Finn is quiet for a beat, and I brace myself for more questions, but then his face lights up. "I have an idea. Come with me."
He leads me to a workshop behind the lodge. Inside, the smell of sawdust and varnish hits me as he pulls out a chunk of wood.
"This is from that old birch by the creek," he explains. "The one Eliza used to climb as a kid. We had to take it down, but I saved some of the wood. What do you say we make her a ring?"
My heart swells at the thought. "That's ... that's perfect. But I don't know the first thing about woodworking."
Finn grins, already setting up tools. "That's what friends are for. Now, let's get to work."
We spend the next couple of hours carving and sanding. Finn shows me how to shape the wood, how to bring out its natural beauty. As we work, we talk about Eliza, about the future. By the time the sky lightens with the first hints of dawn, we have a ring—simple, beautiful, and full of meaning.
"She's going to love it," Finn says, handing me the finished product.
I turn the ring over in my hands, marveling at how something so small can hold so much meaning. "Thank you, Finn. For everything."
He pulls me into a quick, gruff hug. "Make her happy, okay? That's all I ask."
I head back to the cabin, exhausted but exhilarated. In my pocket, I carry not only a ring but a promise, a future, a piece of Eliza's history, and hopefully, our future together.
I slip into bed next to Eliza, careful not to wake her. The soft rise and fall of her breath is the only sound in the room, and in the dim light, I take in the curve of her cheek, the way her hair spills across the pillow. She looks so peaceful, so beautiful, that it makes my chest tighten. I study her for a moment,memorizing every detail—the way her lips are slightly parted, her skin inches away from mine.
How did I get this lucky?
The thought of spending forever with her feels too good to be real, but it's all I want.
Tomorrow, I think as I close my eyes, pulling her closer without disturbing her.
Tomorrow, I'll ask Eliza to be my wife.
