We walk a few more minutes in silence, cresting the hill where we once found Mr. Bingley. In the distance is his parents’ house and a little farther on, the horse arena and barn. I can see Lily’s trotting around in the outdoor arena.
We pause here, taking in the sight, and he bends low. I’m smiling out at this beautiful land flankedby mountains and full of yellow grasses and green pines, when I notice he hasn’t straightened.
Then I realize he’s down on one knee, waiting for my attention.
I gasp.
He squeezes my hand.
“Sam Ellis. I love you. You are one of the three best things that has ever burst into my life, and I love you more than I ever imagined loving someone. You have gifted me with so much joy and passion, and I want to ask you a question, if you’re up for it.”
My heart is cantering and I’m already crying. “Okay. Yes. I’m up for it.”
A heart-stopping grin flashes across his face. “Will you marry me? Be my wife and a mom to Poppy and Lil, and let me love you to the end of our days?”
“Yes. Yes, please. I will.”
I’m in his arms, kissing him before he can even stand, so my gorgeous man stands anyway, devouring me with a moment-sealing kiss. When he leans back, he takes my left hand and slides a simple, stunning ring on my finger.
“I love you, Sam.”
“I love you, too, Grant. I’m so glad you asked.” I give him a wide smile, which he matches.
“I am, too.”
BONUS EPILOGUE
Declan
Evie’s hands shake as she sets down her coffee.
For all the flustered energy she can have outside of this building, when she enters, she maintains an air of calm and confidence I admire.
The slight tremor alerts me to what I have suspected. Evie is stressed.
“Is Charlie okay?” He appeared well when I saw him earlier, but children can become ill quickly. He finished a bout of teething recently and it’s always possible he had more coming in, but he didn’t seem particularly fussy recently.
At just shy of one year old, Charlie is one of the happiest babies I have the pleasure of seeing regularly. Part of this is because many of the babies I see for work are ill. I may also be biased toward him for no reason other than repeated exposure.
“He’s fine, yeah.” Her light blue eyes shift up to meet mine and a thin smile spreads across her lips.
My suspicion that something is wrong increases.
Evie is genuine. She is kind. This is not how she smiles at me or almost anyone else.
“What’s wrong?” I know it sounds demanding, because it is.
She swallows, her graceful throat working. She shakes her head. “It’s nothing. I apologize if I seem off.”
Her words are right, but when her gaze flicks up to meet mine again, tears line her eyes.
She is my weakness and this is a kind of death, seeing her so wrung out.
Maggie is at lunch and no patients will be checking in until after one when our lunch break is over. Therefore, I insist on more information.
“Evie. What is it?”
Her lips part and she inhales. Everything about her is wound tightly.
