Page 49 of Just One Spark

"I'm going to start the truck."Clara accepted the keys from Beck.

"I'll be out in a minute," Beck said to her.

I unlocked and opened the door for her.

When she was gone, I said, "Thanks for believing in the brewery.For believing in me."

"It was an easy project to get behind.I enjoyed being involved every step of the way."

We stepped outside."You think you'll do anything like this again?"

"I'm fairly committed to your family and staying here with Clara."

When the door was secure, I turned and caught the expression on Beck's face."You're going to propose, aren't you?"

"I've been planning it for a while.But after seeing how happy you and Hattie are, I don't want to wait any longer to make her mine."

"She's already yours," I said, knowing how my sister felt about him.

"Marriage is a big step," Beck said as we walked across the small lot to his truck.

I remembered that Beck had a hard time connecting with people.He had a habit of disappearing before he got too close to anyone.But meeting Clara changed everything for him."Or you can think of it as a declaration of how you feel about her."

He shoved his hands in his pockets."That certainly takes the pressure off."

"You can let it mean whatever you want it to."

"I just keep thinking about the look on Clara's face when I finally ask her.I don't think she's expecting me to propose.I think she assumes that I don't want to get engaged.And that's not true.Not since I've met her."Then he focused on me."Did you see Hattie's face when you proposed?"

I thought back to that moment on the roof, because that was our proposal.The way she looked at me with so much longing."It was everything."

He nodded, satisfied with my answer."I want that."

I was surprised I was able to provide any meaningful insight given that I was only pretending to be engaged.

"You want a ride home?"Beck asked before he opened his door.

"I'll walk.It's not far.

"Have a good night then," he said as he opened the driver's side door.

I stepped back and watched him drive slowly down the lane.I turned back to the brewery.It was everything I'd ever imagined.But a voice in my head wanted to know where Hattie fit into my life.

I didn't know what her presence in my life meant.Was it divine timing or something else?Was the universe telling me that there would never be a good time for us to be together?I wasn't sure what any of it meant.

I walked the path I'd worn down from the brewery to my cabin, hope spreading through my chest with every step.I knew how I felt about Hattie, and everything else would work out because it had to.

I wouldn't accept anything less.Not when I was getting everything I wanted.Why couldn't I have the brewery and Hattie?Why couldn't we be engaged for real?Anything was possible.

I was coming off the high of a successful night, even if it was only my family and friends.The people who supported me the most.But it was a sign that things were going in my direction.

I was used to coming home alone, so it was nice to know that Hattie was asleep in my bed.Or that she might be waiting up for me.Either way was better than coming home to an empty house.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open, eager to get to Hattie.I left the lights off, toeing off my boots and dropping my keys on the small table by the front door.Then I crossed the room and took the steps two at a time.

I was already unbuttoning my shirt as I hit the landing.There was a light coming from underneath my still-ajar door.She was awake.Hopefully.

I pushed open the door just as I got the last button and threw the shirt on a nearby chair.Hattie was propped on pillows reading a book.When she heard me, she frowned and lowered her book to the comforter.