"Harrison, yes, I will marry you. Of course I will marry you. You are everything to me."
He places the ring on my finger, which fits perfectly, and I hold him tightly, almost crushing him in my eagerness to belong to him. We kiss passionately, but I am acutely aware that my whole family is watching and our friends are watching so I pull apart a bit quickly.
Our family and friends come over and start congratulating us, kissing us, and hugging us. The studio is temporarily forgotten, but I've got a surprise of my own so I open the studio door and walk in and lead everybody inside.
I did not know that Harrison was going to do that. It was a complete surprise to me, but the thing is I have a surprise of my own and I guess this is the day for surprises. I hold his hand and face him pulling hi away from the crowd.
"Harrison, you are going to be a dad."
"Are you serious?"
"Oh, I am dead serious."
"I'm gonna be a dad. This is amazing. Oh my God, I love you so much."
The crowd immediately starts congratulating us again and now they say that they're gonna arrange a new party so that they can celebrate the pregnancy and the engagement.
I don't mind celebrating so long as it's not in the mornings because I still have morning sickness. Harrison pulls me to the side and I fall into his arms once again.
"It looks like we're both good at keeping secrets." He tells me.
"Yeah, I'd rather we didn't do that anymore."
"I love you, Iris."
"And I love you too, Harrison."
"We have an amazing future in front of us and I couldn't be doing it with a better person than you. I love you, my angel."
Epilogue
4 years later
Iris
We're at a fancy gallery in New York, where my work is being featured alongside that of other young artists. Ittook everything I had to get this collection out in time for the showing. I had just had my second son when they invited me.
I'm holding a glass of soda because I can't drink yet as I'm breastfeeding. I take a sip as I try to get my nerves under control. Everything is so elegant here, and I'm afraid I no longer fit in as a city person. I fully belong in Hunter's Peak with Harrison and our children.
Speaking of which, I search around the locale to find my husband. He's running around with the baby in a sling. I told him it was too late to have him out here, but he didn't want to leave him in the hotel with my parents. He's been corralling patrons and taking them to where my art is hanging.
My work is a wonderful tribute to the mountains in Hunter's Peak. A part of me cringes, though, whenever someone else says they want to visit. I want our town to remain small and pristine, and if people suddenly find it, it will no longer be the sacred place it is to all of the townsfolk.
Suddenly, my husband appears at my side.
"Hey, I think I just convinced some big shot to buy one of your paintings."
"I didn't know you had a side hustle as a salesman."
"I want everyone to buy and enjoy your work. You know I'm your biggest fan."
"Has Elijah been good?"
"He's been an absolute angel, just like his mother."
"Maybe we should go home."
"Give me half an hour more. There are a couple more patrons I want to talk to."
