Page 237 of Sing with Me

“So you know what I mean.” Skye nodded. She lifted her left hand. “I can’t believe you proposed.”

“You said yes. Don’t retract now,” Diehl warned.

Skye placed her palm on his chest. “I think people usually kiss after a proposal. Did we forget?”

“We were busy figuring out how to manage our lives the next nine months when we are apart.”

“Who says we need to be apart now that we’re committed to each other?”

Diehl raised an eyebrow, then another. “What are you suggesting, my sweet and pure Christian fiancée?”

“Banish the thought, future husband.”

“What thought? Us moving in together and thereby sinning against God, ruining our testimony, and showing a bad example to everyone?”

Skye ignored his tease. “I’m referring to the fact you pointed out earlier. After I restructure Watt’s for Dinner in metro Atlanta, I was going to send Chef Joseph to run the Alpharetta office. He’s single, doesn’t care where he lives, and can move to a new town at a moment’s notice. But now…”

“Now you’re thinking you could switch places?” Diehl prayed it was the case.

“Chef Joseph has been with me at STL for years. He’ll have to duke it out with Gillian at the office on St. Simon’s, but it’s only for nine months. Then we’ll be back, where we both want to be, and I can send Chef Joseph to Atlanta next summer.”

“That’s exactly what I thought you were going to suggest.” Diehl caressed the back of her hand. “On my part, I talked to my kids about moving to St. Simon’s Island next year when Elisa starts high school and Ethan starts middle school, and they’re open to the idea of a change of place. For me, it’s a change ofpace. I am looking forward to moving to someplace more laid-back.”

“There’s still work to be done everyday, you know. It’s not all hammock life on these islands,” Skye said. “While we’re in transition in Atlanta, we’ll want to attend marital counseling, right? Could you check with Midtown Chapel about that?”

“I already did.”

“Before or after you bought the ring?”

“Before the ring but after I prayed about us.”

“I’m glad you prayed first,” Skye said. “What type of marital counseling does Midtown have?”

“I think it’s a bootcamp.” Diehl laughed. “Pastor Gonzalez at Seaside told me theirs is two months long. Not to be bested, Pastor Fizz has designed a marital counseling program that lasts six months.”

“Six months!”

“Yes, it’s all-encompassing, but we only meet with him twice a month, so we have time to do the homework.”

“Did you say homework?”

“I know, right. I think they think that if you’re not serious about marriage, you won’t last six months and it will save the family from a future divorce—especially if kids are involved.”

“Makes sense.”

“He said that we could attend the sessions remotely on live video,” Diehl added.

“That won’t be necessary now that I’ll work out of the Alpharetta office until the school year ends.”

“So you’ve decided.”

“Right here and now.”

Diehl smiled. “Look at us making decisions on the fly.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” Skye explained. “I prayed about it too, you know. I was waiting for an answer and it came today.”

“Where will you stay? Near your office? Near my house?” Diehl still held Skye’s hands as they stepped on the boardwalk toward Brinley’s beach house.

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