Page 126

“Oh my God!” CeCe exclaimed. “So you and Elena were falling in love at the same time I was falling for Alexis.”

“And I was falling in love with Vi!” Cory added.

Cat nodded. “Grief brought us together in a way. We were two wounded souls trying to find where we belonged. We latched onto each other and found ourselves as well as our love. I’m so in love with her and I want to propose with y’all’s help.”

“Wait a minute,” Cory said. “You two haven’t been faking it. You were dancing together for real at Talia’s bar? And you were kissing when Hattie was around, but it wasn’t for her benefit?”

“We were afraid to lose our friendship if we crossed that line and we desperately clung to that friendship because we needed it so much. But I finally realized that if Elena didn’t feel the same way, we’d figure out how to still be friends.”

“When and how did you finally admit your feelings?” CeCe asked.

“We went to Tara’s to plan the book signing and went down on the dock to watch the sunset. I told Elena about this dream I had.”

“I remember you telling us about that,” CeCe said.

Cat nodded. “I told her that I was in love with her and…” Cat’s voice broke and she blinked back tears. “She was in love with me, too.”

Cory sat back on the couch and Cat could see tears in her eyes as well. “Oh, little sister,” she said. “What do you need us to do so you can propose to your love?”

Cat smiled through her tears and told her sisters what she wanted to do.

“What’s this surprise you have for me?” Elena asked as Cat drove them towards the lake.

“You’ve never been to Lovers Landing and I asked Krista if we could take a walk along the beach,” Cat explained. “You can imagine her excitement, especially when I told her you’d never been here.”

Elena laughed. “Can’t you just hear Tara bragging to Krista that we fell in love at her house and not at Lovers Landing. Their banter makes me laugh just thinking about it.”

“Yeah.” Cat chuckled. “It kind of reminds me of my sisters.”

Cat drove them down to a cabin next to the water and parked the car. Once they were out of the car she reached for Elena’s hand. “Let’s walk along the beach.”

As they strolled along Elena asked, “Is this like your dream?”

Cat nodded. “You know, I would’ve never had that dream if you hadn’t shown me that I could trust my heart.”

“When you told me about it, I was so hoping I was the woman walking along the beach with you,” Elena said, squeezing Cat’s hand.

“I was looking at you one day in the bookstore when you were sitting in your chair reading and I thought to myself, I want you to find someone who’s willing to explore all these discoveries about yourself. I hoped they would embrace them and you for the incredible woman you are.”

“Oh, baby,” Elena said. “You are that person.”

Cat stopped, faced Elena, and smiled.

She slowly kneeled in the sand.

Elena gasped and her eyes widened.

“Will you make my dream come true? I will embrace you and our discoveries from now until forever. Will you spend all your days with me, as long as we both live? El, will you marry me?”

“Oh, Catarina,” Elena said, falling to her knees. She cradled Cat’s face between her hands.

Cat’s eyes were swimming in tears as she waited for Elena’s reply. She looked into Elena’s eyes and saw only love.

“Yes, I will spend all my days with you,” Elena said softly.

Cat smiled and touched her lips to Elena’s. This had to be the sweetest kiss as tears fell down both their cheeks.

Elena pulled away and ran her thumbs over Cat’s cheeks. “These are the only lips I ever want to kiss,” she said, pressing her lips to Cat’s once again.