Page 171 of Return To You

The ring? Oh, right. He got me a ring. Ethan King got me a ring! The teenager in me is going crazy. Present me is trying to rail her in. So… where is the ring? Suddenly, understanding hits me. “Damian? The pouch around his neck?”

Ethan shuts his eyes briefly. “I knew I shouldn’t trust him with that. But I can’t believe he’s messing up the proposal!”

I start laughing. “I know! After everything he’s done for us!”

Ethan cups my face again. “Do you have any idea of how perfect you are? Sorry—of how you fit my dirtiest fantasy? You naked in my sweatshirt…” he briefly sweeps a hand up my hips to confirm the statement “laughing because me and Damian messed up the proposal?”

“That’s your dirtiest fantasy?”

“You naked under something with my name on it will always be my go-to dirty fantasy. You happy as can be because the ring that should be on your finger is who knows where—guarantee that means a happy-as-hell marriage, Grace.”

“Is that a thing? Like rain on your wedding day?”

“It is now.”

“I’m sure it was a beautiful ring.”

“It’s more than beautiful.” He lifts me back on the couch, then hands me my hot toddy. “You keep warm while I hunt down the feral thief.” Then he stomps into the house, threatening Damian with all sorts of terrible things if he doesn’t appear “right this fucking second.”

As his voice dims into the house, I take a small sip, trying to rein in all the emotions battling inside me. I knew this day would come… and yet, it’s so big. And so strong. I can’t even describe it. It’s like—

I’m pulled from my inner contemplation by the sound of tiny little bells chiming under the couch. “Sneaky little guy!” I coo Damian out. He jumps on the couch, sits on his rear end, and slits his eyes at me. Then with one paw, he claws the pouch open, and a small ring lands on my lap. I pick it up and blink, emotion choking me as I take in the tiny blue flowers linked together by a gold twig. I barely register as Damian jingles back into the house, and Ethan surges back on the deck.

“Thank god,” Ethan grunts. “D’you like it?” He’s standing above me, hands on his hips. “I had it made at Gems. They said they had your size… Hey, what’s wrong?” He runs his knuckles softly on my cheek. “Babe? You okay?”

I hand him the ring, my fingers shaking. He drops back to his knees—both knees this time—and slides the band on my finger.

“You like it?” he repeats, running his thumb on the intricately carved gold band and small blue stones.

“You-you-you got me… forget-me-nots?” I can’t believe Ethan had a custom-made replica of a ring he made for me a quarter of a century ago.

He nods. “Well, sapphires, but the design is… yeah, it came really—"

I shut him up with a kiss, and this time he takes it slow and deep and thoughtful, until I lean into him, and we topple onto the floor and end up making love on the deck, under the cool moonlight.

fifty-five

Grace

A few months later

*

“Your daughter is going to be the most beautiful bride,” Mom tells Dad, pecking him on the cheek as Mom and I walk into their house. Ethan is already here, sipping an Arnold Palmer with Dad, a nice fire roaring in their chimney. He stands to greet us, and after a side hug to Mom, gives me a full-on kiss on the mouth.

Sometimes I think he just does it to see how far he can rile up Dad, or maybe as a revenge on the past.

“Missed you,” he whispers in my ear.

Or maybe he just really missed me and that’s his way of telling me. He wasn’t even in Dad’s line of sight.

Mom, Haley, and I spent the day in Burlington shopping for a wedding gown, and I found the one. I never thought I’d be that person, but here I am. Preparing to marry the man of my dreams—Ethan King.

Over lunch at Leunig’s—the best French bistro in Burlington in my opinion—Haley asked about the design of the engagement ring. After I told her, she confessed she had no recollection of playing wedding with her brothers. Ever. Me? I would have said it was her favorite game, at one time. Funny how we really do hold onto the memories that matter most to us, and possibly mold them to suit our personality.

On our way back, Mom and I dropped Haley off at the farm, stopped for tea with Lynn, and showed her pictures of the winning dress. Now I’m at my parents’ for Mom’s lasagna and some quiet time with my parents and fiancé.

Ethan resumes the conversation he was having with Dad when Mom and I came in. He’s catching him up on his latest hire, someone from out of state, and letting him know how the others are doing, whether they’re married or not, and how they’re liking life in Emerald Creek.

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