Page 170 of Return To You

As I walk out to the deck, I’m surprised to see a glow coming from a brand-new gas firepit I hadn’t noticed earlier. “What’s that?” I lean over it to warm my hands, then plop on the couch, pulling a blanket over me.

“Not as spectacular as a real firepit, but hey,” Ethan says, setting a small tray with hot toddies on the ottoman.

“I love it. It’s…” It’s ours. Cozy and all. It’s all we need. I reach out for the drink, but Ethan takes my hand. “Hold on, there’s something I need to tell you.”

I turn to him. Is he going to propose? Eyes bright, I smile at him.

“Damian, where are you, buddy?” he calls out.

I guess not. That’s okay. Next time.

Ethan pulls out the laser beam that still drives Damian crazy, and whistles softly. A little jingle sounds behind me. “Who’s a gooboy,” Ethan says under his breath, playing with the laser beam.

Turning around to see what’s up with Damian, I see he’s wearing a collar with a bunch of little bells all around it. I laugh. “That’s going to drive him crazy! Come here. Come to Mommy.”

Ethan directs the laser beam to my lap. “Yeah, come to Mommy.”

Damian jumps on me in a mess of jingles. The poor thing is shaking his head to try and get rid of this new gadget. “Come here you poor thing. What did Daddy do now? We’ll keep this for Christmas only.” I go to take the collar off him, then notice a small pouch attached to it. “What is this?”

“I dunno,” Ethan says, as he glides off the couch and drops to his knee.

Not both knees.

One.

My palms get moist.

This is it.

My Ethan is proposing. Forgetting all about Damian, I straighten as he takes my hands and starts talking. “Do you know how long I’ve loved you, Grace?”

I shake my head softly, tears pooling in my eyes.

“So long I don’t remember ever not loving you. Even as children, you captured my heart in the purest way. You made me better. You made me stronger. You made me braver. I was who I was because of you. Because I knew you were watching me, and I didn’t want to disappoint you. Because I loved you. And it’s just as true today.” He drops his head down for a beat, then looks back up. “Somewhere along the way I messed up. I failed you—”

I shake my head. “It wasn’t y—”

He gives my hands a soft tug and smiles softly. “Lemme finish, beautiful.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Somewhere along the way, I messed up. I failed you, and we both suffered for ten long years. Three thousand six hundred and some days, wasted living without you. Three thousand six hundred and some nights, sleeping without you by my side. Ten unnecessary years apart from each other. Now that I found you again, each day and each night is a blessing.”

His jaw trembles and his eyes mist. I know what’s coming. I know it and I’m prepared and I want it, and yet it’s the most emotional moment of my life. Tears flow freely down my cheeks, and I fall on my knees in front of Ethan.

“Grace, you’ve always been mine. In secret. But you’ve always intimidated me too. And so it’s no surprise that I’m freaking scared right now, right here, asking you to be my wife. Will you?” Uncertainty paints his features. My strong, brave Ethan is unsure.

“I’ve always been yours, you know it. You make my life complete. Of course I want to be your wife,” I whisper, too emotional to speak in a normal voice.

He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. Then his eyes dart to the couch. “Damian, buddy, where are you?”

I pull him back to me. “Kiss me more.” And he does, but his heart isn’t in it. “What’s wrong?”

“Damian.”

I bunch his shirt in my fist and pull him to me. “Leave him be and kiss your future wife.” He kisses me, but his eyes are darting everywhere. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

“The ring.”

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