Epilogue

"John, what is this?"

"Stop asking so many questions."

"I'll stop asking questions when you answer me. I've been blindfolded for what feels like hours."

"It hasn't been hours. It hasn't even been a half hour."

"Where are we?"

"Stop talking."

Evangeline pressed her lips together with all intentions of not saying another word to John McBain. Who did he think he was anyway? He blindfolds her, bundles her in a car and takes her somewhere without telling her anything. This was ridiculous. Here she was holding his hand as he led her into the woods, she thought.

Suddenly they stopped. Evangeline stood her ground and waited. Thanking God that she had excellent balance, she continued to stand there. Finally, John took off her blindfold.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now."

Spread out in front of her was a blanket and a picnic basket. There were flower petals scattered on the blanket and wine chilling in an ice bucket. The setting was beautiful. They were in a totally secluded spot protected by huge pine trees on all sides. The path they'd just taken was practically hidden by the branches on the trees. The sun shone on to the blanket like a spotlight. Evangeline finally turned to John, but didn't speak. She did however raise an eyebrow in question.

"I wanted it to be something special."

The other eyebrow raised in response.

"I love you. The past couple of months have been the happiest of my life. I thought when everything happened with Cris, this could never happen, but you forgave me for that. I know if you're with me, we can make it through anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want a home and children; I want to grow old with you. Will you marry me?"

Evangeline nodded and walked into him. She pulled his mouth down to hers, before kissing him with all the love she had for him. John shuddered against her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and felt his arms surround her waist.

"Are you going to say something?"

"You told me to stop talking."

"Now, you listen to me? What is that about?" John grinned down at her. Evangeline knew it was her job to keep him on his toes.

"Just remember you said that."

"Like you'd let me forget," he quipped. "I want to hear the answer to my question."

"Yes. I would be honored to be your wife."

John picked Evangeline up and spun her around. She laughed with the freedom of a child. John carried her to the blanket and sat down with her on his lap. He pulled the ring he'd bought months ago from his pocket and opened the box for Evangeline to see. The ring took her breath away. The band was an intricate weave that could have been Irish, but Evangeline wasn't sure. A perfect pearl sat in the center, surrounded by diamonds. The ring matched the pearls he'd given her for her birthday perfectly.

"You did good. Are you going to put it on?" she asked.

"I'd love to." John pulled the ring free of the box and took her left ring finger. Before putting the ring on, he kissed her finger. Evangeline knew there were tears in her eyes but she was defenseless to stop them. After sliding the ring on her finger, he kissed her palm.

"I love you," he added.

"I love you, too."

"We are going to be so happy."

"I already am."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."