Toni stared at Gavin in shock and sputtered, “Move to Ireland? Get my degree there? I… I can’t…” “You can’t what?” “I can’t believe you’re suggesting this. I mean…” “I love you.” His hands covered hers. “Knowing I have to leave soon has been harder each day. Like some life clock is ticking the minutes away on my good times, until I have to leave you, and I don’t want to. So I thought about what ya said, what you’ve been sayin’. How ya hate your job, want to get an advanced degree, do something more…” He drew a deep breath, anxiety pricking him at the look on her face. “I figured, well, if you’re goin’ to do that eventually, why not now? Why not move to Ireland, give it a shot, try it for a year? The program is top notch, worthy of you. You could get your degree… be with me…” His eyes held hers as he felt her hands start to tremble in his. “And if it goes well, and we’re solid, maybe… well, who knows?” He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed all her knuckles one by one.
