Chapter 15 - The Question at Sunrise
Our community kitchen opened in a renovated storefront in Brooklyn. We named it Bennett House, after my father. On opening day, Evelyn and her son arrived carrying homemade cookies. Luca and Nora helped serve breakfast. Adrian washed dishes and followed every instruction I gave him.
No one called him boss.
That evening he asked me to walk along the waterfront. The sky was turning pink over the East River.
"I used to think love meant keeping someone close enough that nothing could reach them," he said. "Then you taught me that love starts with giving someone a choice."
He took a small ring box from his pocket but did not open it.
"Claire, I want a life with you. Not a mansion, not an empire. A real life, with bills and bad coffee and arguments about who forgot the groceries. Will you marry me?"
I stared at him through tears. "Are you sure you can survive my grocery lists?"
"I've survived worse."
"That isn't an answer."
"Then I'll learn."
I said yes.
He opened the box. The ring was simple, with a small blue stone that reminded me of the ocean. We stood together as the city lights came on, neither of us pretending our past had vanished.
May you like
Later I called Evelyn, who screamed so loudly I had to hold the phone away from my ear. Luca promised to give a short speech at the wedding. Adrian warned him that "short" meant under three minutes.
And for the first time in years, I fell asleep without checking whether my door was locked.
