He parked out the front of the long building and looking through the windscreen at it for a long moment, nodded with satisfaction.
“You didn’t put it on the market?”
“No, I couldn’t quite push myself to do it.” They piled out of the car, Billy immediately holding his arms up for William to carry him. She watched for a moment as he crunched across the gravel, her son’s arm tight around his neck, her heart soaring. He stopped and turned, holding out his hand. “You coming?”
She moved to him, linking her fingers through his, pleased but also a little confused. He led her to the long house, taking a key from his pocket and opening the main door. She’d only looked inside once, when he’d brought her here on their first date. He’d explained how perfect it would be as a corporate retreat and she could see what he meant. “Look around and tell me what you think.” She stepped through the door and looked around.
“You don’t mean for us to live here?” The confusion was evident in her tone as she wandered into the middle of the room, gazing around.
“Not us, no. This would be the artist’s studio and accommodation.”
“Artists?” She spun around to look at him.
He was grinning now, enjoying himself hugely.
She looked around again, really able to see what he was talking about. “An Artist’s colony,” she all but whispered.
“Yes. So, this building for a studio and accommodation and the stables could be for exhibitions and functions if we wanted. Or not. Whatever.” He shrugged.
She felt goosebumps on her arms. “It’s perfect.”
“You like it?”
She walked over to him, sliding her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. “I love it. I absolutely love it.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I was thinking the little cottage could be used for our own family when they visit, and we can live in the big house. It needs a bit of work, so we’d have to stay in the cottage in the meantime, or I stay with you. Or we don’t do any of it and I learn how to make pottery.”
She laughed. “Let’s do it.”
“I’ll buy a pottery wheel then.”
She laughed again. “No, let’s do this.” She waved her arm in a sweeping gesture around the room.
She felt him take a deep, shuddering breath and she lifted her head to look at him, her heart slayed by the glow in his eyes. “God, I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He pulled her tight against him.
“I love you!”
“I love you, too, you little scoundrel.”
They laughed at Billy’s giggle as they walked back out into the warm sunshine and he squirmed to get down, skipping across the grass. “I have to show you one more thing before we head back for your birthday party.”
“Okay.”
He led them across the lawn to the lighthouse and up the stairs. They stood at the wide windows, looking out over the bright blue of the Tasman Sea.
“Juniper.”
She looked over at him and something in his eyes stopped her breath.
“I have some things I want to say.”
“Alright.”
His tone had caught Billy’s attention. Sensing something important, he’d reached up for Juniper to pick him up, gazing at William quietly. She forced herself to take a deep breath as her heart started hammering in her chest.
He stood before her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, balled into fists. “Before I met you and Billy, I was heading down a well-planned road. I should have been happy. But I wasn’t. I was restless and frustrated and I didn’t know why.” He reached out and stroked Billy’s hair tenderly. “Then you came along, and everything changed. I felt at peace. Happy. You’ve given me—” He paused, swallowing, his voice thick when he resumed. “Juniper, you’ve given me a chance at a better life than I ever imagined for myself.” He pulled his hand out of his pocket and she looked down, her heart thudding faster than ever. He held a ring box in plush, maroon velvet. “Will you give me the chance to make you as happy as you’ve made me? Will you let me be a dad to Billy? Will you marry me?” He opened the box and she gasped, holding her hand over her heart, tears rolling down her cheeks. Nestled in the box was a ring with a shimmering, milky moonstone, flanked by diamonds.
