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Why do you need my address?
She had asked the question I had predicted. Thank goodness, I had an answer for her already thought up.
I’m sending you something. Should arrive tomorrow afternoon. Are you working at your store tomorrow?
She confirmed that she was planning to be at the store in the morning but would be home about one o’clock. That was perfect. She would be home when I arrived.
*****
I went to bed with happy thoughts and, in the morning, made sure the ring was in my pocket so that it would not be lost. Then, I went to the airport.
The flight was long, but I managed to snag a seat on the only direct flight out of Portland to Houston today. I was happy with that, as it meant I had more time to spend with Maria today.
I only hoped that she would not be disappointed in the surprise being me.
I finally arrived at her apartment around two in the afternoon. I hit send on the text message to let her know that her surprise was at her door.
When she opened the door, she gasped. I smiled a little.
“Maverick… you… you’re the surprise?”
I nodded.
“I am,” I said. “If you’ll forgive that little bit of misdirection, but I had to come see you. It’s been far too long since we were together, and I’m going nuts in Idaho without you.”
“Come on in.”
She immediately opened the door wide enough to let me in, though I could tell that she was still trying to wrap her brain around what I had done. I hadn’t even bothered to check into a hotel. I’d simply rented a car, dumped my luggage into it, and driven right to her apartment. The only other thing I did, and had been doing all day, was making sure I had the ring in my pocket.
“I can’t believe you’re here. That you did this,” she said as she looked at me. “I could have sworn that you were too calm and in control to plan a last-minute trip like this… unless you have had this planned for a while?”
I pulled her close to me.
“I bought the ticket yesterday, I confess,” I said. “But, Maria, I have to admit that there is something about you I cannot shake from my mind. Your crazy, disorganized, optimistic attitude was exactly what we needed in Eagle Falls for Caleb and Stacey’s wedding, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss it. In the month that we’ve been calling each other, I’ve come to the conclusion that phone calls are not enough for me.”
“Maverick…”
She already was blushing, and I could tell that she was trying to hold back tears – happy ones if the smile on her face was to be believed. She had no idea what was in store next. I could tell.
“I want nothing more than to be able to spend the rest of my life with you and the surprises you’ll bring into my life,” I continued. “Maria, I beg you, come back to Idaho with me. Be my friend. Be my companion. Be my wife.”
“Your wife?” she whispered.
“Yes, your online business is becoming very successful, and you can do that from Idaho. You don’t have to be here in Lantana except for your purses. You can make them in Idaho and ship them to the store here. It can all work out. And I know you will fall in love with Watertown and the lodge. I’m here for a week Maria and, you know me, I’ve got a plan in mind. And that plan is that by the end of the week, you and I will be headed back to Idaho – together.”
“Is that so Mr. Organized Planner?” she threw back at me. “Just one thing you forgot. You mentioned wife?”
I blushed slightly. In my efforts to convince her to return with me, I forgot to ask her one very important thing.
“Maria Underwood, will you marry me?”
She gasped.
I bent down on one knee as I opened the little ring box for her to see the ring.
Her hands immediately covered her mouth as she let out another gasp. Her eyes widened, but I could see the excitement in them.
“You really mean it! Yes. Yes. A thousand, million times yes,” she said as she got down beside me on the floor.
