"It's beautiful," she whispered, staring at it.
"Beth said the emeralds were for your eyes."
"Beth knew about this?"
"Beth has known for two weeks. She's probably been refreshing her phone every five minutes."
Charlotte laughed, bright and free and so full of joy it made my chest ache. "She's going to be completely insufferable."
"Absolutely insufferable." I pulled her close, kissed her again. "Want to call her together?"
"In a minute." She wrapped her arms around my neck, her forehead resting against mine. "I'm not done with you yet."
We stayed like that for a long moment, kneeling in the grass beneath our oak tree, holding each other, letting the reality sink in. We were engaged. After fifteen years of silence. After an accident that nearly killed me. After memories lost and found. After secrets shared and fears overcome.
We had chosen each other. Finally. Completely. Forever.
"I love you," I whispered against her lips.
"I love you too." She pulled back to look at me, her eyes bright with tears and laughter and a happiness so profound it took my breath away. "Now help me up before my knees freeze to the ground."
I laughed, and we stumbled to our feet together, holding onto each other for balance. She looked at the ring again, turning her hand to catch the light.
"It's really beautiful, Miles."
"You're really beautiful."
"Mr. Smooth is back, I see."
"He survived a lot."
She kissed me again, soft and lingering and full of promise. When she pulled back, her expression shifted into something more mischievous.
"So," she said, "when do we tell my mother?"
I groaned. "Can we have five minutes of peace first?"
"She's going to cry."
"I know."
"She's going to want to plan the whole wedding."
"I know."
"She's going to ask about grandchildren, and I'm going to have to explain?—"
"Charlotte." I cupped her face, silencing her with a look. "We'll handle it. Together. Whatever comes."
She softened, leaning into my touch. "Together."
"That's the deal."
"That's the deal," she agreed.
We walked back to the car hand in hand, the ring glinting on her finger, the winter sun painting everything gold. I'd spent fifteen years running from this moment. Three months of forgetting it existed. A lifetime of being too scared to reach for it.
But here we were. Engaged. Happy. Choosing each other despite every reason, it would have been easier not to.
