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“Yes, yes Okay Yes, let’s do this… I can take the dogs and cats right?”

“There will be rooh for your entire crew at the new place My house has been quiet for far too long And I’ll be daot plenty of space for theet that ranch tidied up and paid for” Billy Joe took the ring froer It slid right on, fitting like it had always been there I drew my breath in sharply

“It’s too beautiful I can’t… I don’t even knohat to say”

“Just say you’ll stay with me for all the days of my life…”

“And you’ll fly ?” I threw hed

“Well, little et a little bit better And I think I’ood lying back in that bed I think I could get used to looking at the ring on your finger… and nothing else, well, I guess except for that silly ankle boot” He drewI’d beenfor so ain…

EPILOGUE

“Anita Lee, get your fine ass out here and look at e got going” Billy Joe’s voice rang through the house I stepped out of the kitchen and around the corner, spying hi thenot to sht face for once… It looked like itday all around

“Well, I’ll be damned They came early,” I said The architect and his construction creere out at the front of the property, h etting to the point where I’d be able to teach dance… well, in a little while, anyway

“Good news, ain’t it? They’re going to break ground right before the fall… before it gets cold and rainy”

“Cold? It doesn’t get cold in Austin Not really”

“Not enough that it’ll stop construction You’ll be out there dancing in the spring”

“Well…” I said, grabbing his arht have to wait a little while longer”

“Foot bothering you again?” He looked at me with concern in his eyes and put his arm around my waist

“I’m happy to say it’s not…”

“Anita… then… what’s happening here? Are you?” I nodded, staring deep into Billy Joe’s cornflower blue eyes Even though he generally went by “Joe” these days, I hadn’t been able to drop the Billy froh it reminded him a little too much of his family He wasn’t any part of that old fa a new one

“Pregnant Due in April I h At least I hope” Billy Joe swept ently He was always careful of my foot — maybe a little too careful