I look up and meet Toby’s eyes. “Was it Miss Piggy? Did she bite you?”
“Nah. She’s a sweetheart as long as you give her a good rub down.”
“And scraps. You had the biggest bucket. You’re probably her new favorite.”
“Well, he’smyfavorite, and Miss Piggy has good taste,” I say proudly.
“Is anyone gonna tell me what happened on yourtourthat had Toby lookin’ all nervous when he walked in?” Mom asks.
“Sit back, Ma. You’re gonna wanna see this,” Dillon says quizzically.
Mom looks just as puzzled as I am. Dad sits next to her, the two of them gravitating toward each other like they always do.
Toby pulls his phone out. “First, there are some people we need to call before I can do what I have to do."
He quickly brings up Austin’s number and connects the video call which is answered a few rings later. “Hey, brother. Have ya done it yet?” Austin asks by way of a greeting.
Toby groans as the phone is held out and the screen is suddenly filled with Austin, Red, Rhett, Cora, Landry, Star, and Mags all crowded into a booth at the diner.
“Hey, y’all,” I say, earning smiles and waves.
Scotty steps beside us. “How ‘bout I hold this and you get on with it, Tobes?”
My brows bunch together as I look between the two. “Get on withwhat?”
All the breath in my body seizes as Scotty points the phone toward us and Toby reaches into his pocket again. Then he’s grabbing my hand and dropping down onto one knee right there in the middle of the living room.
“Dee, you’ve taught me patience and self-control, and proved that good thingsdocome to those who wait.” My heart is pounding a steady thump. thump. thump against my ribs as his hand shakes against my trembling one. “I want to spend the rest of my life livin’ every day like it’s our last and knowin’ that when I close my eyes at night, I’m doin' it with the best woman, the bestpersonI’ve ever met by my side. You make me want to be a better man and someone worthy of you. I want to dream bigger, work harder, and try more every day for the rest of our lives, and I want to do all of that with my One at my side. Will you do me the honor of becomin’ my wife?”
I hear Mom sniffle across the room, and Dad chuckling at her. Scott has the proudest look on his face and a glance at Dillon catches him swiping at his cheeks like the big goof he is.
Staring deep into the hazel eyes of the one and only love of my life, his gaze shimmering with trust and love and so much devotion, there’s absolutely zero thinking required. My answer has and always will be yes to this man.
I drop down to my knees in front of him, cradling his face in my hands. "You're my dream, so if there are bigger ones out there, it'll be you and me makin’ them come true together.” I lean inand ever so gently brush my lips against his. “I’d be honored to be yours, Tobias Jacob Graham.”
“Is that a yes?” Dillon asks.
“Yes!” I reply just before Toby wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me in a hot, heavy andsonot appropriate kiss in front of my family.
Cheers and hollers fill the air from the phone and my family and we turn our heads to grin at our Alaskan family who are sharing this precious moment with us.
We end the call, promising to call them later and with Mags already planning a celebration when we’re back home in Spring Haven.
Scotty hugs me first before shaking Toby’s hand. “Welcome to the family, brother.”
Then Dillon is pushing his twin out of the way to do the same, giving me a noogie for my troubles.
Mom and Dad follow, Mom holding me tight as Dad gives Toby a bear hug of his own. “Couldn’t have asked for a better man for my girl,” he says.
When Dad claims Mom again, he looks so proud it almost makes me cry again. “Feel like changin’ your vacation plans to a polar adventure?” he asks Mom.
She laughs. “It may not be tropical up there, but I think if anythin’ can change my mind, my daughter gettin’ married will do it.”
We all laugh at that, except when Toby and I do it, we do it while kissing each other.
Something I plan to do a hell of a lot more for the rest of our lives together.
Isn’t it funny how a lifetime of itchy feet and wandering led me to find the one place, one town, and the onemanI was always meant to be with.
