Page 81 of Through the Snow Globe
“I thought so. Maybe I can do more good as a full-time therapist working with my patients, though. Maybe I don’t even want to work in home health anymore. Maybe I want to work with children.”
Linus’s eyes rounded. “That’s a leap, isn’t it? Have you ever worked with kids?”
“Not really. Just Addy. I think I’d be good with kids, though. Maybe. Like you said, it’s an acquired talent.”
“You’ll be great no matter what you do,” Linus said. “I believe in you.” He nudged his elbow against the side of her arm.
Diana turned to him. “Maybe I would rather focus on planning a wedding and marrying you. And being your wife.”
Linus’s grin grew wider. “You don’t have to choose between your work and me, you know? You can have us both.”
“I know. Work was my excuse, and it was a weak one. I’m sorry.”
“What do you mean?”
Diana took a breath. “Your family intimidates me. Or they did. There are a lot of Grants that come with you.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed. “I can’t really change that.”
“And I wouldn’t want you to. I’m warming up to the idea of having an adoptive family. I wish I could be a part of the Grant clan. More than anything.”
“You can. Marry me.”
Diana squeezed his hand back, staring up into his blue-gray eyes. “You’ve already proposed and I said yes, in case you’ve forgotten. And I have no regrets on that front, in case you’re wondering.”
“Let’s do it this weekend, then. We’ll find a justice of the peace or someone who can officiate. It doesn’t have to be big. I don’t even have to include any of my family.”
Diana shook her head, knowing that wasn’t what he truly wanted. Linus was sentimental. He lived for special moments with loved ones. “Let’s marry on Christmas evening, after the huge meals and presents. Everyone will already be gathered. We can do it then and there.”
Linus’s eyes lit with excitement. “We’ll already have the tree and the lights. There’ll be no need for more decorations.”
“And we’ll have the food and your family.”
“Your family too,” he said, giving her a meaningful look.
Diana swallowed. All she had was Jackie Merriman, who still only came around once a year. But what if what Joann had said were true? That blood didn’t make a family. Rochelle was Diana’s family. Maybe even Maria and Addy. “It’ll be perfect,” she said quietly.
“What about the honeymoon? If you take on this promotion, you might not get time off for a while.”
“You come first.Uscomes first.”
“I loveUs,” he said, his voice dipping low.
“Me too.”
Linus leaned in and kissed her before pulling back and looking at her for a long moment. It was like he was memorizing her face while she was doing the same. “I’ll lock up the store and then we can go home. How’s that sound? There are no customers anyway, and if we get snowed in, I’d rather it be where the food is.” He winked as he stood.
Diana felt a flutter of panic inside her belly. Last time she’d shaken the snow globe, her wish hadn’t come true until the next morning. What if the same was true for unshaking the snow globe? Another night of Linus getting into a tragic accident was too much. She couldn’t allow it to happen again. She wouldn’t.
Linus jingled his keys in front of her. “Ready? I’ll lock up and we’ll go. I’m glad you’re here. There’ll be no riding my bike home in the snow tonight.”
Diana stood on wobbly legs. She followed him to the front door and stepped out into the snowy evening, waiting for him to lock up.
When he was done, he turned to face her. “Shall we?”
“Linus?” she said quietly.
“Yeah?”
