“What?”
He took a breath.
“I know there are many reasons you might say no.”
“Richard…”
“Please let me finish.”
He walked toward me.
“I know I’m older than you.”
“Yes.”
“Much older.”
“Yes.”
“And I know people will have opinions.”
I didn’t know what to say.
Then Richard lowered himself slowly onto one knee.
I froze.
“Nora, I don’t want you to marry me because you need a house.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t want you to marry me because I’m wealthy.”
He reached into his pocket.
“I want you to marry me because somewhere along the way, you became the person I look forward to seeing every morning.”
I stared at him.
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
My first instinct was to say no.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid of what people would say.
Afraid of what Emily would think.
