Hope in Our Hearts by Lydia Proffitt

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Live with Courage

Love with Faith

Laugh with Hope

Jason was still sitting on the ground, clapping his hands in celebration of Caleb's win. He was glad he got to watch Caleb run like the Tasmanian Devil. Jason was so proud of him. He was really coming out of his shy shell and living a joyous, social life.

Jason was still sitting on the ground shaking his head. He couldn't believe Lucy faked him out. His legs were covered in mud and his hands were filthy where he tried to catch himself. He laughed as Lucy walked with her hands on her hips back to him. She smiled at him, and he was amazed at how radiant she was. She was full of so much joy when she saw Caleb score––not because her team won, but because she knew her son was exceptional.

Jason loved that Lucy wanted to adopt Caleb because watching him now, Jason felt like a proud father. He wanted nothing more than to make it official.

Jason was trying to wipe his hands off on his shorts before Lucy got all the way to him. She reached out her hand to help him up. He grabbed it and lifted himself up to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket.

Lexie screamed excitedly saying, "Look! Look! Look!" from the patio.

All heads turned in their direction. The birds even hushed their singing as all attention was turned towards them. It was as if they were in a theatre with the spotlight directly on them.

Rebecca and Lexie were crying tears of joy. While the kids were cheering and the rest of their guest were watching in awe.

Lucy and Jason were completely unaware of everyone else. Locked in the moment with Lucy, Jason was completely unaware of the mud soaking into his jeans or the cheers from everyone else. He opened the box he pulled from his shorts to expose the ring and got ready to open his mouth. However, Jason didn't even have time to say the words he prepared. Lucy kissed him before she even looked at the ring, and Jason knew she was crying because he could taste the salt on her lips as he kissed her back.

When Jason reflected about their love, he thought about how it hit him like a deer in headlights. One day he was driving to get away from his town and past and literally ran right into his future. Their love was unexpected, and it knocked him off his feet. However, Jason learned the thing about love is when it knocks you off our feet, you know it is something worth getting up for.

When Jason came back to his moment with Lucy, he saw his mom emerge from the side of the house. He knew he would never propose in front of everyone and not his mom. When his mom pulled in, and walked around the house he winked at her before the last play began to tel her to get ready. The timing was simply right.

Kathleen gave him a thumbs up letting him know she got it all on video.

Jason spun Lucy around as the patio erupted into more claps and cheers. Lucy was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful even as tears of joy escaped her eyes. Jason would be lying if he said the moment didn't make his own eyes water. Jason knew she was the strongest person he had ever met. She was stubborn––a true fighter, and he could not wait to marry her.

When he looked into her Carribean blue eyes, he saw how they had changed so much from when they first started dating. He also knew he would never get tired of seeing his reflection in them. Even if one day they had crows feet around the side, he would still think they were the most alluring ocean blue he had ever laid his eyes upon. He never ever wanted to see them broken with tears running down her cheeks.