“I’ll be Nell Todd. I’ll have a name I want.”

She saw his expression alter, the deepening of emotion in his gaze, and knew she had never been more sure of anything. “I’m afraid of him, and I can’t help that either. But I think I realize I’ll never stop until this is done. I want to live with you. I want to sit out on the porch at night and look at the stars. I want that beautiful ring you bought me on my finger. I want so many things with you I thought I’d never have. I’m scared, and I want to stop being scared.”

“I know a lawyer in Boston. We’ll call him, and we’ll start.”

“Okay.” She let out a breath. “Okay.”

“There’s one thing I can take care of right now.” He straightened, walked over and opened a drawer in his desk. Her heart gave a lovely little flutter when she saw the box in his hand. “I’ve been carting this around with me, putting it in here, or in my dresser at home. Let’s put it where it belongs.”

She got to her feet, held out her hand. “Yes, let’s.”

Her stomach was jumping when she left to walk back to the bookstore. But there was anticipation tangled with the nerves. And every time she looked down at the deep blue stone on her finger, anticipation won.

She walked in, sent a wave to Lulu, and practically floated upstairs to Mia’s office.

“I need to tell you.”

Mia turned from her keyboard. “All right. I could spoil your moment by saying congratulations and I know you’ll be very happy together, but I won’t.”

“You saw my ring.”

“Little sister, I saw your face.” However jaded she considered herself about love, the sight of it warmed her heart. “But I want to see the ring.” She leaped up, snatched Nell’s left hand. “A sapphire.” She couldn’t stop the sigh. “It’s a love gift. As a ring it sends out healing, and can also be used as protection against evil. Beyond all that, it’s a doozy.” She kissed Nell on either cheek. “I’m happy for you.”

“We talked to a lawyer, someone Zack knows in Boston. My lawyer now. He’s going to help me with the complications, and with the divorce. He’s going to file a restraining order against Evan. I know it’s only a piece of paper.”

“It’s a symbol. There’s power in that.”

“Yeah. In a day or two, once he’s got everything in place, he’ll contact Evan. So he’ll know. With or without a restraining order, he’ll come, Mia. I know he will.”

“You may be right.” Was this what she’d been feeling, the dread, the building of pressure?

The last leaves had died, and the first snow had yet to fall.