Galveston, Texas

Shivering as she looked around the empty beach, Jenna understood why the concierge had given them a strange look when Bobby had collected the picnic basket earlier. The coast was lovely to look at out the window of their hotel suite but January wasn't the ideal time to explore it on foot.

"Here", pulling a blanket from the wicker basket and wrapping it around her, Bobby didn't immediately move his hands from her arms.

"Thanks", smiling, she closed the gap between them, kissing him softly before pulling away. "You thought of everything, didn't you?"

"I tried to."

"So, what else did you plan?"

He'd invited her away without telling her a lot about the arrangements, but so far everything had been perfect, well, other than that she was now shivering on the beach in 55°F weather, that she might have changed.

"A lot."

Answering the question, his words didn't tell her anything new however his facial expression told her there was something going on in his head. He had that look, the one she'd been missing for a long time, the one that was now meant for her again.

"Care to let me in on the secret?"

"Ok."

Pulling the blanket tighter around her as she waited for his explanation, the thought did occur again that watching the sunset might have been just as nice from behind a window with a hot toddy in hand.

Taking his time to respond, she jokingly hurried him along, "so…?"

Smiling, he didn't look unhappy, but he didn't look happy either. He appeared uncomfortable, which worried her.

To her, things felt right between them and she didn't want that to end. She wanted to hear his thoughts, she wanted to feel his hands on her when they were out together and she wanted to share his bed; she wanted to be a part of his life like she had been over the past 24 hours.

"First, I need to ask you a question."

Sounding nervous, his tone did nothing to lessen her growing anxiety.

Hesitant, she encouraged him to ask what he needed to, "go on."

"Do you love me?"

Completely taken aback by his question and the seriousness of the tone he'd used to ask her, her automatic response was not to answer but to question him further. "Bobby?"

Holding eye contact with her, he seemed to be urging her to think about what he'd said.

"Yes, I do."

Telling him the truth, the knot in her stomach grew; she'd just told him something very personal without knowing whether he reciprocated or not. Of course he cared, she knew that, he'd been good to her since she'd returned to Dallas, even when he'd had hurt feelings and other interests; more recently too he'd made it quite clear that what they'd had together in the past remained now; the question was, was it love?

"I'm glad, because I love you, and I want you to be my wife."

Hearing the initial reciprocation, she almost missed the second half of his sentence, but when he moved from sitting to balancing on one knee and pulled a black ring box from inside the basket, it was hard to ignore.

"Jenna Wade, will you marry me?"

Revealing a large oval diamond, he looked at her expectantly.

The question wasn't one she hadn't heard before, but she couldn't say she'd ever expected to hear it now.

"Bobby", breathing his name out, she dropped her hold on the blanket and reached her hand out to grasp his.

Using the opportunity to slide the ring onto her finger, he didn't seem at all concerned that she hadn't yet accepted his proposal.

"It's beautiful."

"It's yours to wear."

He meant it was his wife's to wear, and she'd like to be his wife, but were they ready to take that step?

"I'd love to, one day."

Finally realising that her answer wasn't a clear 'yes', he questioned her, "but not today?"

"It's so soon."

They were a couple and she was thrilled that they were, but there was a difference between being together and being married.

"This time around, yes; but if you remember, we were engaged to be married once before."

They had history, history that left them more comfortable together now than they might otherwise be had their recent encounters been their first experiences with each other, but their past relationship had ended and they'd both lived other lives in the time between then and now.

"That was a long time ago."

"Yes, it was. We've been apart a long time and we're finally back together, I was hoping we were on the same page too."

Squeezing her hand, he said something she couldn't entirely disagree with.

"We are, I love you and I want to be your wife, but I think you're trying to make things happen very quickly. It wasn't that long ago that you pulled away from me and said it felt wrong, now I'm to believe it feels right?"

They had no trouble in bed, nor had they encountered any issues between them during their time away together, but she was conscious that they'd barely even begun a relationship.

"It is right."

"You don't have any hesitations?"

"None."

"Not even about Pam?"

She wanted him and she wanted to be Mrs Ewing however last month neither of those things had seemed even remotely possible because of his emotions related to his first wife yet now they were discussing marriage. It was all very soon and she wanted him to be sure about his offer before she agreed.

"You want to talk about Pam?"

"I want to know that you're all in with me."

Audibly exhaling, Bobby was quiet for a moment, then when he did speak his emotions were clear, good and bad.

"I am. I love you. I loved Pam too, but Pam is gone and she's not coming back."

"I'm sorry."

Meaning it, she hoped he believed her. Pam had been competition for Bobby's affection when she was alive, but now that she was gone, she could see things more clearly. Pam had been a person, a woman, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter; she'd married Bobby because she loved him, not for any other reason, and she'd died not long after doing so. What had happened to her was tragic and although it had ultimately put Bobby in the position he was in now, which was good for her, she didn't find any joy in how they'd ended up where they were.

Smiling, he nodded but stayed quiet, leading her to believe he appreciated what she had to say but didn't want to talk about it any further.

Using the period of silence between them to study the ring he'd presented her with, she changed the subject entirely, jokingly commenting, "you know, two people can be in love and just date, not be married."

"I'm aware. I'm also aware of time and how short life can be. Marriage is more serious, it's a higher level of commitment than just dating. If you know you're going to be married someday, why wait?"

Clearly pulling from his own experience of a good marriage, Bobby's inability to see things as grey rather than black or white was obvious to her.

"There is a benefit to seeing how things go before taking that next step; I know, I've been married before."

Making a face, it seemed to have only just occurred to him that she was divorced, that she too had another life she'd moved on from, one very different from his own.

"I hope our marriage would be different."

Listening to him, she loved that he still considered them destined to be married someday even though she still hadn't accepted his proposal. He was optimistic; he truly believed that things would work out for them despite all the complications and obstacles she was putting forward.

"I ran once."

"I'd rather you didn't this time."

"I won't, I promise."

She'd made up her mind a long time ago, that if he ever gave her the opportunity again she wouldn't repeat her past mistakes, so she felt confident making that commitment to him.

"Is that a yes?"

Laughing, she could see where his thoughts were coming from. She had just told him she wouldn't run, and to run there would have to be something to run from.

"So, you're serious?"

"Are you?"

She was; she'd had hesitations at first but he'd convinced her that nothing external mattered enough that it should prevent them from doing as they wished.

"Ask me again."

Sliding the ring off her finger, she handed it back to him, which from the look on his face seemed to concern him, although he didn't question her and did as she'd asked.

"Jenna Wade, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?"

Expecting it this time, she felt confident in her answer, "yes."

Accepting the ring, she kissed him again, this time not concerned about the cold, nor what was going on in his head. They were going to be married and they were both delighted.

To be continued…