“Why are you carrying an engagement ring with you?” she asked, kissing him again.

“In case I ran into you at a Christmas tree farm.”

“Aldo!” She laughed.

“I believe in us, Glo. I believe in you. I was sure. I just needed you to be sure.”

“I’m so sure! So sure. Let’s get married tomorrow!”

He shook his head. “Huh-uh. I’ve waited this long. We’re doing it right. White dress, big party, tux.”

“Mmm, I love you in a tux.”

She kissed him softly this time, not even minding that there were branches and sap and needles everywhere.

“Did you really buy Mrs. Diller’s house?”

“Technically, it’s in your name. We can fix it up, flip it. Or I thought maybe you’d want to rent it out. Maybe to women or families who are down on their luck? Need a fresh start?”

She pulled back to look at him. To drink him in. Her beautiful, perfect man that she’d almost thrown away. “Every time I think I can’t possibly love you any more, you go and do a thing like that. I don’t know if I deserve you, Aldo Moretta. But I don’t care. I’m going to spend my life loving you whether I’ve earned you or not.”

When his lips met hers, when she sighed her breath into his mouth, when their hearts beat together, Gloria knew she was absolutely ready for the rest of her life.

Epilogue

The knock at the door came ten minutes on the right side of orgasmic bliss. Gloria and Aldo had returned to her apartment to do a preliminary round of packing and gotten blissfully distracted in the bedroom...and the kitchen. And then again in the bedroom.

Gloria dragged on Aldo’s huge National Guard sweatshirt over the leggings that she’d found wrapped around her bedside lamp and padded to the door.

“Harper! What a nice surprise! Come on in.” Gloria made sure to pull the sleeve of the sweatshirt down over her beautiful new diamond. They had plans for the announcement.

Her mother knew already, of course. Nothing got by Sara Parker. Unlike Ina, Sara could keep her mouth shut for a day or two. But the rest of the world was going to have to wait just a little longer.

Harper looked tired and sad. Her MO since the breakup.

“Am I interrupting?” Harper asked wearily.

Gloria stepped aside, waving Harper in. “No. Aldo’s in the kitchen making grilled cheese sandwiches and trying not to burn the place down.”

“Are you sure I’m not interrupting?” Harper looked pointedly at Gloria’s sex smushed hair. Her unpainted lips curved just a little.

Gloria laughed. “Ten minutes earlier, and you would have been,” she winked.

Instead of laughing, Harper wrapped her friend in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you, Gloria. I really am.”