He released her, and holding her eyes, he slowly dropped to one knee. Taking her hand in his, he opened his palm. Inside was a ring.
“You are already my friend. Be my wife too, Samantha.”
She dropped to her knees before him. “Yes.”
He put the ring on her finger, and after more kisses, they left the sanctuary of the trees to return to their family.
“She said yes,” he said loudly as they walked to where they all sat on blankets.
Samantha giggled as Cam whooped loudly. And chaos ensued. She was hugged, kissed, and her ring admired.
“Well now as luck would have it, I have news also,” Max said moving to stand before Warwick and Samantha.
“What news?” she asked him.
He pulled a key out of his pocket and held it out to her. “The last house in the street is now ours, which means it’s yours.” Max looked from Samantha to Warwick. “It is our gift to you both.”
“Excellent,” James said.
“Wonderful,” Dev said.
Samantha giggled, Warwick laughed, and she realized that being surrounded by love, was indeed a wonderful thing.
She finally had her Sinclair.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
They were to marry like others had in their family, on Raven Mountain in the small church. Snow swirled outside, and wind whistled around the old stone walls.
“The road down will be slippery,” Warwick said, worried about the short carriage ride Samantha would take with James down from the castle.
“She is with her brother, who has completed that journey many times in such conditions. He will look after her,” Dev said.
There were so many more he could have chosen to stand with him alongside his brothers. All whom he respected greatly and, yes, loved. But he’d picked only these two men whom he loved and respected very much.
“Thank you,” he said to Dev and Cam. “For being there for me. For showing me what it is to be a good man. For loving me when sometimes I must have made it hard.”
He heard Cam sniff loudly and then he was blowing his nose in his handkerchief.
“Little brother, loving you has been easy, and it was our honor to have a hand in creating the wonderful man who stands with us today,” Dev said, his voice deep with emotion.
“Love you,” Cam managed to get out between sniffs.
Both his brothers stepped in to hug him. When they released him, he looked at Eden, Essie, and Lilly who sat in the front row. They were crying too. He left his place to crouch before them.
“I love you. Thank you for being there for me always.”
Eden sobbed loudly, and Essie was a bit gentler. Lilly grabbed him and kissed him on both cheeks.
“You and your siblings saved me,” she whispered. “It’s my honor to be one of your family, Warwick.”
He hugged them all hard and stood again. He shook Max’s hand. “You too. Thank you for loving my sister and me.”
“It was my honor, Warwick. You brought so much joy into my life when you accepted me. I could not be happier that you are marrying Samantha. It has always been our wish.”
He rose and looked at those seated in the first rows. His family. Those of his blood and those who were in his heart. He shook hands and hugged some more.
“Thank you for being in my life,” he said so they could hear. “I love you all.”
