“No such problem today, I take it?” Aidan glanced her way, barely able to control his smile.
“Well, it’s not summer, is it?”
He laughed, and it felt good.
They shared the delicious meal that Lexi had prepared and sent back with them. Mary talked about her day, how good it felt to be back at the shop, and how wonderful everyone at the spa treated her. She asked Aidan about his meetings and listened with genuine interest. It was exactly the way he wanted every night of the rest of his life to be – sharing it with Mary.
It would have been perfect, had Aidan not been sure that Mary was withholding something from him. Lexi’s words kept echoing in his head. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
“Mary,” he said, taking her hand when she tried to get up to clear the dishes. “There’s something I want you to know.”
She sat back down, her expression growing concerned when she heard the serious undertone in his voice. “Okay.”
“Well, several things, actually.” He would start easy and work his way up. “First, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about taking you to the Goddess this afternoon. I wanted it to be a surprise. It never occurred to me that you might be self-conscious about what you were wearing, because to me, you always look beautiful. But Lexi explained that I was being an ass and that I should have given you some warning. I’m sorry.”
Mary blinked. “It’s okay, Aidan. I admit, I was a little freaked out at first, but mainly on your behalf, not mine. If you really didn’t mind, then I couldn’t see where I should, either. I mean, I’m the one walking around with the wealthy, gorgeous billionaire.”
He grinned at that. “And I should have asked about the spa before going ahead and making all those arrangements.”
“Alright, you can stop right there, mister. Don’t ever apologize for that. Feel free to do that anytime.”
He chuckled, then grew serious. “There’s one more thing, Mary. I want you to know that no matter what, I am right where I want to be, and that is with you. I don’t know if the results of your tests came back yet, and I don’t care, because it doesn’t matter. If we have to fight, we will, and we’ll do it together. We’ll get the best doctors, the best care, the best of everything.”
Mary’s smile faded as he spoke. “What if I don’t want treatment, Aidan? Would you try to force me to do something I don’t want to do?”
His gut twisted painfully. Yes! he wanted to scream, because the thought of not doing everything in his power to help her went against every fiber of his being. But that would be what he wanted, not necessarily what she wanted. As much as he needed to care for her, he would not take away her free will. Ever. Anything he did for her, to her, would be because she allowed it, not because he forced it upon her.
“No,” he said quietly. “I will support you in whatever you choose, but I would never give up trying to find some way to keep you with me a little while longer, Mary. If you refuse, and I lose you, it will kill me right along with you.”
“You understand,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said. He looked down at where their hands met. “Lex told you about my thrombophelia, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
He gave a little laugh. “What a pair we were, her and I. Do you know why Lexi and I grew so close, Mary?”
She shook her head.
“It’s because in all the years we’ve known each other, we accepted each other’s shortcomings. When she refused to terminate her pregnancy and go on what might have been the only drugs to save her life, I stayed by her side and held her hand. And when I refused the blood-thinners that would make me less likely to throw a clot, she held my hand and told me that if I had a stroke, she would hire only the prettiest nurses to give me sponge baths.”
Mary smiled at that.
“But we never stopped looking out for each other, either. I made sure Lexi got the best care possible within the limits she had set for herself, and she ensures that I go for tests every three months or so to check for clots and whatnot. The point is, we love and respect each other enough to be there no matter what. I will always be there for you, Mary. Just as I hope you will be for me.”
They sat there like that for a long time, looking at each other, holding hands. It was Mary who broke the silence.
“Aidan?” she said, her voice thick with emotion, her eyes glistening.
“Yes, baby?”
“I’m ready.”
For several moments, Aidan’s heart stopped beating while his mind processed the words. Then it pounded fiercely against the walls of his chest. She’s ready.
He wanted to laugh and shout and crush her to him, but he had something he had to do first. His hand reached into his pocket as his body descended smoothly to go on bended knee before her.
“Mary Christine O’Rourke, will you marry me?”
She didn’t speak. She didn’t nod. Instead, she, too, went to her knees.