Page 234 of Sing with Me

“We both don’t deserve each other.”

“We don’t deserve anything but death, thanks to our sin nature. It is by the mercy and grace of God that we live day by day.”

Skye nodded. “You’re right. I forgot.”

Diehl cupped her chin in his hand. “Neither of us has ever been married as Christians. A truly Christian marriage is a whole new ballgame, according to Pastor Fizz. As for kids, I have no idea if I will ever be able to have kids of my own.”

“You don’t know yet,” Skye said.

“Bingo. Who holds the future?”

“God.” Skye’s answer was immediate.

“Who holds the past?”

“Also God.”

“When we fear, we run to Christ.” Diehl read a verse from his phone. “Romans 8:38-39 says, ‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ I know we believe that.”

“Amen. And please read the verse before it.”

“I like that verse too. ‘Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.’ Romans 8:37,” Diehl said, “I think I will memorize it.”

“You’re growing in your Christian faith,” Skye said. “I truly believe God has brought you here into my life for such a time as this. I don’t know when you will leave, but my life is richer because I met you.”

Diehl tried to process what Skye just said. “Leave? I’m not going anywhere.”

“I wore this dress because I wanted you to remember me this way, smiling and happy to be with you,” Skye said. “Just in case you leave and find someone else in Atlanta when we are apart.”

“Skye.”

“I have thought about this for a while. I may not be the one for you. I’ll always love you for the rest of my life but…” Her voice caught. “I’ve never been with anyone. What if you find me…”

She couldn’t get the word out.

“I find you beautiful.” His lips brushed against her cheek before they reached her lips.

She was quiet.

“I find you lovely.” He closed his eyes as they stood there in the warming sun, forehead to forehead.

“I…”

“Shhh.” Diehl gently kissed the base of her ear, whispering, “I love you, Skye. Will you marry me?”

Looking stunned, Skye stepped back.

Uh-oh. Diehl waited.

“Did you just ask me… What did you say?”

Chapter Sixty

“Iwas going to ask you last night after sunset, but it didn’t work out.” Diehl was on one knee in the sand.

He prayed as he retrieved the small box from his pocket. It was the same box he had carried around all day on Friday. When he opened it, the blue diamond sparkled in the morning sun, its round brilliant cut reflecting the sunrays every which way.

He cleared his throat and repeated himself. “I love you, Skye Blue Langston. Will you marry me?”

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