One, they just met Anchor.
Two, apparently no one ever really thought I would get married.
Mac and Graham and Reuben are looking at me like I'm crazy. And I am. Crazy in love.
Anchor and I return to my house. Our house, maybe?
And he doesn't wait to get me in bed. With the door closed, I lean against it. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me deeply.
"Forgive me for this morning," he says. "Please, please, please."
"It's already forgotten. You leaving showed me what I want. And god, Anchor, all I want is you."
He smiles down at me and then he lifts me up by the waist. And I wrap my legs around his body as he carries me into the bedroom, toward the bed.
I rip that shirt of his off and I tug down those pants, eager, ready, thrilled.
"Oh shit," I say, "I think I should call my mom and sister."
“You saying that in this moment?" he asks with a chuckle.
"I think they'd want to know I'm engaged and that Grandma's okay. Maybe reverse that order," I say with a laugh.
"I know we're half naked, but there will be plenty of time to finish this business," he says, planting a kiss on my nose.
I reach for my phone, happy to tell the Rough girls my good news.
EPILOGUE
ANCHOR
ThankGod I didn’t leave Home that morning when I left her house. As I was leaving town, I saw that park her great-great grandfather built and knew Lemon was the one for me.
I was scared, a man who had no roots, but I had a woman who did. Who was willing to grow a family tree with me—and I realized how much I longed for that. I made a dash for that hospital, grabbing a bouquet of roses on my way, ready to declare my truth—that Lemon was mine.
After we decided to get married, the next question everyone had was,when?
Thewherewas easy.
Lemon and I agreed that Stout Lake was the perfect place to sayI do.
After all, it's where we met.
However, setting a date was a little bit more complicated. Between birthdays and anniversaries and graduations and dance recitals, it was hard to find a day in the upcoming months where everyone Lemon loved was free.
Eventually I had an idea. "How about the 4th of July?"
When I tossed it out, I half expected Lemon to say no way, she's not sharing our romantic date with the rest of the country, but her eyes lit up.
"The 4th of July on the lake is always the best," she said with a grin. "Anchor…" She wrapped her arms around me, kissing me. "You're brilliant."
Her parents agreed. Apparently the Rough family has been going out to Stout Lake every year since forever for a big old 4th of July party.
Fireworks, barbecue, swimming in the lake, the whole nine yards.
Since Lemon and I are not exactly fussy people, we didn't need a church wedding and tuxedos and high heels.
It all seemed too good to be true, but it wasn't.