The Sometime Bride

darkening sky as her head dropped against his shoulder in easy comfort and they continued to rock. And when she grew heavy and still, Mike knew that she’d fallen asleep.
    It was just like the dancing. And he wanted it to go on and on and on… Yes, he was sorry about the evening and his lost opportunity for fulfilling plans. But he was doubly grateful for the chance just to hold her now, with nothing but the scent of the rain between them. If this snapshot was an indication of the next sixty years, Mike was awfully glad he’d seen the big picture early.

    Carrie awoke with a start to see the sun peering over the purple mountains. It was only when she heard the low rumble that she realized Mike was sitting and snoring beside her.
    “Mike?” she said, raising a hand to his face. “Mike?”
    “I’d like to counter that offer,” he said, snapping to attention.
    “What offer?” she asked, laughing in surprise. “Were you dreaming about real estate?”
    Mike opened his eyes wide, then blinked at his surroundings. “Yeah, I guess that I was,” he said, rubbing the sore back of his neck. “Did we sleep here all night?”
    “Unless little trolls carried us to my bed, then replaced us on the swing before sunup.”
    Mike pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck. “You know,” he said, “that’s the first time I’ve ever done that. Pulled an all-nighter with a woman on a swing.”
    Carrie smiled, enjoying his warmth, enjoying the new day. Savoring the implausibility of the moment. And thinking that she’d happily wake up with Mike Davis anywhere.
    “You stick with me, and you’ll get lots more opportunities for firsts,” she said, feeling playful. And, thank goodness, so much better.
    “You’re looking brighter this morning,” he said, stroking her cheek. “I was so sorry to see you so ill.”
    “Thanks for staying with me. Being with you really helped.”
    Mike turned to the woman beside him. All night on the porch after an evening of illness, and Carrie St. John was without a doubt the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. The only woman with whom he could envision sharing a lifetime.
    “Think you could get used to it?” Mike asked, moving his hands to her shoulders and looking deep in her eyes.
    Carrie nodded but didn’t say a word. Because her heart was on fire. She knew, unmistakably, what was coming next. But this time, Carrie wasn’t anxious or afraid. Every nerve ending was ready.
    Mike slipped out of the rocker and got down on one knee.
    “Carrie,” he said, taking her left hand in both of his. “I have something very important to ask you. And just so you know, I want to tell you I already did the proper thing and talked with your grandmother.”
    “Yes!” Carrie said, springing off the porch swing and into his arms as he stood in surprise to catch her. “Yes, yes, oh Mike, yes,” she said between vibrant kisses that ran from his mouth to his cheek to his neck to his forehead.
    “Carrie—” he said, stopping her when she was almost to his mouth again. “You didn’t even let me finish asking.”
    “Oh,” she said, consumed by a groundswell of heat. “Sorry.” Carrie primly smoothed out her hair and sat back down on the swing. “Continue,” she said, looking up, a million constellations in her eyes.
    Mike smiled to beat all get-out and pulled a ring box from his pocket. “Before I say what I have to say,” he told her while her heart beat fiercely with anticipation, “I want you to promise me you’ll keep that level of enthusiasm for the next say, oh…fifty to sixty years.”
    “It’s a deal,” she said with a sexy grin that almost made him drop the box and cart her straight inside.
    “Carrie St. John,” Mike said, dropping back down on one knee, half wondering if he might get tackled. He pulled back the velvet lid, revealing a beautiful blue diamond surrounded by six perfect rubies.
    “Oh Mike…”
    “I’m sorry it took a while, but this ring was sort of a symbolic gift. I wanted to get it just right.”
    Carrie wrinkled her brow as Mike plucked the ring from its box.
    “The diamond… Well, of course, you know what the diamond means, love everlasting and all that.” He grinned, and she shot him a look with her eyes that dazzled.
    “And the rubies?” Carrie asked. She counted. “Six of them?”
    “Well, these first two,” Mike said, pointing to the stones set at the top. “These are you and me.”
    Carrie’s eyes watered.
    “Because,