Inside the box, sitting on a layer of plush, folded velvet, was a pocket watch. The newly-polished gold gleamed in the soft lantern light. With shaking hands, Jacqui slowly removed the watch from the box, holding the round object like a treasure, letting the chain drape over her fingers.
She turned the watch over and found the word “Always” engraved on the back, right above her parents’ names and the date of their wedding.
Jacqui gasped through tears, one hand held to her mouth and one holding on to her father’s pocket watch for dear life.
“Where did you…Khizar, how did find you find my father’s watch?”
He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.
“The investigator I have on staff is very good. Plus, this watch is a piece of true craftsmanship. This is my world. It took some digging, but he and I were able to track it down.”
“You found it before you proposed?”
“I found out where it was, but it required a trip out of Milwaukee to get it. I retrieved it right before I flew back to the city. I wanted to polish it and make sure it was in working condition before I gave it to you, and I didn’t have time to do that before our dinner that night. When you were napping today, I took it to my best jeweler, who is an expert at cleaning and repairing watches, and it didn’t take him long to make the watch perfect for you.”
Jacqui clutched the watch in both hands, holding them to her face as she cried. She’d lost so much of her parents, and Khizar had tracked down this precious object that was dearer to her than anything else. He hadn’t needed to do that. She’d said yes to his proposal without it, with no expectation of even asking him to find it.
But he’d listened when she’d said it was important to her. And he’d taken the time and effort to track it down. That meant something.
It was an act of love.
Jacqui brushed her tears away and studied him. He had been more open since their trip to Alabama. He’d introduced her to his parents, and shown her his city and his home. He’d apologized, sincerely.
They still needed to talk about things, but Jacqui no longer felt any of the uncertainty she’d felt before.
“Thank you, Khizar.”
She moved before he expected it, throwing her arms tightly around his neck.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her. “I love you, Jacqui.”
She pulled back just a little and smiled at him. “I love you, too, Khizar.”
Khizar narrowed his eyes. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
Jacqui laughed, and ran one hand across her eyes again.
“It means I forgive you.”
Khizar lifted his hand to her face and wiped away a tear that she’d missed. He left his hand on her cheek, and she leaned into his warmth. He shook his head once, like he couldn’t believe that she was there, and leaned his head down to kiss her.
Their lips touched and Jacqui thought it was the sweetest kiss she’d ever experienced. They knew each other now, and with no barriers between them.
And she knew they would be happy together.
Chapter 20
Khizar
Jacqui slept in the next morning, and when Khizar woke up, he laid there and watched her.
She looked peaceful again. He’d messed up so badly that the fact she was still there felt like a miracle. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, and so whatever they found today, he was committed to making sure that Jacqui was happy.
This kind of quiet moment was new to Khizar; he found that he liked it. Jacqui stirred and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Khizar watching her, her lips curled up into a smile.
“Good morning,” he said and reached out to smooth her hair with his fingers.
He did it again because he liked touching her hair, and she smiled again.
“Good morning,” she replied.
“Do you still want to see Bill’s mine today?”
Jacqui pushed herself up so that she could sit cross-legged under the covers.
“Yes. I think we should go this morning, if we can.”
Khizar nodded. “Then we shall. I’ve arranged for a car and driver. We can leave whenever we’re ready.”
“How about breakfast first?”
“And hot chocolate?”
Khizar grinned at her, having learned of her preferences for the drink instead of coffee.