Though Greg wasn't looking for another job, he had to listen to an offer from a restaurant equipment manufacturer in the Midwest, just to satisfy his curiosity. They wanted him to come and work at their plant, in the distribution end. He was astounded at their offer, and asked for a couple of days to think about it. He went to talk to Mr. Wallace, and assured him that he wasn't trying to use this offer as leverage. In fact, he hadn't even given any thought to leaving the company. Wallace was understanding and told Greg that he couldn't see any reason why Greg shouldn't take the job. They were a top-flight company and he had done wonderful work here, and he owed Greg a debt of gratitude for all he had done. He had hoped Greg might someday take over even more management of the business, but he was willing to let him go. He told Greg that he owed it to himself to take it, and as importantly, to Stacy. "If you decide to go, I'll show you how much you've meant to me and give you a severance bonus, enough to cover the cost of a nice honeymoon." Greg knew what he had to do, and told Wallace that if Stacy was willing to go, he was going to take it.
They sat at the same table that they had the night Stacy had first expressed her feelings for Greg and he held her hand. "I've got something important to tell you." He laid out the job offer and what Wallace had said. "I'm asking if you think we should go?"
Stacy thought for what seemed like an hour. "This is a major change. But if you want to do it, then I'm willing to do it." She squeezed Greg's hand and smiled.
"Then I guess there's only one more thing to ask." He leaned over and clasped her hand in both of his. "Let's do things right. Marry me."
Stacy looked down and then raised her head, her eyes glassy, and a tear rolling down her cheek. "Yes. I will." She leaned over the table and they kissed. "I've been waiting to hear those words from you for the longest time."
Greg reached in his pocket and pulled out a cheap ring he had bought. "I didn't have time to buy a real one, so this will have to do for the moment." He slid it on her finger. She laughed and put her hand on his cheek. "I love you so much."
They found the perfect house, out in the country, a welcome change after New York, though hard to get used to at first. Greg settled in at his new job, and Stacy decided to take a graduate class at the local University, to pass the time when she wasn't decorating their new home. Their happiness was soon multiplied when Stacy found out she was pregnant.
A month after Danielle's first birthday, Stacy was pregnant again, and they welcomed Eric Andrew to the family nine months later.
Greg pulled up to the mailbox and emptied it, laying the mail on the seat next to him as he drove up to the house. He went inside and sorted through it as Stacy kissed him. "Anything interesting?" He stopped when he saw the envelope. Danielle tugged at his pants-leg. "Daddy! Up!" He reached down and picked her up. "Hi there." He was still holding the envelope. No return address, but he recognized the handwriting immediately. He went into the living room and sat down, still holding the child. He sat her on the couch next to her and opened the letter. Stacy came in with Eric and sat on a chair. "What?" He read the letter in silence. When he was finished, he grabbed his daughter by the hand and took the baby from Stacy, dropping the letter in her lap. "So, what did you guys do today?" He took them into the family room and she looked at what Greg had just read.
Dear Greg,