EPILOGUE
February
Lucky tugged her coat closer as they walked out of Felony Franks and thanked the good Lord that none of the people Sam had put away over the years were employed at the restaurant. The food was yummy but going to a place where they employed ex-felons probably wasn’t a place a fed should frequent on a regular basis.
“What did you think?” Sam asked as they walked to the car.
“It was great, but I’m not sure why we're in Oak Park eating hot dogs when we could’ve stayed closer to home and eaten something similar.”
“I think it’s good to get out of Bucktown on the weekend and see what other neighborhoods have to offer.” He looked around and grinned. “This is a pretty hip place to live and I think we’d fit right in.”
Scoffing, Lucky pulled her scarf tighter and stepped over a patch of ice. “Sam, not to burst your bubble, but we’re not all that hip.”
He opened the car door and grinned as he helped her in. When she was settled, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I think we’re hip.”
Shaking her head, she watched him walk around and get in. Once the key was in the ignition, she turned the heater on full blast. “When you think you’re hip, you never really are.”
“Not really the point, but I’ll let it go.”
“Where to next?” she asked as Sam pulled away and drove down the street.
“I have something I want to show you.”
“In Oak Park?”
“Yes, Lucky. Your birthday is coming up and I think I’ve found the perfect present.”
Looking over, she studied him as they made their way through the neighborhood. “I told you that you don’t have to get me anything.”
Snorting, he glanced over briefly. “Yeah, right.”
Looking out the window, she looked at the people populating the street and knew that everything she heard about the village was probably true. It was considered a great place to live, close to the city with a suburban feel and good schools.
Sam hummed as he made his way through the streets with a familiarity that she didn’t expect him to have. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“Mysterious.”
“All will be revealed before you know it.”
Shrugging, she looked out the window and knew he wasn’t going to say anything until he was good and ready. She’d discovered that about him over the last several months and accepted it. They’d been together six months and she was no longer surprised by how easy it had been for them to become entwined.
“Almost there,” he commented as he turned down a quiet residential street. He parked in front of a brick-fronted house with mullioned windows across the front. “What do you think?”
Looking out the window, she was befuddled. “Of what?”
“The house,” he said as he leaned forward and draped his hands over the steering wheel. “It has a nice backyard.”
“It’s lovely.”
The satisfied smile he gave her told her he was up to something. “Do you know who lives here? Are we visiting someone?”
“Come on, let’s go look.” He got out and came around, opening her door and holding out his hand.
She took it and got out and noticed his cheeks were flushed and his green eyes were unusually bright. “Sammy…”
“Come on, Lucky.” He took her hand and tugged her up the sidewalk and produced a key and opened the door.
As they walked in, she noticed that it was warm, as though someone had left the heater on, even though the house was empty and clearly no one lived there. Looking at the beautiful wood floors and large windows, she let out a little laugh. “What’s going on?”
He took both her hands and smiled. “Welcome home, Lucky.”
Stepping back, she put her hand over her heart and looked around. “What?”
“Happy Birthday!”
“You bought me a house?”
“I put an offer in and, as long as you like it, it’s ours.”
“Sammy…”
“Let me show you around.” He took her hand and led her around the house. “It’s got three bedrooms and two baths, and I think this is a great starter house for us. I know you’ll want to change the paint colors in the some of the rooms, but I think it’s got good bones and would be a great place to start our lives together.”
“Together?”
Tugging her over to the kitchen window, he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Together, Lucky. You and me for the rest of our lives.”
Turning in his arms, she looked up. “What are you saying?”
He pulled a small black box out of his pocket and looked down, swallowing loudly. “Lucky, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and making you as happy as I can. Will you marry me?”
“Marry you?”
“Yes, honey.” He slipped the ring out and held it up. “What do you say?”
“Oh, Sammy…”
He lifted her hand and placed the ring next to her finger. “Say yes and make me the happiest man in the world, so I can spend the rest of my life loving you.”
Looking up into his beautiful face, she nodded. “I love you, Sam, and I would love to marry you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger and then kissed her like his life depended on it. Once he’d ravaged her sufficiently, he let her go. “I promise, you’ll never regret it.”
Holding him tightly, she wiped the tears that had slipped down her face. “I know nobody could love me the way you do and I can’t imagine why God has blessed me, but I promise to do my best and love you as hard as I can for as long as I’m alive.”
“Same,” he replied, as he kissed her again and again.
Feeling a tidal wave of love, she surrendered and knew there was no better man to trust her future to. Sam Barton, Special Agent was the one she’d been waiting for.