“You girls make surprises impossible.” He chuckles and does not sound mad about it as he steps back. Pierce reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box. I close my eyes.
“Is this really happening?” I peek one open to make sure I’m not dreaming. I mean, can you blame me? This man not only saved the future of my hometown but now he’s proposing to me even though we’re already married. This may be the best day ever. Yesterday was pretty fantastic, but this is right up there with it. “Someone pinch me.” I open both eyes when I see Katherine reach over to do just that. I smack her hand away.
I watch as Pierce gets down on one knee in front of me. Tears of happiness stream down my face. I can’t control them anymore. My emotions are bubbling free.
“Tinsley Harte, will you marry me again?” He opens the velvet box, and I gasp at the ring that I see inside. Katherine does as well, knowing what it is.
“Pierce.” My hand trembles as I hold it out.
I drew this ring in one of my books years ago. It has a whimsical garden feel to it with three flowers, all diamonds, but it's more than that. It's a double finger ring, wrapping around the underside of the fingers.
The ring finger has the main big flower, and two others lie next to it. On the other finger, it appears like there’s a vine holding it together. I didn't think the ring was possible because of the holy crap amount of diamonds and how it would slide on,but it's clear Pierce found a jeweler that could make it, and it's meticulously set. He slips it on my finger.
“Say yes.” Katherine elbows me. Right.
“Right, yes.” He stands, pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply. “I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you, too.” He presses his forehead to mine.
“I love you guys too.” Katherine wraps her arms around us in a group hug, making me laugh. “I still haven't found out if fish can see water.”
“What?” Both Pierce and I say it at the same time.
“Yeah, if we can’t see air, can fish see water?” That’s what she was trying to google. Now I need to know this answer too.
“Yes,” Pierce tells her.
“How do you know?” I ask. He was super quick with that answer.
“Yeah, you’ve never been a fish, or do you have more secrets?” Katherine narrows her eyes on him.
“The light reflects on water,” he tells her.
“Wait, hold on.” She holds up her hand.
The two of them start to go back and forth, fighting about fish and water. I grab another piece of sausage and take a bite.
This couldn’t be more perfect. Even in all those books and hours, I never could have imagined this.
New Hope has done it again, and Katherine better be next.
Epilogue
PIERCE
YEARS LATER – VALENTINE’S DAY
When you're a girl dad, Valentine's Day is a big one. I have to make sure the bar is set high for my girls. There is a peace in the fact that I do fully believe in the whole New Hope magic. Call me a believer. I thought everyone was a bit nuts, and hell, maybe they are, or I supposeweare. I have been thoroughly sucked into being one of the locals.
I have settled into my job as a city planner here. I don't know how I got the job or if you can fully call it a job because I'm paid one dollar a year, but it's in my lap. You warn the mayor that growth is needed and that it can be handled, and it's given back to you and made your responsibility.
That's all right because there was one project that I believed would be beneficial for both the town and, selfishly, for my wife. She will always come first to me no matter what. That woman is my whole world, and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks of that.
I was alone my whole life until she came along and lit it up. They often say it's about the journey and not the destination. Notsure I fully agree with that. My journey to Tinsley was simply that. She was the destination I hadn't known I was searching for.
My wife and Katherine did in fact take the land together but divided it into parts. A section for us where we'd built our home and enough room where we could build more homes if we wanted or sell it off to a local who might want to build. Katherine had done the same.
They'd blocked off a third section where new businesses had the potential to build. I suggested they start with a sort of country club resort for members only. It could also hold events and has bigger space for the larger plays the high school puts on. The town was growing, and it needed room to breathe.
