Page 105 of Marry Me

“Because we’ve made it to the beginning.”

She quirked her head. “Thebeginning?”

“Of the rest of our life. It starts today.”

She watched the smile begin small on Megan’s face and grow beneath the moonlight to a thing of beauty. “I love you, and I love our beginning.”

Allison answered with a kiss, long and meaningful. A first kiss all over again for the woman she loved, who Ally planned to spend every moment of her life showing how much.

* * *

Megan couldn’t believe she was about to set foot inside a BeLeaf Foods after all her history with the Carmichael family over the past year. Part of her wondered if she might burst into flames as she moved through the automatic double doors into a blast of air conditioning.

“Stop worrying.”

“I’m not. I’m just nervous.”

“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Allison said and squeezed her hand. School had let out for the summer three weeks ago, and summer-Ally came with a relaxed, slightly tan glow that Megan couldn’t get enough of. Her blond hair sported sun streaks from time spent at Megan’s pool, and her eyes were happy, bright, and bluer thanever. She slept in each morning, and Megan loved getting to cover her in kisses before she left for work each morning. “I already told Brent you’d be here, and he’s bringing the woman he’s seeing, too. So there. With this partnership off the ground, I think it’s a new leaf for us. No pun intended. Well, maybe a little because it’s too good to pass up.”

It hadn’t shocked her how fast Brent had rebounded from the left-at-the-altar fiasco. She was sure there had been throngs of women knocking at his door ready to console him, and he’d certainly done some wound licking. It had been a few months since she and Allison had reconciled, however, and it was good to hear that he was moving forward and had forgiven Allison for the decision she’d made.

With a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the big day, they traversed the grocery aisles of the store to the center station where they spotted Mr. and Mrs. Hale handing out generous hot samples of the Dash Bar, huge grins on their faces as they spoke with interested customers. The bar had been selling well, and this was their shot to introduce it to those shoppers who might not take a chance on a new product without giving it a taste test.

“This is the blueberry. My personal favorite,” Mr. Hale said, handing a customer half of a warm oatmeal bar. “Oatmeal on the go. No spoon or bowl needed.”

The woman studied the bar after taking a bite. “Oh, okay. I can see how this can be convenient when I’m dashing to work.”

“You just said it all right there,” Mrs. Hale said, grinning like a celebrity. Her red hair was up in a beautiful twist. “When you’re dashing.”

Allison was simply bursting with pride and raised her shoulders to her ears. “They’re so happy,” she whispered to Megan. “Look at them.” Her parents had yet to acknowledge their arrival because they were so overrun with customers.

“They’re holding their own on the shelves, too,” a male voice said. She looked behind them to see Brent standing there in khakis and a green BeLeaf polo. He looked good. Robust and healthy. You’d never know he was seriously injured less than a year ago. “Good signs for a reorder.”

“Do you think that will happen?” Allison asked, hopeful. “Oh, and hi.”

“Hi.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’d say so. Thedisplay is eye-catching, and they already have community support from their shop.” He then turned to Megan. “Didn’t mean to ignore you. Been a while,” he said with a tentative smile and offered his hand, which she accepted good-naturedly. They’d seen each other a handful of times recently and were on good terms. Truly.

“Good to see you, Brent.”

“Yeah, you, too. Oh, and guys, this is Mandy,” he said, stepping aside and allowing them both to shake hands with a perky blonde.

She grinned and nodded, likely a little nervous. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot.”

“Good things,” Brent tossed in with a nervous laugh. “I promise. I didn’t tell her about the jilted groom thing at all.”

“You should have,” Ally said solemnly. “Think of the sympathy points.”

“I’ll work it in.”

Megan had to give them credit for being able to joke about it.

“Well, maybe one day we can all get together,” Allison said, gesturing to Mandy and Brent. “Dinner or something. Toss the awkward right out the window.”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” Brent said sincerely. He was truly making an effort.

“Megan, you’re here! Come try the strawberry. This is the one I was telling you about the other day,” Mr. Hale said. She grinned and headed his way. The family had been incredibly warm, and even Betsy seemed to have come around, inviting Megan to her baby shower, noting that she just might be the little one’s aunt someday.

“What do you think?” Mrs. Hale asked, grinning as she sampled the bar with the warm strawberry filling. “Any good?”

---