#cordri

Cordell matched her smile and drew her into a hug, resting his chin on her head. “I can. You’ve worked so hard on this and you made it happen. I’m so proud of you.”

She closed her eyes and leaned on him. She was so glad to have him here. The Jackal case last year had set their relationship on the rocks for a while, but he’d really turned it around. He’d made good on his promises to be more present for her, for their family, and she couldn’t be happier.

“Thank you,” she murmured, tilting her head up to kiss his jaw. “I wouldn’t be here without you.”

“I’m sure you would’ve found a way, but I appreciate the compliment.” He smirked and kissed her forehead.

There was a knock on their hotel room door. “Ah, speaking of being here….” He let her go and walked toward it. “I ordered dinner in; figured we could use a night of quiet before everything tomorrow. Go ahead and get cleaned up and I’ll set the table.”

She smiled and kissed him again before going to the bathroom. He was such a romantic; she was lucky to have him.

When she came out, the hotel room had been transformed. Battery-powered candles were lit on the table next to a large bouquet of roses. Geri’s favorite pasta dish was set out on nice plates and soft music floated through the room. Cordell stood in the corner, fighting to open a wine bottle. “Oh, hey- I was just-”

She smiled and gently took the bottle and corkscrew from him. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

He smiled and bent down to give her a kiss. “Just trying to help. Come on, let’s eat.”

Dinner was perfect. It felt like any other date night, like the world was condensed to just the two of them and nothing else mattered. Not the insanity of tomorrow, not the trauma of the past, just the two of them.

“Thank you for this,” she said as she finished cleaning her plate. “This was just what I needed.”

“Hey, that’s what I’m here for.” Cordell smiled and reached across the table to hold her hand. “...I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about. I was gonna save it for tomorrow but… I think it’s better to do it now.”

Geri watched him curiously as he got up and went over to their suitcases. He opened a pocket she’d never seen before and pulled out a small, black box. Like a ring box.

Oh.

“Geraldine Broussard.” Cordell stopped right in front of her seat and got down on one knee. “I love you. I know I haven’t always been good to you, and I’m truly sorry for that. You’ve done so much for me, as a friend and as a partner. I want to spend the rest of my life returning that favor. I want to wake up next to you, every morning, and face the world with you. Because I know whatever insanity waits for us tomorrow or the next day or in the next year, we can do it together. I want that more than anything. So… Will you marry me?”

“Oh Cordi…. Yes. I’d love to marry you.” She smiled and captured his lips in a passionate kiss.