“Congrats to both,” Jeff said, patting Sean on the back.
“Thank you! Wait—you were here?” I asked, hugging Cassy back.
“Cassy was with the neighbor. We were lurking in the car,” Abby said, pointing at Jeff.
“I happened to be working from home and was pulled into this impossible mission today,” Jeff said.
I laughed again, fully, happily.
“Thanks man, I owe you one,” Sean said.
“Alright, let’s get the newly engaged pictures,” Abby called out, grinning proudly.
She had to—she nailed this engagement setup. This image of the gazebo was forever etched in my brain.
Sean and I posed, and Abby clicked away. In one photo, he stood to my right, one arm looped around my waist. I rested my left hand on his chest, angled so the ring caught the light just right. In the other, he sat in a chair with me on his lap, my head resting casually on his shoulder. I mentally high-fived myself for not looking too much like a deer in headlights.
My heart pounded as our eyes met.
I’d never felt so visible in my life, and today and every day, I didn’t want to hide from anything. With him, taking up space felt easy, even perched on his lap in front of a camera.
We all walked inside. Abby said goodbye while Jeff held Cassy’s hand. I glanced at her, surprised.
“We already have plans,” she said. “Got to take advantage while Jeff is in town.”
“Congrats again,” Jeff said.
“Bye Mel, bye Uncle Sean,” Cassy said, and they stepped out.
The house went quiet.
“Want to check out that food now?” Sean asked.
I sat at the dining table, though my hunger had vanished.
I relaxed back and admired the gem. Vintage gold, worn smooth at the edges, held a single oval sapphire surrounded by tiny diamonds. Elegant, timeless. The cool weight of it grounded me: I was totally, head-over-heels smitten, soon to become Sean Murphy’s wife.
He sat near me and took my hand. “You like it?”
“Are you kidding? I love it! I’d snap a pic and send it to Sam and my friends. Then probably frame it, maybe even turn it into a billboard.”
He chuckled and kissed me. Slow, lingering. “Let’s save this for later,” he murmured against my lips.
A flutter zipped through me. That was a promise. A very, very good promise. The Ruby Boyd daughter voice in my head had officially clocked out.
When I had my hand back, I snapped a picture of the ring. I sent the picture to Sam, Erica, a few other friends, and Dad with a single word:Engaged!Then I hovered over my mom’s contact but closed the app. Nope. This glow was nonnegotiable. Ruby Boyd could get the news from the tabloids if she really wanted to know the happenings in my life.
I was getting married to the love of my life. My mom was going to need a strong drink, maybe several. I considered sending her a warning text, then decided against it. Let her stew. I had champagne in my veins and a sapphire on my finger.
Sean chuckled at my excitement and pried open the food.
“Want something to drink?”
“A sangria.”
“You’re starting to like the fruity stuff, huh?”
I grinned. “From now on, it’s my official celebratory drink. And I am absolutely celebrating being engaged to you.”
