Loss and Longing

Last part.

For a minute Stevie didn’t speak. Then making a decision she squared her shoulders and said, “okay, I accept on behalf of my family, but you’re taking mine back.”

He shook his head, “no.”                                    

“That’s the condition” she said. “Either you take mine back or you take all of them back.”

Grant glared at her. She had him over a barrel and they both knew it. If he wanted to help her, he’d have to do it her way.

He released his breath on a harsh sigh, “fine” he said.

“Good, now there is something else you can do for me.”

“Anything” he said.

“Two weeks ago tomorrow you asked me a question, will you please ask me again now.”

Grant frowned at her.

“Come on Grant” she said “it was only four words, surely you can remember that.”

Grants eyes narrowed and he tilted his head as he stared at her. Then as the smile she couldn’t hold back anymore pushed up the corners of her mouth, an answering smile appeared on his face. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Will I get a different answer?”

“There’s only one way to find out” she teased with a grin.

“Will you marry me?” he asked his expression solemn.

“Yes please” she said with a delighted laugh.

Grant looked at her for a minute and then grinning he lowered his head and kissed her.

After a minute he eased back and looked down at her “not that I’m complaining but what made you change your mind?”

“How could I refuse after what you did for my family? That was an amazing gesture Grant. I still can’t believe you were prepared to do it, even if it was all over for us.”

“Well I told you I’d find a way to repay you for all those meals you cooked at my place” he joked and as she acknowledged it with a smile he added, “I must admit I was waiting for you to hit me” he said grinning.

“I thought about it” she said.

He laughed. “Do you really want me to take yours back?”

“Definitely” she said with a frown. “While I can accept the others if I have to, because they are not for me, and they aren’t marrying you, I’m not starting out our marriage indebted to you like that.” Then touching his face, her expression softening she said “but thank you. Once again I forgot to say that after you had been very generous.” She was referring to when she’d tried to repay him for fixing her car, back when they first met.

He chuckled. “You’re welcome” he said.

“So how did you rope Rachel in to this little deception?” she asked.

“I didn’t think you’d agree to meet me if I asked. So I went to ask for her advice. When I explained what I’d done and why and she volunteered to help.”

“Hmm I’ll be having words with her” Stevie said but she was unable to feel too angry with her friend.

“She figured as much” Grant said “she said it was worth it to see you smile again. Were you that miserable?”

She nodded. “I couldn’t feel anything anymore. You?”

“You know how much I’ve lost” he said, his expression bleak, “I didn’t think it was possible to hurt anymore. I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry” she said.

“Me too” he said.

“I love you” she said her tone serious.”

Bending Grant kissed her.

Then as he lifted her head, her expression changed to teasing and she asked “now are we going to take advantage of this room or what?”

Grant grinned “well this isn’t the sort of place that rents rooms by the hour so I did book it for the night” and picking her up he tumbled them onto the wide bed.

Stevie laughed.

He lay over her and looking down into her eyes he said “I missed you.”

She shivered. “Me too” she said and pulling his head down, she felt him smile against her mouth. As they kissed and touched and made up for lost time, she vowed to do everything in her power to always make him happy. There would be no more loss in their future, not if she had anything to do with it.

THE END