“I know,” said Gayle. “Just … maybe you could try being a little less quiet. In the future. So I know what’s goin’ on.”

“Maybe I could,” admitted Lendall. And then he hugged Gayle again. Maybe to complete his apology.

And Gayle looked at the ring on her finger. And then pulled away from Lendall and hung her head in shame and said, “You know, you didn’t have to get me a ring. That’s not what I was asking—”

“Yeah, I did.” Lendall got up on his feet again. “’Cause you wanna get married.” Lendall took Gayle around the waist and pulled her close. “And so do I. Always have.”

And they smiled into each other’s eyes and started swaying to some music that only they could hear.

And then Gayle collapsed a little into Lendall’s chest and said, “I’m so sorry. About tonight. It’s just that—Sandrine and Martin haven’t even been together for a year and they’re already gettin’ married.” Gayle scowled at herself, because she hated that she had let Sandrine make her doubt her relationship with Lendall. “And, you know,” she continued, “it’s our anniversary comin’ up…” Lendall was well aware of this and almost told Gayle that he was planning on proposing then—but then decided not to tell her that just then, because it didn’t seem like that would help anything. “And,” added Gayle, “I think all that stuff made me wonder what’s goin’ on with us. And—I don’t have to wonder what’s goin’ on with us. I know what’s goin’ on with us. And I like it, what’s goin’ on with us. Always have.”

“I’m glad. Me, too.” Lendall pulled Gayle close. And gave her a kiss.

And they both felt that strange lightness grow inside them.

And they looked into each other’s eyes and started swaying again because the music that only they could hear was playing again.

And all the love that Lendall had given Gayle was all around them—and taking up even more room than ever on the porch.

And all the love that Gayle had given Lendall was in the ring on her finger.

Gayle held up her hand so she could see the diamond sparkle in the porch light.

As she did so, she thought she might have caught a glimpse of the northern lights in the sky out over the Norsworthys’ potato fields across the Road to Somewhere/Nowhere.

And she had. Because they had started dancing around in the sky when she opened the small maroon velvet box and saw the ring.

Gayle was disappointed she had only caught a glimpse of the northern lights.

And was then disappointed in herself for doubting something as undoubtable as Lendall’s love.

And then she realized that she and Lendall had to go to Sandrine’s wedding tomorrow—and Clair Gudreau’s funeral.

And she wondered what she was going to say when everyone asked about her ring.

Because they’d see it.

And they’d ask Gayle to tell the story of how they got engaged.