Page 111 of Meant to Be

“Hey!” Joe said, pretending to be offended. “What’s so ridiculous about it?”

“Everything,” I said, smiling. “You look like a court jester.”

He laughed and said, “No, I don’t! Jester hats have three points. And jingle bells.”

“Fine,” I said. “But it’s still ridiculous.”

He reached up, grabbed the cherry red pom-pom on top, and pulled the hat off, depositing it on the beach. “Is that better?”

“Much,” I said, as Thursday plucked the hat from the sand and made off with it.

“Good dog,” I yelled after him. “Get rid of that thing.”

When I turned back to Joe, he was looking at me with the oddest expression.

“Are you okay?” I said.

He nodded, but I could tell he was breathing funny, like he might cry.

“Joe. What’s wrong?” I asked.

He bit his lip, then ran his hand through his longer than usual hair. “Nothing,” he said. “Everything is perfect.”

Then, suddenly, he dropped to one knee, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a ring. Though it was perfectly obvious what was happening, I was still in a state of disbelief. He looked up at me and said my name in a whispered question.Cate?

“Yes?” I said, my heart pounding in my chest, tears filling my eyes.

He began to talk. His voice was low and his speech rapid as he told me how much he loved me and that he’d never met anyone like me and that he wanted to spend his life with me. He said some other things, too, but I couldn’t focus on his words. It was as if my tear-blurred vision also affected my ability to hear. Or maybe my heart was just beating too loudly.

“Catherine Cooper,” I heard him say at the end of his speech. “Will you marry me?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but my yes caught in my throat, and I could only nod. He reached for my left hand and slipped a delicate band onto my finger. Sparkling with sapphires and diamonds, it fit me perfectly.

“It’s gorgeous,” I breathed, fighting back more tears and then deciding that I didn’t have to.

“You’regorgeous,” he said, beaming up at me, just as the skies opened.

“Come here,” I said, and pulled him up to hug him.

“I love you, Cate,” he whispered in my ear, the words sounding better than they ever had.

“I love you, too, Joe,” I whispered back.

“Forever?” he asked.

“Forever and ever,” I said. Just then, Thursday returned with Joe’s hat, clearly wanting in on the action.

“Hey there, good boy!” Joe said. “She said yes! She’s stuck with us now.”

He stooped down, pried Thursday’s mouth open, and removed the slobbery, sandy hat, promptly putting it back on his head.

“I guess I’m stuck with that hat, too, huh?” I said, smiling up at him.

He nodded, holding my gaze for the longest time before kissing me softly in the falling rain.

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