“You were supposed to leave after I fell asleep. But . . . thank you. I didn’t want to face the apartment alone, especially after Tom and his girl showed up last night. Madison will be back tomorrow and things will go back to normal.”

“Are you inviting me for a third night?” Alex looked at her with mischief in his eyes.

“No!”

He reached for her. “What if these nights could go on and on?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What does it sound like?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“It’s simple. Will you marry me?”

The words startled Jorden. “Now I know you’re crazy.”

“No, I mean it. Will you marry me? Shall I get down on my hands and knees?”

Jorden looked at him like he lost his mind. “No.”

“You mean you won’t marry me?” Alex frowned.

“That’s not what I said.”

“Oh. You will marry me.”

“You’re the Devil!” Jorden lay there, speechless.

Alex slid off the bed. He got up on his knees and reached for her hand. “Well then—will you marry the Devil?”

Squeezing his hand, she startled herself with a slight rasp in her voice, before she answered. “No . . . Yes.”

“Which is it?”

“No. I won’t marry the Devil.”

“And?”

Jorden continued, “You really shouldn’t kid about marriage.”

“Can’t you hear me? I’m not kidding. I want you to be my wife.”

Alex pulled her close. Their lips met. “I promise to make you happy. Look at me—I’m waiting for your answer.”

Jorden looked one way then the other and, finally, directly at him. “Yes. . . I’ll . . . I’ll marry you.” She couldn’t believe her words.

It was happening so quickly! Was she being influenced by her friends’ marriages, even her sister’s recent engagement, or was Justin part of this? Right now, she had no answers. At the moment, she didn’t care—she felt happy.

Chapter 28: January 1970

Chapter 28

January 1970

Jorden knew she wasn’t far from Hawaii, maybe another hour. Closing her eyes, she drifted back to the weekend Alex proposed.

***

Previous Year – Saturday, January 4, 1969

A lot had happened since Jorden left her home in Trenton, New Jersey. The past few days had changed both Jorden’s and Alex’s lives. She couldn’t believe Alex had asked her to marry him. Even more unbelievable, she had accepted. Her spirits lifted even higher at the sight of him pulling into the spot next to her Volkswagen. She had the door open when he reached the top of the stairs.

“You’re on time.”

“At your service. I even brought Champagne to celebrate later.”

“Great. I’ll put it in the refrigerator.”

“Are you ready?”

“You bet!” Jorden waltzed towards him.

“You smell delicious.” Alex wrapped his arms around her. “Want to delay dinner?”

“No way! You do have your wallet—don’t you?”