Dandelion Wishes (22 page)
“Me. Too.” Tracy made it a group hug.
Will thought he might collapse from sheer happiness.
Mayor Larry was waving at him. “Will, come on up here. And bring Emma with you.”
He looked around, but Will didn’t see Emma. He climbed onto the podium solo with a grin that he felt down to his very toes. “I need to say that this town has taught me a lot. Building a winery here means so much to me, more now than when my partners and I started talking about it. It means so much to me that I’ve decided to make my home here.”
On the grass below him, Flynn and Slade exchanged surprised looks.
“It means that fire and medical services will return to town. Where’s Rose?” He found her sitting behind him on stage. “No one should have to wait thirty minutes for emergency services, right?”
“Right-o!” Rose wore a pink hat worthy of the Kentucky Derby, but it still failed to cover the big white bandage at the back of her head.
“And I promise, if we can’t save the old oak tree, we’ll plant a new one.”
Rose grinned. “The winery’s got my vote, once they let me vote again.”
“You don’t know how much your support means to me. You were a strong advocate for what was right in this town.” Will scanned the crowd, but still didn’t see Emma. He experienced a moment of panic. Maybe she’d left already, taking Ping with her. “This winery means that my sister or your niece or your granddaughter can find a job in town if she wants it. Or go searching for her place in the world if she doesn’t.”
“That’s me!” Tracy waved at him and then pointed to the oak tree, where he finally found Emma, leaning against the trunk. Her hair was in a messy ponytail, her jeans were paint stained and her pink T-shirt looked slept in, and yet she couldn’t be more beautiful to him.
But he had the podium and he was going to use his few minutes to make a difference. “A winery here means that our traditions, crazy as some of them are, will be passed on to our children and grandchildren. But only if we embrace change, not only in town, but here, in our hearts.” Will tapped his chest lightly, sparing a glance toward the grain silo, knowing his mother would approve.
The crowd applauded with more enthusiasm.
“It looks as if you boys are going to get your rezoning permit.” Mayor Larry gave him a thumbs-up.
“But none of this would have been possible without my great business partners, my wonderful sister and one very special woman.” Will’s eyes locked on to Emma’s. “She’s an amazing, talented person. A woman who reminded me that you have to let people choose what’s best for them, and that you have to keep reaching deep until you find forgiveness.”
“Who is he talking about?” Rose asked.
Will turned, but kept the microphone close so that everyone could hear. “I’m talking about Emma. She makes me a better man.”
“Oh.” Rose fluttered her hands. “Proceed.”
Will turned around. Emma had her hand over her mouth. But she wasn’t running and she wasn’t frowning. It was hard to tell from this distance, but the look in her eyes seemed almost...hopeful.
“I forgive you, Emma,” Will said. “In my heart I forgave you long before I realized it in my head. But more important, I’m asking you to forgive me. I wasn’t ready for you. Not the way you make me look at life or the way you make me feel. I may look rich on paper, but I’m poor without you.” And he’d be destitute if she never forgave him. “Over the years, I’ve tried to keep every promise I’ve made, at least, the ones that counted. But I’ve made you a promise I don’t think I can keep—the one about never kissing you again.”
“You do realize you’re saying all that into the microphone?” Rose asked.
“Yes, Rose, I want everyone to hear, because in keeping with Harmony Valley tradition, I have something to say to Emma underneath the oak tree.” He abandoned the podium and walked down the steps, never taking his eyes off Emma.
The crowd began to murmur, and those who were standing parted to let him pass. In his wake, Flynn, Slade, Tracy, Rose and Ben followed.
“When did they fall in love?” Rose asked behind him. “If she says yes, I’m going to have to get her a pair of handcuffs sooner than I expected.”
Will chuckled. Something in the grass caught his eye and he knelt to pick it up. When he reached Emma, he took one of her hands in his. “Life put you in my path again for a reason. And now I find it difficult to contemplate going through life without you.”
Will dropped to one knee. In his free hand was a dandelion. He twirled it, made a wish and blew.
He ignored his father’s mutter about weeds.
He did not ignore Emma’s intake of breath or the sparkle in her dark chocolate eyes.
“I won’t tell you what I wished for. I think you know.” He’d wished for forgiveness and everything that went along with it. Patience and kindness. Love that was everlasting. “I love you, Emma. I think I’ve loved you for years without ever knowing it.”
“You’ll recognize it now,” Mr. Mionetti said. “She’ll never let you forget it.”
The trouble with public proposals, Will realized belatedly as the crowd laughed, was that your audience considered the experience interactive. The object of Will’s affection had yet to speak.
Tracy exchanged a soft smile with Emma. It was approving, not that they needed it.
“Emma Willoughby, I love you. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
And then Emma was in his arms, tumbling them to the grass with a kiss that said
yes,
and one that said
I love you,
and another that said
forever.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460320648
DANDELION WISHES
Copyright © 2013 by Melinda Wooten
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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