A Sunset Walk
The festivities went on nearly until sunset. One by one guests came to take their leave. The children's table was put up and the children that remained were ushered inside by their parents to sit in front of the television. The parents in turn divvied up the food, washed and dried dishes, and helped clean the place up before they finally packed the car, picked up their children, and said goodnight. By sunset Patrick escorted Mrs. Campbell and her children home. Duke passed them on the way to her garden. "It was so good to meet you, Conrad. I do hope you'll come back next time."
"It would be an honor, Mrs. Campbell." She laughed and told him what good taste Shauna had and wished him goodnight. Patrick told him he could find Shauna sitting on the back porch swing watching the sunset. So a few moments and several goodbyes later, as the last of her brothers, Sean leaving with Ash Campbell, left, he found Shauna sitting on the porch swing watching the sky turn orange and pink and purple. When she saw him she smiled. He came to sit next to her. She leaned up against him and he gathered her in his arms. 'This.' He thought, 'This is what it's all for. So he could sit on a porch swing with the woman he loved and watch the sun sink behind the trees.'
"Penny for your thoughts?" she turned and asked him
"I love you."
She turned in his arms so she could face him on the swing, "I love you too. Now why so serious? You met everyone and they loved you. So what's the problem?"
He smiled, "No problem." 'After all this he was still nervous! He didn't believe it!'
"Take a walk?" he suggested nodding to the path that Frank had told him wound through the woods and ended up at this lovely little spot overlooking Peachtree creak. The sunset would be more vibrant there and it would be private. If he could just get up and move he thought he could work the nervousness out. He'd stopped her father earlier that evening as the crowd began to disperse. He figured Patrick knew what he was up to but since they were here at his house he decided the honorable thing to do was to ask if he could propose. Patrick of course had laughed until his belly, what little the man had, Duke swore he could rival Sgt. Slaughter on the field, shook and told Duke that he had his blessing. He'd then stopped Dash and told him he could tell Allie but that he wanted to propose in private. Dash had wished him luck, grinned, and told him he would keep Allie distracted. Duke had no doubt that he would have privacy.
Shauna got up, smoothed down her dress, put her heels back on, and held out her hand. They walked that way down the path, past the old oaks Shauna had told him they used to climb when they were children and still did on occasion, when they had had too much to drink. They stopped when they got to a small wrought iron table and matching chairs. He kissed her softly, told her he loved her, and gently pushed her down to sit in the chair. He kneeled and tears started flowing quietly from her eyes.
He reached in his pocket and held out a diamond engagement ring, small enough that she would hopefully be able to wear it under her gloves when she flew but large enough that the diamond sparkled. In the setting sun it shined radiantly and shot off beams of light like sparks.
He took her hand, "Shauna, I love you, will you marry me?"
She nodded yes and he slipped the ring on her finger. She dropped to the ground next to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "Yes, oh, yes, Conrad, I'll marry you."
"I'll love you forever." He whispered just before his lips claimed hers. She kissed him back and laughed and cried and moved her hand every which way under the fading light.
When the light was finally gone they kissed one last time, short, soft, and, sweet. "Can we go tell Allie and Flint?" she asked figuring her father already knew and that her brothers could wait until morning
He laughed with her and held his hand out to help her up. Their eyes caught and held and her arms wound up around his neck. "Well…" she told him softly, leaning in so her forehead touched hers, "…I'm sure Allie would understand if she had to wait just a few minutes more." She smiled and it was all the encouragement he needed as he touched his lips hers.
Author's notes: Thank you one and all for your lovely, wonderful reviews, they make my day! I'm not sure if this story is done or not but if you're interested in more email me and I'll let you know where it stands.
