Sweet Bits (12 page)

“I’m off at 6:00,” said Ali.

“I’ll be over at 7:30. We’ll talk about it then, OK?”

Ali agreed. She hung up and floated back to her station in the pastry kitchen. She mostly floated everywhere these days with a permanent smile on her face.

“God, you are really shining your light on me lately,” said Ali quietly. “Thank you,” she said and looked up smiling, gratitude spilling from her heart.

***

After hearing Ali’s good news, Ben had made the requisite phone calls and secured his job offer at Jason’s organization. He would be flying out the next week for an interview, but Jason assured him it was just a formality. “We’ve been scouting an attorney with your skills for a year,” he had told Ben. “My boss is thrilled about your work there in Chicago and ready to let you write your own ticket.”

“And what’s better is that they have a program that works specifically with kids. It’s a youth advocacy program and he says I’d be perfect to apply to it once I’ve passed the bar there,” said Ben, filling her in on the events of his afternoon and call with Jason.

“Are you serious? That’s like…it’s your dream!” exclaimed Ali noticing the spark in Ben’s eye. It was a spark she hadn’t seen since he was working on the Bel Air Towers’ case.

“I know, said Ben grinning like a fool. It’s almost too much to think that after all this time I could really be doing something that I love…working with kids and helping them.”

Ali’s face beamed. Her dream of becoming a chef and working in San Francisco had almost died except for the gracious hand of fate and God’s favor. Now Ben was back in her life and they would be living their dreams together.

They embraced and kissed. Ali looked up at Ben and then up to sky. “Thank you,” was all she could mouth before Ben kissed her again.

“Ali?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said.

“If we go out to San Francisco,” he said, “I have only one request.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

He Bent down on his knee and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.

Ali’s heart lept. This was it. This was the moment.

Ben opened the box and there sat the most simply gorgeous two-carat diamond ring Ali had ever seen.

Tears flooded her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as the smiling Ben looked up at her through them.

“You’ve been in my heart since we met. I love you now and will forever and if you would be my wife, you will make me the happiest man in the world. I don’t want to wait another minute.” He paused. “Will you marry me?”

Ali pulled him up and kissed him long and hard before she yelled “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you, Ben Harper!” She threw her hands in the air and clapped them together and then embraced him again.

He laughed and tears welled in his eyes as he slid the cushion-cut diamond onto her finger. He kissed her softly. “You’ve made me the happiest guy ever,” he whispered into her ear.

They hugged and kissed for a long time each savoring the moment.

“What do you think? Should we tell our friends and family yet or just let them wait until they get our wedding invitation in the mail?”

Ali laughed. “Let them wait,” she said. She just loves a good surprise.