Three days later, Sonia got the call from the hiring manager at Concord Greenhouse and Nursery. She was on the couch flipping through some old magazines and Andre was watching some sports headlines on television. Her legs were propped up on his lap and his big hands worked magic on the soles of her feet and her toes. They had trekked through the snow yet again to get to the market for essentials. Evidently, Mother Nature wasn't finished just yet and snow continued to accumulate on the ground. Off and on. There would be days when there was no snow at all and then it'd just start right back up again.

She dropped the magazine on the coffee table, picked up her ringing cell phone, and recognized the number immediately.

"Hello?"

"Can I speak to Sonia Bentley please?" the woman on the other end asked.

"This is her."

"Hi Sonia. Remember me? Rachel Collins at CGN."

"Yes." Sonia put both her feet on the floor and slid to the edge of the sofa.

"I've got good news for you…"

Needless to say, the call made her day. She was over the moon with excitement to have secured the internship she wanted.

Andre had picked her up by the waist and swung them around to share in her joy. Her legs were wrapped around him as she gave him a kiss.

"I'm so proud of you, Sonia," he exclaimed.

"Do you know what this means?" she asked, and then answered without waiting for a reply, "I have to start my move like yesterday. I knew I was going to stay, but I'm just so damn excited that I can actually afford to stay."

"You didn't have to worry about all that," he said, as she slid down his body until her feet were touching the floor. Her arms were still wrapped around his neck. "I've got you. We're in this together," he added.

"Yes, everything has fallen into place. We can start planning. Finally."

Sonia's phone rang again and this time, she snatched it up without viewing the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetie!" Her dad sounded chipper than normal on the other end.

"Dad! Guess what?"

"Hmmm…I have a hunch," he exclaimed.

"I got the internship!" she blurted.

"Way to go. I never doubted for a minute they wouldn't like you. You know your stuff and you have a great personality."

"The pay is great too," she said. "I'll be able to afford a rental and have some left over at the end of the month."

"That's good. Very good. Is Andre still there?"

At the mention of Andre, he turned around, ears perked up like he'd heard his name.

"Yes, he is," Sonia replied.

"He must still be contracted to work at that dam in the mountains then, huh?" her dad concluded.

"Dad, don't ruin this day for me," she said. "We're both doing so well. Aren't you proud of us at all?"

"Yes, I'm very proud…of the both of you. You don't fuss and fight and you seem to be getting along alright. Me and my brothers and sisters used to fight like dogs and we were all about four years apart just like you and Andre."

As Sonia's dad spoke of brothers and sisters, Andre's gaze instantly rose to meet hers.

"Yeah, Dad. It's different with Andre and me. We have a great relationship."

"Well, that's good. Listen, I have a good idea. How about I get all your stuff packed and drive it down to Virginia for you?"

"That would be awesome," she said. "I was saving up just in case I needed to move for an internship."

"No need to worry about dipping into your savings. I'll rent one of those trailers, hook it up to the truck, and get some of the guys to help me pile all your boxes in."

"Thanks Daddy."

"Don't even mention it. It should only take a day or so. And then we'll jump in the truck together and come on down."

Sonia cleared her throat. "We?"

"Wanda and me. We'll drive down together. She wanted to visit her sons in Aspen Valley anyway, so this is great timing."

Sonia swallowed. "Um, wasn't there a hearing scheduled for your divorce proceedings?"

"Yeah, there was. We canceled it. That's actually what I called to tell you about. Good news all around, huh? Wanda and I aren't going through with the divorce. We're back together and we're willing to work things out. Isn't that great?"

Sonia covered her open mouth with the palm of her hand, concealing an audible squawk. Disappointment and something akin to an upset stomach rolled through her.

"No…" she whispered.

"No?" Her dad's displeasure with her reply came loud and clear through the phone.

Andre sensed her distress, came up behind her, and put his hand on her shoulder. At this point, his touch was the only thing serving to keep her from popping a blood vessel.

"Sonia, is something wrong?"

"No Dad…I'm going to call you back."

Before he could protest, she disconnected the call.

Sonia turned around and buried her face against Andre's chest. "What have we done?"

"We've done nothing wrong, Sonia?"

She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Did you hear what he said?"

"Yes. And it doesn't change a thing…unless you want it to."

"No," she said firmly. "I'm not sacrificing my happiness anymore."

Andre smiled and said, "The feeling's mutual. Just remember one thing, Sonia. I saw you first. You're mine. Nothing will change that. Not a piece of paper. Not the rumors. Not the naysayers. Not our parents. Not a marriage certificate. Those things don't matter when the truth rests right before our very eyes." He stroked the mate mark on her chest, reminding her they were now bonded. "Some people go back and forth about who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. Some people just don't know what they want. It's not their faults. But what we have is pure—a love that will never fade. At the end of the day, when everything is said and done, I'll always be yours."