Duncan carried the tray of food and passed Meara on the stairs. Kissing her, he passed her as he went back to the kitchen to grab cups of tea and coffee. He passed her again. He came back as she reached the top of the stairs and swept her off her feet. He carried her to their bedroom.
“Please tell me you meant what I think you meant?” He whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
She giggled. “Sir Duncan, how romantic of you. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Answer me.” He sat her down on the bed.
“I need an appointment with Dr. Duncan,” she said. “I require close examination.”
Groaning, he locked the door. “Food first. Exam later.”
“What about the family?” she asked innocently.
“The door is shut and locked. They don’t exist. Besides, we’re engaged,” he said, kneeling and holding out her ring. “Please take it back.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?” She feigned shock.
“Yes, I’m asking you to marry me. For better or worse,” he replied.
“We’ve had a good share of better and worse, but we’re together. I love you, Duncan.”
“I love you, Meara. Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” He slipped the ring onto her finger.
“No doubts?”
“If I have any, you’ll straighten me out.”
“That’s true. And we’ll always enjoy making up. Like now.” She kissed him, pulling him onto the bed next to her. “The red outfit is in the closet.”
“Save it for the Shore house. We’ll have to pack a very special making up bag. We’re going to have to wait to eat. I want you now, future Mrs. Phillips.”
“DUNCAN!” She giggled as he carefully pulled her backwards on the bed.
“That giggle will be my undoing.” He kissed her deeply as he undressed her.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank a few people who have made this journey with me. They’ve been extremely supportive and have kept me sane or at least tried to keep me sane. To Yolanda Cuevas Gonzalez, thank you for believing in TSJ and for keeping me from quitting. Crack crack. Gracias, mi hermanita, espero que nuestros deseos se hagan realidad! TQM. To Pablo Calderon, thank you for listening to me, reading my messy edits and finding hope where I thought there was none. To Lynn Eason, thank you for reminding me I’m a writer. Love you dearly! To Saleena Davidson, Stefanie Dunnam, Allie Goldstein, Ilene Lefkowitz, Mary Martin, C.L. Quillen, Katy Ratti, and Cheryl Varanay, thank you for giving me honest feedback, forcing me to learn to accept criticism graciously, I hope. To Jay Asher, thank you for putting my mind at ease. To Frank Ashmore, all I can say is thank you. To Michele Reutty, thank you for the moral support. I went first. Now it’s your turn.
Appendix
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938).
Frank Herbert. Dune, (1965).
Stephen King. “Children of the Corn”. Night Shift, (1978).
Lucy Maude Montgomery. Anne of Green Gables, (1908).
“My Man Godfrey” (1936).
William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar (1599).
J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit (1937).
J.R.R. Tolkien. Lord of the Rings, (1954).
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939).
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