It is Sunday morning, and my phone starts ringing, waking me up. “Hello?” I say groggily as I didn’t even bother to see who it is.

“Come fly with me?” Tom asks, more cheerful than a person has a right to be this early in the day.

“What time is it?” I look around my room; it’s still dark.

“Five o’clock.”

“Five o’clock? Are you crazy?”

“Only about you, sleepyhead. Come on, come with me today.”

“Where?”

“I know this great place, it’s perfect for a picnic.”

“At five in the morning?”

“No, it will be around brunch by the time we get ready and leave, if you hurry that is.”

“And we have to fly to get there? Can’t we drive?”

“Flying’s more fun, not to mention faster.”

“Wasn’t jumping out of a plane with you yesterday good enough?”

“Come on, where’s that girl who was all adventurous yesterday?”

“Still sleeping,” I mumble.

“Get up and make some coffee.”

“It’s Sunday, it’s sleeping in day,” I whine. “Besides, I have to go to church later.”

“We can go to services tonight.”

“What about Mason?”

“I already spoke to Holly. She has Mason handled, so it’s just me and you today.”

“Okay, do you want me to meet you somewhere?”

“Yeah, at the hangar as soon as possible and wear your Sunday dress.”

Shortly after, I meet Tom at the hangar. I am not sure why he wanted me to wear a dress, but I went ahead and obliged him. I find him standing near his plane, his back facing me, wearing a nice dress shirt and slacks.

“Looks like you are ready for church, too,” I say to him as I admire the view.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He smiles, turning to greet me.

I slowly walk toward him. As I get closer, I extend my hand to his and he takes it, tugging me in for a passionate kiss. Now that the family knows we are officially an item, it’s like we can’t get enough of each other. There is no audience today so we spend a little extra time enjoying each other before he finally releases me.

“I sure could get used to that, and damn, you look hot in that dress.”

“It’s my Sunday dress, it’s not supposed to look hot.”

“Well, I guess it’s you then, because you are smoking hot.”

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?”

“I told you it’s a surprise. Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll have you home by dark. Unless, of course, I decide to fly us to Vegas and make you my bride,” he teases me with marriage talk again, so I decide to turn the tables on him.

“It’s early; we could probably make Vegas by the afternoon. They are two hours behind us, anyway. Let’s do it.” I decide to play his game, and the look on his face is priceless.

“I …” He pauses, but I’m unable to keep a straight face and he starts to laugh. “Good one. You’re very funny.” He pulls me close again and gives me a quick peck on the lips. “You just wait, I’ll get you back,” he says as he smacks my butt and releases me.

Tom flies us over the beach and gulf, showing me it is indeed a beautiful day to fly. A couple of times he lets me take control of the plane and it is exciting. We fly over this beautiful wooded area that surrounds a gorgeous lake. Tom takes back the controls and radios in to land us back at the airport. When we land, I wonder what he has up his sleeve next. I pray he isn’t calling my bluff and taking me to Vegas.

“So now what?”

“Well, I thought we would go tell the families and head off to Vegas.”

“Seriously?” I look at him, watching for any indication he’s bluffing.

“Are you ready?” he asks, taking my hand and helping me out of the plane.

“We’re not seriously going to Vegas, are we?”

“Not today. But I told you, I’d get you back.”

“You think you’re pretty funny, huh?” I tell him as he brings me into his arms and gives me a quick kiss.

“What can I say? I’m a funny guy. Come on, the car is packed, we are going to drive out to that lake I just showed you.”

We have a beautiful drive in the country. I almost feel guilty that Mason isn’t with me to enjoy this, but I realize I need my time to be myself and not just Mason’s mom. I miss just being Olivia sometimes. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time. Every so often, Tom reaches for my hand, squeezing it and bringing it to his lips.

We finally arrive at the lake, which is covered with beautiful fall foliage. He pulls out a blanket from the trunk and hands it to me. He grabs the picnic basket before closing the trunk.

“This is very romantic,” I say as we walk hand in hand to the lakeshore.

He helps me spread out the blanket then opens the basket, pulling out a bottle of white wine. “This is one of the wines from that local winery I was telling you about,” he says, opening the bottle and pouring me a glass.

I take a sip and enjoy the crisp flavors of local white grapes with a hint of peach. “It’s very good.”

“I’ll take you one day. They usually have a wine tasting around the fall,” he says, pouring himself a glass and setting the bottle back. “I have crackers and cheese and some hummus that’s to die for.”

“I’m okay right now, thank you.” I take another sip as I enjoy the beautiful scenery before me. “It’s beautiful here. How did you find this place?”

“Just saw it one day on one of my trips home. From the air, you’d be amazed by what you see.”

“This is very special. Thank you for taking me.”

“A toast to us and to many more picnics in our future.”

“I’ll drink to that,” I say as we clink our glasses together. “Speaking of the future, Tom, won’t you be going back to the base soon?”

He sighs and becomes serious again. “Yes. That’s why I wanted to be alone with you today.”

“How many years do you have left?”

“Well, if I decide to continue until I can retire, I have seven, but my enlistment is up next year.”

“I thought you said you were a lifer?”

“Things change, Liv.”

“Like what?” My heart aches as I wonder when he will be leaving.

“Meeting you, meeting Mason—my priorities are changing now.”

“What are you trying to say, Tom?”

“I wasn’t totally kidding about the running off and getting married thing. I do plan on marrying you one day. When you’re ready, that is.”

“How will you know when that will be?”

“I’ll know. When I said I was married to the Air Force, that was no joke either. I joined because that is what I have always wanted to do. I know that comes with a price, a price I wasn’t willing to put on anyone’s shoulders but my own. I have felt that way for many years now, but then you came along and changed all the rules.

“I’m sorry, I’m rambling, I know. I have to go back, Olivia, as much as I hate to leave you guys, it’s my job. For now, I’m still at Eglin, but that may change. If it does, are you willing to take that next step with me? This is not my official proposal.” He laughs, taking my hand in his. “I just really need to know. Are you willing to marry me one day?”

“Yes, I’m willing to marry you one day.”

“That’s good to know. So, now that you are officially unofficially my fiancée, I can let you in on the little secret.”

“What secret?”

“You know how the town thinks I’m going around planning our wedding?”

“Yeah.”

“Come with me.”

He takes my hand and we walk a few yards, where through a clearing, I see a beautiful flower setup with chairs and an archway. It’s a wedding. People are already sitting down, and from this distance I can see Mason waving to us, as well as Mike, Holly, and even Red.

“Tom, seriously what’s going on?”

“Relax, it’s not our wedding. My dad asked me to set this up. It’s for Mom. She’s had a rough year. Around Christmas time last year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy and chemo. She’s doing much better now, and is thankfully cancer free. Today marks my parents’ thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. They eloped when they were kids, and Mom never got her wedding. Today, she gets her wedding.”

“Oh, my gosh! That is so beautiful. She’s okay now, though, right?”

“She’s doing awesome, and thanks to you, she is enjoying feeling needed again. She was pretty down in the dumps when she was too sick to help Aunt Sylvie anymore. That’s the reason I asked you to wear a dress, in case you are wondering. Come on, let’s find you a place to sit, they will be starting soon.”