Page 130 of Once a Hero

“Know how I feel about you. That kiss on the bus. On the plane.”

Beatrice remembered every moment, every touch.

“I have a surprise for you.” Jake produced a small box from his pocket. “I know you like music boxes, but I don’t know if you like this one.”

Beatrice studied it. It was old. Maybe nineteenth century. “Where did you find this box?”

“I bought it at an antique shop.”

“So tiny. What tune does it play?”

“Open it and see.” Jake was on one knee before Beatrice opened the box.

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” filled their space.

Beatrice laughed so hard that she had tears in her eyes.

Not a classic tune that Beatrice had expected. Obviously the music box was not an original, but more important to her was the fact that Jake had bought her one.

The tune went on for a while. Beatrice almost sang along.

When she looked inside the box again, she gasped at the diamond ring Jake had placed next to the pinned cylinder. “What…”

“Beatrice Glynn, love is your middle name. I’ve thought and prayed about this long and hard—more so after Zurich, where we met again after our death-defying adventure together.” He blinked.

Were those tears in his eyes?

“Is it possible for me to fall in love with someone so fast, so hard, and to never want be with anyone else for the rest of my life? I say yes.”

Beatrice nodded in agreement.

“The last four months without you have been the most tormenting time of my life, and I kept thinking I may never see you again, or that you would’ve have found someone new.”

Beatrice shook her head. “No one else.”

“That’s good to know.” Jake paused. “Clearly God has brought us together again. I don’t want to leave this place and never see you again. If I have to quit my job, I’ll do it in a heartbeat just to be with you.”

Beatrice was stunned. He had spoken what had been in her heart. She too would quit her job to be with him. In fact, she already had. She could teach anywhere in her new job.

“I know there are many details to sort out, but there is one most important thing. Do you love me?”

Tears pooled in Beatrice’s eyes. Slowly, she nodded.

“Since when?”

“Since…” Dare she say it? Truth would always prevail, so she might as well tell him now. “I don’t know when it all began… Perhaps Cannes. Perhaps earlier.”

“I figured.” Jake was still on his knees.

“You asked.”

“While it seemed like a surprise to you that I’d pop the question today, I also know that you’ve known me longer than I’ve known you.”

Beatrice’s hand shook a little as she held the music box.

Jake wrapped his hands around hers. “You’ve done a lot for me.”

“Anyone would have done those things,” Beatrice admitted, knowing what he referred to.

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