He pulls off his gloves and takes a small velvet box from his coat pocket, then opens it. The ring catches the lights, making it sparkle.
“I want to marry you, Aliette Grant,” he says. “I want to be your husband every day for the rest of my life.”
His voice softens, like he’s trying to hold in his emotions.
“Will you marry me?”
I’m full-out crying now, and I can’t stop it. And they aren’t pretty tears. They’re overwhelming, shaking tears.
“Yes,” I breathe.
He blinks like he’s trying to make sure he heard me right.
“Yes,” I say again, louder.
The rink erupts in applause when they see him remove my glove and slide the ring onto my finger.
It fits perfectly.
He stands quickly and pulls me in for a kiss. Soft at first, then turning deeper. And when we finally pull apart, it’s because our daughter is tugging on my hand.
She’s watching us, wide-eyed and curious.
I laugh through my tears and show her my ring.
“Pwitty!” she gasps.
Liam kneels down to her level. “I have something for you too.”
He pulls out another box and opens it to show her.
“Mommy and I are going to get married,” he says, watching for a reaction.
She smiles and blinks.
“But I want to make a promise to you too, sweetheart.” He pulls out a dainty gold necklace with three hearts inside one another.
“I promise that you and Mommy are always in my heart, every day, even when I have to go away for work.”
She throws her arms around him, then me. And then somehow, we end up on the ice in a messy, mittened group hug while strangers clap, probably recognizing Liam at this point, and take photos we’ll possibly see on social media.
Once we turn in our skates, we walk through the park with Sera bundled between us.
I can’t stop staring at my ring as it glitters under the streetlights.
“You planned this, didn’t you? To do this here?” I ask.
“I did.”
“At Christmas.”
“Felt … like the perfect place and time, don’t you think?”
He stops walking and faces me.
“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life.”
Sera interrupts, tugging on his hand, “Daddy, carry me.”
