Page 58 of How Many Times Do I Have to Say I'm Sorry?

“I don’t have anything planned. Why? What did you want to do?”

“Get married.”

He nearly drops the jug of milk and I laugh as I help him catch it.

“Really?” he asks.

I nod. “Really.” We’ve both been wearing our rings ever since that day in my office. The only time either of us take them off is if we’re cooking something that they would get in the way of preparing, or if we’re doing a chore that might be dangerous if we keep them on.

Otherwise, they’re always on our fingers.

We get the milk safely set on the counter and Desi pulls me in for a long, deep kiss. “I’ll get the paperwork done and we can get the license on Monday. Do you want your parents here?”

“I don’t really want anyone else here for this. Let’s get a notary and however many witnesses we need and go up to the falls and do it there. We’ll let everyone throw us a reception later when both sets of parents can come.”

He nods. “Whatever you want, babe.”

“I just want you, and for our life going forward to continue being like this.” To be honest, it’s felt like he never left. I worried that I might get angry and have moments where I wanted to yell at him for leaving…but no.

I don’t.

Having him back has been amazing and everything he does shows me he’s sorry he left and hurt me.

I have no doubts about him, or his love for me.

Or the fact that I want him to be my husband and spend the rest of our lives together.

Desi blinks back tears. “Love you so much.”

I kiss him, tightly holding him. “Love you, too.”

Jester, not wanting to be left out, twines around our feet as we stand there holding each other. “Maow!”

We look down. “You’re stuck at home that day, sorry. I don’t want to worry about you getting loose.”

He sits and stares up at us with his tail primly curled around his butt. Then he gives us a dismissive slow-blink I’m sure is his way of telling me to go screw myself.

I pick him up and he head butts me, then Desi when he leans in to nuzzle his face against Jester’s.

“If you’re good,” I tell Jester, “we’ll get you a buddy.”

Desi smiles. “We’re on our way to being crazy cat guys.”

“Was that a complaint?”

He laughs. “Not at all. I think your parents will enjoy having a second grandcat to spoil rotten when they’re visiting.” His smile fades as he stares into my eyes. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

I poke him. “Stop saying you’re sorry.” I poke him again, making him laugh. This has become a runningthingbetween us.

But I don’t mind, because life’s never been more perfect. The rest of the town is starting to forgive Desi, although Bob still breaks the yolks in Desi’s over-easy eggs when we sometimes go there for breakfast.

Later that night, after we’ve made love and are falling asleep, Desi nuzzles his face against my shoulder. “Life is perfect.”

I smile. “Yes, it certainly is.”

The End