Page 87 of Crying Shame

He sat up straighter. Together, we could do anything. Because of his support today, all my fear was gone. And I knew for sure we’d be happy.

47

Clarissa

We tucked our son in his bed back home at the house in Connecticut. Honestly, I never wanted to leave. My family in this house was stronger than ever. I held Elon’s hand.

He said, “Sam’s tired. I think he was on edge most of the day.”

“He was, but he’s happy you’re with us,” I said.

I thought we'd head to our room to get showers when we left Sam. I was looking forward to spending alone time with the man I loved. However, Elon stopped me in the hall and waved for me to go downstairs with him. I tilted my head, joined him in descending the stairs, and asked, “We’re not going to bed?”

He placed his hand on my back, and we walked downstairs. “Not yet. Come.”

We walked through the house to the patio, where lights twinkled. We went outside.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Light jazz music played through speakers. Elon appeared tense. “I wanted to celebrate with you.”

Glasses of champagne had been set out on a table. “What’s the occasion?”

He took my hands. “All my memories of childhood include you. The years you were gone from my life made me realize every mistake I’d made.”

We’d both made huge mistakes. I kissed his cheek. “It’s okay. You can’t still be upset at yourself over the past. We have a future.”

He let go of one of my hands and fell to his knees. My heart sped up to what felt like a million miles a minute.

He opened a ring box and gazed up at me. “Will you marry me, Clarissa?”

Tears filled my eyes until I could barely see. I tugged on his hand. “Get up.”

He did but then stood like he was braced for impact. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

I wiped my eyes and nodded. “I want the same thing. I love you.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I threw myself into his arms and kissed him.

Our lips melted together, and nothing else mattered.

When we came up for air, he said, “I was worried there for a minute.”

I now understood why he'd seemed so preoccupied In the limo after Sam's football game. I tilted my head. “Is that what’s been going on with you? You were nervous?”

He nodded and blushed. “Yeah. I wasn’t sure when to propose and decided to just go for it.”

I laughed as he handed me champagne and took some for himself. I pressed on his muscular arm. “Well, you have great timing and great taste.”

He held up my hand that wore his ring. Honestly, I was so dazed, I hardly remembered slipping it on.

“The ring is based on one of your favorite fairy-tale stories,” he said.

The setting featured a rose that twisted around a diamond. It was perfect and proved that Elon knew me well. I widened my eyes. “So you’re saying we can have roses everywhere.”

He clinked glasses with me. “You can have whatever you want.”