Chapter 14 – THE PROPOSAL IN THE SNOW

One year after Delaney found Isabella behind the restaurant, Damon took her back to River North.

Snow was falling.

The streets glittered beneath holiday lights.

They stopped outside the restaurant.

Delaney stared.

“Why are we here?”

Damon smiled.

“Because this is where everything changed.”

She looked toward the alley.

Memories returned.

The cold.

The garbage bags.

The trembling hands.

The bowl of soup.

Damon took her hand.

“My mother was lost that night.”

Delaney nodded.

“I know.”

He continued.

“But I think I was lost too.”

Her eyes filled.

He knelt.

Delaney covered her mouth.

Damon opened a small velvet box.

Inside was a diamond ring.

Not enormous.

Not ostentatious.

Beautiful.

“Delaney Whitfield,” he said, “you taught me that kindness is stronger than fear.”

His voice trembled.

“You showed my mother compassion when you had almost nothing.”

Tears slid down her cheeks.

He continued.

“And you showed me that love isn’t about power.”

He smiled.

“Will you marry me?”

Delaney nodded.

“Yes.”

He laughed.

“Really?”

She nodded again.

“Yes, Damon.”

He slipped the ring onto her finger.

Then stood and kissed her.

Snow fell around them.

And the alley that had once held fear became the place where their future began.

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