Family Bonds

Chapter 21, Episode 1

The next evening, Chet joined Jane for dinner. "I have an idea," he said between bites of beef stroganoff. "I told you about the beach house my mom used to visit. She gave me the key. We ought to go there over the four-day weekend coming up. To explore. See if we like it."

"Sounds like a good idea. Where is it?"

"Schooner Bay, on the Oregon coast. Not that far. If we leave right after you're done at school, we could probably make it before nine, unless the traffic's really bad."

"Okay." An eyebrow rose when she smiled at him, a question in her expression.

He chuckled. "I'll bring my books if I have studying."

She laughed.

~ ~ ~

That night Chet parked under the stilts holding the beach house off the sand. The phosphorescence of the surf in the light of the rising moon was spellbinding. No wonder Mom likes it here.

"Langley's Love Nest." Jane read the wooden sign next to the front door. She turned the key in the door then turned back and hugged Chet. "The view's to die for. Let's take a walk on the beach."

"Right now—in the dark?"

"Sure. Look—a harvest moon. It'll light the way."

He reached for her hand and they walked back down the stairs and onto the beach. The name of the place. Was that why his mom had suggested he bring Jane here? This was the perfect place to ask Jane. But what would she say? They'd talked about waiting until after he was out of law school. Maybe I'll show her the ring and then ask.

"Tomorrow, could we visit that lighthouse I read about on-line?" Jane asked.

"A super plan." When she left his side and headed for the hard sand near the water's edge to dig out a shell, he touched the ring box in his jacket pocket. He mentally rehearsed what he wanted to say, stumbling over the words each time. Why was this so hard? Harder than the moot court final, and he'd aced that. He gave up and sat down on a log. Maybe I should just hand her the ring. He drummed his fingers on the log and looked up to see her walking toward him.

He rose and took her in his arms. Time to do this.

"I want us to live together," he blurted.

"What?"

"Let me start over." He rubbed his hands against her shoulders. "I love you."

She gazed at him. "I love you, too."

"And I—here." He shoved his hand in his pocket, pulled out the box and thrust it at her, then took it back. "Let me start over."

She started to laugh. "Your mind is messed up. You've been studying too hard. It's a good thing we came down here, so you could have a vacation."

He sat down, certain he'd lost his chance to say how he felt. He took a deep breath, stood up then went down on one knee. "Will you marry me? But since we can't do that right away, can we live together now and get married later, and will you wear this ring?" He handed her the box again, unable to slow his breathing.

She gestured for him to sit next to her on the log. "I think that was three or four questions." Her green eyes twinkled and she looked away briefly.

Chet nodded, gulping. "Well?"

"Number one: yes, I will marry you. Number two: yes, I will live with you—I've been wanting to—for so long." She grinned at him and reached for the box. "Will you show it to me?"