"But you are a part of my life… you are the best part of my life," Lee said with a smile as he watched the smile spreading across Rosemary's face. He reached his arm around her and pulled her close to him, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. As they drew apart Lee placed a hand on the side of her face and stroked it gently "Yep, definitely the best part of my life." Rosemary's face lit up as she rested her head on Lees's shoulder.

For a few moments, they stood in each other's arms in happy silence before Lee thought of something and took a step back taking her hands in his. "Rosemary?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to go out for dinner?"

"When?"

"This evening, you see, thanks to some genius money-saving work that's been done on my mill it means I can afford to take a beautiful lady like you out for a fancy meal in a fancy restaurant." Rosemary smiled "I'd love to Lee." He rubbed his hands together happily. "Okay then! Let me go change into a nicer suit and then I'll meet you back here. I won't be long, wait here."

"I need to go and change as well."

"No you don't Rosemary, you look stunning."

"And right at this moment, you look to me like the most handsome man in the world. If you feel a need to change then I need to change. Especially for my first date with a very attractive, kind and charming sawmill owner." Lee raised an eyebrow "First date?" He questioned and for a moment Rosemary feared that she had overstepped her marks "is there a problem with me saying that?" She asked with the concern clear on her face. Lee shook his head "Not at all. I like the sound of that very much."

With that, he took her hand and kissed it gently. "I'll meet you back here in an hour"

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As soon as he left the office Lee checked to see Rosemary wasn't watching and ran across to the Mountie office. He burst in and saw Jack sitting tiredly looking through a pile of papers. "Jack! I need your help!"

"What's up Lee? Something happened?"

"I've asked Rosemary on a date." Lee blurted out and Jack laughed. "So why do you need my help?"

"What do I do?"

"You've been on dates before right?"

"Yeah but not with a woman like Rosemary" Jack smiled and shook his head "you don't need my help, Lee." Lee sighed and let out a slow breath. "I'm nervous Jack. I don't want to mess this up. She means a lot to me" Jack nodded as he reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder "I know. And I know that you mean a lot to her as well Lee." Lee looked up at his friend and thought for a couple of moments "I think I love her Jack" Jack laughed "yeah, I think you love her too. Now go have that date with her! Just be yourself and it'll all be fine, I promise." Lee nodded "yeah you're right. Thanks, Jack"

As he opened the door to leave Jack called out after him. "Lee?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop by here tomorrow for breakfast. I want to know how it went."

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After changing into his best suit Lee pulled open a drawer and carefully took out a small black box. He held it in his hands a few moments before opening it. Inside the box lay two pearl cufflinks. Lee had owned them for several years now and hadn't once worn them. These had been his fathers and he'd always felt that it was only right that he wore them for special moments only.

Up until tonight, no moment had felt special enough for him to feel that he was justified in wearing them. But tonight, and this date with Rosemary he felt could potentially be one of the most important days of his life and he knew that if any event was going to count as special enough then it would be tonight.

As he slipped them into his cuffs he thought about his parents for a bit. He sighed sadly as he realised that they were never going to meet this woman that was becoming so special to him. But it was okay because for the first time in a very long time he felt that he no longer only had himself to rely on and that felt good.

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Later that evening Lee and Rosemary were in Lees's car driving home from the restaurant. They had enjoyed a wonderful evening together and felt more at home in each other's company with every second that they spent together.

As they drove Lee pointed out the lake lit up by the moon and stars "Doesn't it look beautiful" Rosemary nodded her agreement "Lee stop" He did so and turned to her with slight concern, "Is everything okay Rosie?" She nodded "yes I'm fine, I was just wondering if we could walk around the pond together. It would end the day off really nicely.

"Let's do it"

As they walked Rosemary held onto his arm and would occasionally look up at his face and smile. This man made her feel a way no other man had made her feel, she could be completely herself with him and he didn't even seem to falter and would always just accept her for who she was. She was more grateful to him at that moment than she had ever given him credit for. Not out loud anyway. She knew she needed to change that.

"Thank You, Lee." He stopped and turned to her with an amused smile on his face. "What for?"

"For accepting me as who I am. And still wanting me as a part of your life despite who I am."

"I want you in my life because of who you are." He placed a hand on the side of her face. "I love you, Rosemary"

"You do?"

"I do" he responded as he leaned in and kissed her passionately. "I love you so much," he said with clear emotion in his voice and what seems to Rosemary to be tears in his eyes. "I love you too Lee," she said quietly as she rubbed his chin with her thumb. Lee smiled and kissed her again before pulling her close to him and holding her tightly. After a couple of minutes, he heard her giggle softly. "What is it?"

"I was just thinking." She answered with a mischievous grin "Thinking what?"

"You've kissed me three times this evening." Lee nodded and kissed her again. "Now four"

"Well in that case I think we are going to have to get married." Lee smiled and knew that he was looking at the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind" he whispered with a smile on his face as he pulled her back into a loving embrace.

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The next morning as Lee dressed to go to the mill he saw his father's cufflinks still lying on his dresser. He picked them up and put them into his cuffs. He still believed that these cufflinks were only for special days, but after the date, he had enjoyed with Rosemary and the newfound confidence that he had in his relationship with her he felt that every day was a special day as long as he had her in his life.