car pulling up beside us. A pretty, dark-haired woman jumps out of a silver Lexus, smiling apologetically.
Glenn and I get out of my BMW.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she says. “Got stuck in a bit of traffic.”
“It’s fine,” Glenn assures her.
“Lishelle Jennings.” Sandra offers me her hand, and I shake it. “I’d know you anywhere. I love you on Channel Four News.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“I’m Sandra Holloway.”
“So nice to meet you.”
Sandra turns and starts for the house. Glenn and I fall into step beside her. “I hope you like it as much as Glenn does,” Sandra says to me.
“I’m sure I will,” I reply. But I’m shocked to hear Glenn has already seen it. When? He just got back to the city last night.
I gasp my delight the moment Sandra opens the door. The massive foyer boasts cathedral ceilings and a double staircase heading upstairs. The entire area is covered in hardwood floors.
“There are six bedrooms, five bathrooms.”
“Oh. My. God.” I step into the house.
“Cherrywood floors,” Sandra continues. “There’s also a staircase at the back of the house that leads upstairs. Ten-foot ceilings throughout, except the foyer and family room, where there’re cathedral ceilings.”
“I love this place.”
“I figured you’d like modern,” Glenn tells me.
“I love the modern look. It’s also got some classical touches,” I comment as I look at the moldings in the nearby living room.
“It’s a mix of styles,” Sandra informs me. “European, traditional, colonial.”
“Whatever it is, it’s stunning.”
“Do you like to cook?” Sandra asks.
“I love to cook. When I’ve got the time.”
“You should see the kitchen.”
Sandra leads us to the back of the house. I actually start to giggle, that’s how giddy with excitement I am.
“All maple cabinets,” Sandra says proudly. “And this breakfast bar could seat twenty.”
I tune Sandra out as I make my way to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the back of the house. “Look at that pool!”
“It’s an Olympic-size lap pool,” she comments. “Heated. With a Jacuzzi.”
“And that’s the lake,” Glenn tells me, pointing through the thicket of trees.
A house on the water. I could die.
The rest of the house only gets better. There are two master-bedroom suites, both with excessive closet space. There’s a den, an office. Hardwood floors throughout.
Sandra’s grinning as she faces me. “So, you like?”
“I love it. What’s it selling for?”
“It’s listed for eight ninety-nine, but I’m sure you can get it for eight twenty-five. It’s vacant right now. You could move in anytime.”
“It’s a little pricey,” Glenn comments.
“But such an incredible home,” Sandra interjects. “An investment, really.”
“The best kind of investment,” I say. I don’t just mean for real estate property. I’m thinking family here, and marriage.
Glenn must be thinking this, too.
When we arrive back in the foyer, Sandra says, “I’ll let you two roam around without me as a third wheel.”
I take Glenn’s hand and head back up the stairs to the master bedroom that has a stunning view of the lake. I look out at it, shaking my head in disbelief.
“What?” Glenn asks.
“It’s just…this has always been my dream. To have a place like this on the water…”
“Why do you think we’re here?”
My heart stops beating as I face him.
“Don’t you think I remember what you always used to say—that you wanted a place on the water one day? A great place to raise a family?”
For a moment, I can’t speak. “You remember that?”
“When it comes to you, there’s not much I forget.”
I clearly have forgotten some things. I forgot how romantic Glenn can be, how he would surprise me on occasion.
“What about that view from the kitchen?” he asks. “And we haven’t even been outside yet. There’s a tennis court.”
“Why am I not surprised? I love it. The entire place is amazing.” I glance around the master bedroom. Not only does it have a living-room area to the left offset by columns, it has a fireplace.
“Look.” Glenn points out the window.
“What?” I ask.
“On the lake. Don’t you see it?”
“See what?” My eyes search, but I see nothing out of the ordinary. And when Glenn doesn’t respond, I turn around to face him.
He’s on one knee, holding a ring box in his hand.
A tingling sensation runs along every inch of my skin. My hands begin to shake.
Glenn opens the burgundy-colored box, and I gasp. There’s a three-diamond ring in there—a round diamond in the center, and two triangular-shaped diamonds at each side.
“That’s got to be—”
“Two point two carats.” Glenn beams. “I wanted to get something bigger, but—”
“Bigger? Don’t be crazy. I love it.” I start to reach for it, but pull my hand back. He hasn’t offered it to me yet.
“I know this place is pricey, and maybe we won’t be able to get it,” Glenn begins. “Yet. But it’s something to aspire to. Our dream, sweetheart. Yours and mine.”
He takes the ring out of the box and then takes my hand. I realize I’m crying when a tear touches my lips.
Glenn slips the ring on my left hand. “Lishelle Amanda Jennings—will you marry me?”
I scream. Scream and throw myself onto him with so much excitement that I knock him off
