For the first time tonight, he didn’t look apologetic. “We both know she asked you where you went to college to humiliate you, but asking someone about another person’s education isn’t usually considered a rude question. I was worried if I said something it would only make it worse.”

His answer infuriated me more than her behavior. “Why are you standing up for her?”

He looked defensive. “I’m not.”

“Why was she here?”

“I told you. Her family and mine have been lifelong friends.”

I walked toward the front of the truck, looking at the massive house in front of me. The truth sinking in. “She’s always going to be here, isn’t she?”

“Well…I…”

“She is, isn’t she?” I glared up at him. “You can’t let her go, can you?”

“No. That’s not true. I want you.” He pulled me to his chest, his mouth crushing mine.

Despite whatever had transpired over the last two days, I loved this man. My anger faded as I sank against him, grabbing his suit and pulling him closer. I wanted desperately to make this work.

Joe’s head lifted. “I love you, Rose. I want to marry you.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

He dug into his coat pocket and took out a ring box. “I planned to do this tomorrow. I planned to come home to you and tell you about the sheriff’s deputy job and propose then. Dinner and flowers and the whole works so I could make it romantic for you, but I don’t want to wait.” He pried the lid open, grabbing my left hand. “Rose Anne Gardner, I love you more than anything in this world, and I can’t imagine a life without you. I want to wake up with you every day, and I want to go to bed with you in my arms every night. I want to fill our house with children, and our lives with love and laugher.” He slid the ring onto my finger. “Rose, I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m with you. I feel like I have everything I could ever want when we’re together. Please say you’ll marry me.”

I stared down at the ring, a large square diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller ones. “What about the senate race?”

He didn’t answer.

My heart sunk. “Joe, what do you want to do.”

“I want to marry you.”

I looked back at the house, but he tilted my chin to look up at him. “There’s only you and me. To hell with my parents. I’ve let them rule my life for too long. I’m going to go inside and tell them I’m done.”

“What did your father say to you when he dragged you from the room?”

Some of Joe’s excitement faded. “He told me this was the payment for the scrapes he’s gotten me out of. That I owed him.” His breath came in short bursts.

Did he want to do this? “Joe…I’m not asking you to choose.”

“I know. That’s what makes you even more amazing. You’re not the one who’s insisting I choose. They are. And this time they’ve gone too far.”

“Can you really tell him no?”

His body tensed. “He can’t force me to run for the senate.”

From what I’d seen of Joe’s family, I wasn’t so sure about that.

He caressed my face. “Why don’t you go home, and I’ll tell my parents off once and for all. I’ll come home, and then tomorrow we’ll start our life together.”

It sounded so perfect, almost too perfect. But what he was offering was what I’d wanted my whole life. Was I really going to give it up without a fight? “Okay.”

He kissed me again, pulling back reluctantly. “I love you, Rose. Go home, and I’ll be there soon.”

As I drove away, I looked back and saw him go through the front door, his hands clenched by his sides. Somehow, I knew that things would never be the same again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was close to nine-thirty by the time I got home. Muffy was overjoyed to see me, and once again, I was wracked with guilt for not spending enough time with her. But that would all change when Joe returned.

I wandered through the house, imagining what it would be like when he was here all the time, and my heart burst with a cloudy happiness. Now I wouldn’t be lonely.

My home phone rang—a rarity these days—and I wasn’t surprised that it was Violet. She was practically the only one who called me on it other than telemarketers.

“Rose, where have you been all evening?”

I sank into my sofa. “I went to meet Joe’s parents.”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going?” She sounded wronged.

I sighed. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Violet.”

She paused. “I know. You would never intentionally hurt me. Unlike me lately. I haven’t been a very good sister these past few months, and I know it.”

I really wasn’t in the mood for a heart-to-heart right now. “Look, Vi. Joe told me this weekend that his mother was getting more insistent about meeting me, but then he called after five today and told me they wanted it to be tonight.”

“You’re kidding.” Her voice was flat.

“No. And here’s your chance to say I told you so, because it was beyond awful.” My voice cracked, but I refused to shed any more tears over those horrid people.

“I don’t want to say I told you so. I want you to be happy.”