Page 216 of Share with Me

“I’m in love.”

“Your life is upside down.”

“I’m in love.” He kissed her cheek.

“Your faith is very weak.”

“My love is strong.”

“I don’t think so. You ran away and hid, Ivan.”

“I’ve learned my lesson.” He kissed her earlobe. “So marry me? For better or for worse? For richer or poorer?”

Brinley didn’t respond.

“In sickness and in health?”

Brinley still didn’t say a word.

“Forsaking all others? Just the two of us, Brin, for the rest of our lives. Marry me?” He paused and expelled a breath. “I asked three times. At some point you have to say yes or no so we can move on, you know?”

He waited.

And waited.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll call a law firm tomorrow and have them draw up a prenup.” Ivan seemed resigned. “I don’t want your money. I want you.”

“That complication never crossed my mind,” Brinley said.

“What then?”

“I need an affirmation that God wants us to be together.”

“You want to flip the fleece this way and that? Better not test God too much. I think it’s pretty clear He brought us together.” Ivan held Brinley’s hands. “Would you believe that I knew it was you the night we walked from the guesthouse to your parents’ cottage, but I fought it?”

“I knew it was you too, but not that night. Maybe later. Is that our affirmation from God? That we both know we’re meant for each other?”

“Brin, I have nothing to give you but my love.”

“Before I was saved, I had everything but love. Now I have God’s love. Yours would be icing on the cake.”

“We love because He first loved us.” Ivan had never been surer. “I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up every morning hugging you and seeing your smile. I know you love me too.”

Ivan worried a tad when Brinley didn’t respond. He decided to keep on talking.

“You show your love by giving me stuff and doing things for me. Don’t think for a second that I didn’t know you paid my medical bills, bought back all the music manuscripts I thought I had to sell, kept in touch with Matt to make sure I was okay, and prayed for me, not to mention all the other stuff you’ve done for me and Grandma when she was alive, from driving her home from the party and all the other good deeds too many to enumerate.”

“God is good, Ivan.”

“Indeed He is.” He patted her hand.

Brinley rubbed his left arm. “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

“I figured!” Ivan’s heart warmed. Gently, Ivan cupped her face with both hands, slid his right hand around her neck, fingers going through her hair. He leaned toward her, forehead touching hers. “Brin, marry me. Make me the happiest man alive.”

“Yes, but…”

Ivan’s jaw dropped. “Yes, but what?”

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