Page 89 of The Jellybean Dilemma

She nodded, blinking away tears. “I love it.”

Greg leaned over to whisper in my ear, “This is your big secret, isn’t it?”

I grinned and gave him a short nod. “Surprise.”

“I think you nailed it.” The intensity of his gaze caught me off guard and took away my breath. “I love you.” The words were a whisper meant only for me.

“I love you, too.”

“Champagne, for everyone! She said yes!” My brother’s happy declaration cut through our moment, but I couldn’t fault him.

Especially when I got champagne out of the deal. With our glasses full, we raised them high, clinking them together and yelling, “Cheers!”

It was a fun-filled night of celebration, laughter, and joy. I couldn’t have been happier for two of my favorite people.

Before we left, Avery grasped my hands. “Rhonda, after all those stories from Greg about how you saved his sister’s wedding, would you help me plan mine? I have to admit, I can’t think of a better person to do it.”

It felt like all the pieces of my past aligned, all my niche skills and my connections had brought me to this one shining moment. My eyes were open to what I needed to do with my life. “Oh, Avery, I’d love to.” I pulled her in for a hug, unable to express how her simple question had shown me my purpose.

When we got back to the dark and empty house, I looked around once again, feeling even more secure in my revelation. Then I grinned at Greg, tugging him to the sofa. “I know what I want to do.”

He smiled tenderly as his hand stroked my hair. “What’s that?”

“I want to start my own business, as an event planner. I’m perfect for it. I have all the connections and just the right background.” I beamed. “What do you think?”

His grin widened. “I think you’re right. You are perfect for it.”

I bounced on the couch, then tucked one leg under me as I faced him. “I don’t want to do it here, though. I want to move, Greg. To Marquette.” I swallowed, nerves gripping my gut. “Will you come with me?”

“What?” He grew serious as he waited for an explanation.

“I know it seems out of the blue, and maybe it is. But I didn’t just fall in love with you up there. I fell in love with the place, even in the dead of winter.” I stared at him, showing him how earnest I was.

“Since I’ve been back, nothing feels right. This house doesn’t fit. This town isn’t me. I can’t find my place here. But anytime I think about the little shops on Presque Isle, or Raymond’s restaurant, or the rows of chocolate at Decadence, I get homesick.”

He still seemed skeptical. “But you just agreed to do Avery’s wedding.”

“So much is done online or through email anyway. Plus, she was talking about a destination wedding, which would all be remote in the end.” I grabbed his hand. “Remember when I asked you if you’d ever want to move back up there? How you said the land is just begging for someone to conquer it?” I searched his face. “The land calls to me. I’ve never felt more at home than up there, with you. What do you say? Will you go with me?”

Silence was my answer. The pause was long enough that my heart began to sink, making me question what I’d do if he said no.

“Rhonda, I’ll go anywhere with you.” A disbelieving smile split his face. “Really? You want to move to the U.P. with me? You want to be a yooper?”

I nodded.

His whoop echoed off my house’s empty walls, and he picked me up, swinging me around. “We can go snowmobiling, skiing, hiking, swimming…”

Joy swirled in me at his exuberance. “And watch sunsets on Raymond’s deck.”

He nodded. “And start your business together.”

“Together.” That magic word made my happiness bubble over. “I love you, Just Greg.”

“I love you, too, Jellybean.”

As his lips met mine, I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to my rock, my partner, the man of my dreams who would be by my side as we started the next chapter of our lives, hand in hand. Together.

Epilogue

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