Chapter 14 - The Question Mara Made Him Ask Properly
Dominic bought a ring.
Then hid it for four months.
Mara knew within three days.
She said nothing.
Eventually she became irritated.
One Saturday morning, she found him making pancakes.
“Are you going to propose or keep that ring behind the winter socks until Elena graduates college?”
Dominic dropped the spatula.
“How do you know?”
“I do laundry.”
He stared.
“You weren't supposed to know.”
“You hid jewelry in a shared closet.”
“I'm losing my edge.”
“Thank God.”
Dominic retrieved the box.
Then stopped.
“No.”
Mara frowned.
“No?”
“This isn't how I'm doing it.”
She laughed.
“You're dramatic.”
“I learned from the ICU.”
That evening, he took her to St. Catherine.
Mara stared.
“You brought me to work?”
“Technically.”
They went to the cardiac ICU.
Room 812 was occupied, so they stood in the hallway.
The same hallway.
The place where Mara first told four feared men to leave.
Where Noah almost died.
Where Dominic learned someone could refuse to fear him.
“I hated you here,” Dominic said.
Mara laughed.
“No, you didn't.”
“I was deeply irritated.”
“That's closer.”
He took her hand.
“I spent most of my life thinking power meant nobody could tell me no.”
His voice softened.
“Then I met you.”
“Tragic.”
“You told me no approximately fourteen times in twelve hours.”
“Probably more.”
“And somehow you were the first person who made me feel safer by refusing to obey me.”
Mara's eyes filled.
Dominic removed the ring.
No knee yet.
He looked at her.
“I need to ask you something before the actual question.”
“What?”
“Do you want marriage?”
Mara blinked.
He continued.
“Not with me specifically. Marriage. Is it something you want?”
Her expression softened.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Then Dominic knelt.
Nurses at the station noticed.
Mara covered her face.
“Oh, God.”
Dominic smiled.
“Mara Bennett, you taught me that honesty is stronger than intimidation, that uncertainty cannot be controlled, and that love isn't something you secure by making people afraid to leave.”
Her tears fell.
“You gave me coffee I didn't ask for.”
She laughed.
“You saved Noah.”
“That was my job.”
“You saved me.”
Her expression changed.
“No.”
Dominic nodded.
“Right.”
He corrected himself.
“You made it possible for me to decide whether I wanted to save myself.”
Mara smiled through tears.
“Better.”
Dominic held up the ring.
“Will you marry me?”
Mara looked around.
Half the cardiac unit was pretending not to watch.
“Yes.”
Dominic stood.
She kissed him.
Applause erupted.
One nurse shouted:
“Finally!”
Dominic looked offended.
“How long has everyone known?”
Mara laughed.
“Months.”
They married six months later.
Small ceremony.
Elena beside Dominic.
Noah carrying the rings.
Gabriel invited.
Mara's parents crying.
Baby Elena attempting to eat flowers.
Dominic wore no expensive custom tuxedo.
Mara wore a simple ivory dress.
No reporters.
No politicians.
No businessmen trying to impress anyone.
During vows, Dominic said:
“I cannot promise I'll never be afraid.”
Mara smiled.
“I can't promise I'll never try to control things when I'm afraid.”
Laughter.
“But I promise you will never have to fear telling me the truth.”
Mara's eyes filled.
Her vow was shorter.
“I promise I'll tell you anyway.”
Everyone laughed.
Dominic kissed her.
That evening, Noah found him alone outside.
“Uncle Dom?”
“Yes?”
“Are you happy?”
Dominic looked through the windows.
Mara holding their daughter.
Elena laughing.
Gabriel talking to nurses.
Family.
Noise.
Ordinary chaos.
“Yes.”
Noah smiled.
“More than when you were rich?”
Dominic laughed.
“I'm still reasonably comfortable.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
Dominic looked at him.
“Much more.”
Noah nodded.
Then asked:
“Do you miss being scary?”
Dominic thought.
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because fear gets results quickly.”
“Then why not use it?”
Dominic smiled.
“Because the fastest way to get obedience is often the slowest way to learn the truth.”
Noah considered that.
Then ran inside.
Dominic remained outside for another minute.
Eight years earlier, grief created a man everyone feared.
May you like
One night nurse had forced him to discover that being feared and being strong were not remotely the same thing.
And tomorrow, Dominic intended to prove that lesson could outlive him.
