by JoAnn Ross
“It’s a new world. We can put some selected singles on a website. I already have live performances on YouTube.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I’ve watched. Along with thousands of other people.”
“Who bought the album while I was in New Orleans working in grand-mère’s café. The only singing I’ve done in public over the past two years has been in a few local clubs. That performance on YouTube was at the House of Blues. We could make some extra bucks doing what we’d enjoy anyway. Pay for some trips, put some away for our kids’ college—”
“Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself, Bastien Broussard?”
“You talked about wanting children. Did you change your mind? Because it’s okay if you have.”
“No. I just believe we should wait until the restaurant is up and running and we’ve adjusted to living a normal life together.”
“We’ve plenty of time,” he agreed. “That’s totally your call. I was at the airport, waiting for my flight, when CNN ran an article about women in their fifties having children.”
She slapped his arm. “I don’t want to wait that long. I’ve watched Kylee and Mai with Clara and as darling as that baby is, she defines high-maintenance. Also, while I realize there’s nothing wrong with having a baby without a formal marriage, Papa’s a little old-fashioned.”
“That’s like saying the Pope is Catholic,” Bastien said with a touch of laughter in his eyes. “I was getting to that. I should have waited to mention the college part. The reason I came here was to propose. I had it all planned out. But then I found you bustling around with cake for the wedding, and the next thing I knew I was off looking for a uke. Then we were singing, and the reception didn’t seem the right place.”
“It would have taken away from the brides’ day,” she agreed.
“Then I wanted to show you my restaurant first, so you’d know what you were getting into, and then there was the sex—which was mind-blowing, don’t get me wrong. But that got me sidetracked again with the conversation about maybe singing together again, and kids, and the plan fell apart. But the most important thing of all is that I wanted to propose, Desiree Marchand, heart of my heart.”
“That was on your latest album.” He’d sung it in both English and French, “couer de mon couer.”
“So what do you say?”
“How about just asking me straight-out?” she suggested.
He dropped to one knee, took her hand in his and placed it over his beating heart. “Desiree Marchand, will you be my wife and let me love and cherish you all the days of my life?”
“Yes,” she said. “I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than becoming your wife and loving and cherishing you all the days of my life.”
“Thank God.” He blew out a breath.
Bastien stood up, drawing her into his arms as they sealed their pledge with a kiss.
Then, as Desiree laughed, her now-freed heart felt so light that she could feel it floating up and out the French doors, over the moonlit harbor.
* * *
ISBN-13: 9781488096532
Summer on Mirror Lake
Copyright © 2019 by JoAnn Ross
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Once Upon a Wedding
Copyright © 2019 by JoAnn Ross
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