.
He pulled back and looked around, suddenly looking bashful. “Sorry,” he whispered. “Didn’t mean to make such a spectacle.” He got up and pulled her to her feet. Then he took her left hand into his. “May I?”
She nodded. “Please.”
He slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“I still have the first ring,” she said quietly.
“Good. You can wear both, or maybe we can have a jeweler put both diamonds on the same ring sometime.”
She smiled, her eyes welling up with tears. “You sure are full of good ideas.”
He kissed her. “You, Sammy. You are my best idea ever.”
She giggled as he kissed her. Then she pulled away so she could sit. She too was starting to feel self-conscious about all the eyes on them. She gently tugged on him until he sat beside her.
He sighed deeply. “Wow. I feel better. I was really nervous about that.”
She laughed and admired the ring as she curled her left hand into his right. “You don’t have to be nervous around me. Not anymore. I love you, Brent.”
“I love you too, Sammy. And no matter what, you’re stuck with me this time.”
That was the best news she’d ever heard. She squeezed her eyes shut and silently thanked God, for giving her another chance with Brent and another chance at life. It felt so good to be awake.