(Complete) When Tim Burke meets Julie at a party, she isn't impressed. When they see each other again, Julie decides to give him a chance. As Julie faces burdens and sorrow in her own life, Tim and his family provide the support and love she needs...
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The shining sun glistened on the lake. It was July Fourth and Clare had been home for three days. It would be Michael's first visit to the lake.
He had picked her up in Boston and brought her to see his condo and to make up for a month apart. He had to stop buying her gifts, because waiting for her was a brand new car.
"It's four wheel drive, so I won't have to worry when you driving to the hospital on slick winter nights."
Her parents asked how Michael was when she finally arrived home just before ten at night. She told them about her car and they smiled, as if they already knew.
When Tim came by to see her the next day, he couldn't stop talking about Michael. She had one more thing to be jealous of her brother about - the time he had spent with Michael. Thankfully, she was home to stay.
She had waited long enough. No longer needing to daydream, she went to sunbathe on the dock before any of the others arrived. Still exhausted from finishing up her residency and traveling, the swaying of the dock lulled her into a much-needed nap.
She woke to feel a wet nose in her face. Smiling she reached out to the soft fur. "Hello cutie."
She heard a very familiar voice. "Hello."
She looked up at him standing above her. He was gorgeous in his aviator sunglasses. "I was talking to your dog. He is yours?"
He smiled. "She... but I'm keeping her for a friend."
"Does she have a name?"
"That's your job."
Clare looked at her. She was a Havornese just like Teddy, but just a tiny pup. "Not fur ball!"
Michael shook his head. "I see it was working?"
"What was working?"
"You were able to relax imagining your lake."
"No imagination required today."
He shook his head and sat down next to her and put his arm around her. "It's beautiful. I think we should get married by the lake."
"Married?" He caught her by surprised.
"Yes, I will only watch your dog for so long. You need to live with us, which means we need to get married."
"Was that a real proposal? It wasn't very romantic!"
"I learned my lesson, if I planned to a grand gesture you would probably propose to me two days before. Actually, I think this is very romantic. The lake is your favorite place."
He picked up the puppy and put her on Clare's lap. "Do you like her collar?"
Clare looked down at the pink collar and saw something shiny looped on to the collar. A diamond ring. Michael took it off. "Can I buy you ice cream for the rest of our lives? Doctor Clare Burke will you marry me?"
She nodded through her tears and then Michael's lips were on hers. As they kissed the puppy jumped up and tried to join it.
He laughed. "This fluff ball needs a name."
Clare thought for a moment. "How about Cali because going California was the absolute best mistake I have ever made in my life?"
When they stood to go tell her parents, her family swarmed them.
"Did you know? Were you watching?"
"Yup, we decided it was a good sign when you finally kissed." Tim said beaming.
The girls were too busy fussing over the dog. Her mum said, "I didn't know you liked dogs."
Clare nodded. "A dog is the reason we met."
"What's her name?" Ella asked.
"Cali," Clare replied.
"I like it," Ava said.
Ella asked, "Daddy, can we get a dog?"
Julie and Tim both answered together. "No!"
Defeated she turned to Clare. "Can I be in your wedding?"
Clare smiled. "Of course, both you and Ava."
Ella turned to Nick. "Are you going to marry your girlfriend?"
He had just gotten back together with Melissa after a breakup.
