Chapter 10
The cars pulled up in a neat line outside Emerald Vistas
Arlene lid off her sunglasses, eyeing the empty entrance. Where was Pearson?
Wasn’t he supposed to have some surprise ready for her??!
bother to come out and greet her?
She’d just gotten her freedom back–her divorce papers barely dry–yet he
the didn’t even bother t
Perplexed, Adine pushed open the unusually silent front door
The moment it banged shut behind her the room was suddenly flooded with cheerful piano music that danced through the air
Lights blazed on in the once–dark living room, illuminating every hidden comer in a brilliant, welcoming glow.
Pink and white roses adomed every surface, filling the space with a delicate, sweet fragrance Faces–some familiac some strangers–beamed at her, pushing a towering castle-shaped cake into view.
At the grand piano sat Pearson in a sharp black tuxedo, his features elegant and striking, utterly absorbed in his performance His fingers flew across the keys, notes tumbling out in a cascade, wild and exhilarating
From across the room, the whole scenefelt dreamlike, and Arlene’s heart nearly forgot to beat!!
She was swept along half–disbelieving, letting the music guide her forward!
Step by step
She stopped at the piano just as the final note faded away.
Pearson looked up, his eyes sparkling brighter than any star With a magician’s flourish, he produced a bouquet of roses and presented it to her “Arlene, thank you for choosing me–for being here with me he said, his voice sincere and steady.
And thenatidal wave of cheers erupted behind her
“Happy divorce, Artene“!
“Congratulations, Arlenel You finally got your happy ending!”
Still wiling from her recent divorce, Arlene felt out of place in the raucous crowd. She pressed her lips together, a bashful Blush rising to her cheeks
Pearson noticed the pink tint on her ears and smiled softly, standing to draw her into a gentle embrace
The crowd’s teasing grew louder their laughter echoing around the room. Arlene hid her face in the crook of his neck, but his low, amused voice found her ear. “Arlene, do you still mean what you said about giving me a real place in your life?“!
She froze, lifting her head to look at him in surprise. He met her gaze seriously, and after a heartbeat, she nodded.
Pearson’s hand slipped from her waist, and he took two steps back Dropping to one knee, he opened a small box to reveal a flawless diamond ring.
The loom erupted–the cheers nearly lifting the root
Arene forgot to breathe as she finally understood the real reason behind all this celebration, the grand gesture, the question he’d just asked
Pearson took her hand and pressed the gentlest kiss to her right ring finger
He turned to be then to everyone gathered, his voice full of hope and devotion.”
“Arlene, will you give me a chance will you let me be your fiancé?%
The entire room held its breath silent and expectant. When the proposal was finished, everyone practically shouted in unison: “Say yes! Arlene’s heartbeat raped with the surging excitement around her
She looked into Pearson’s eyes, so close, so full of hope, and memories flashed through her mind–every moment they’d shared.
When they first met, he’d steadied her as she stumbled, heartbroken and drunk, tears choking her breath. Hdd wiped them away with gentle hands. When she’d joked about keeping him as her “boy toy he’d grinned and wrapped an arm around her saying it was an honor to be noticed by her
Through countless sleepless nights, he’d stayed by her side, sharing stories and laughter, coaxing her out of the darkness
It was Pearson who made her believe her life wasn’t over, that she could start again, that she had the strength to try
He taught her that her wild, all–consuming love wouldn’t drown in the abyss of a failed marriage, but would be reborn, phoenix like, on the other side
She had crossed a nightmare and found the down
And waiting at the end of that journey, always, was Pearson
So even though uncertainty about the future lingered–hesitation about diving from newfound freedom back into commitment–nong of it mattered in the face of this
She made the most honest choice her heart could make, and gave the only answer she ever could
