Page 130 of Waiting For Fate

The whole time we’re deboarding the plane, getting a rental car, and driving to wherever we’re headed, Sawyer is mostly quiet. He will turn and give me a smile or bring our joined hands to his lips to kiss the top of mine, but something just feels…off.

“Here we are.” When he puts the car in park, I pull my eyes from him and look out the windshield. My mouth hangs open when I see where we are.

“Oh my god.” Sawyer climbs out of the car, coming around to open my door before offering his hand to help me out as well.

We walk hand in hand until we’re at the very top of Split Rock Lighthouse. Due to the fact that Sawyer gave the security guard a nod and it was returned with a smile and them stepping to the side to allow us to pass, I assume it’s okay for us to be here after closing.

“Sawyer, this place is amazing.” I marvel as we look out over the water. He wraps his arms around me from behind, warming me from the cool lake’s breeze.

“I found this place during my sophomore year of college, and the first thought I had was, Leah would absolutely love it here. It felt like it belonged on a book cover or something. I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Anyways, I would visit here frequently and imagine a day when I’d get to bring you here. I also imagined we’d visit my favorite local coffee shop first and I could impress you with my expert ordering skills and get you a coffee that would make you fall in love with me.” My body shakes with laughter at his confidence.

“But this visit is going to be a little different than all the ones I planned back in the day.” I rest my head on his shoulder, looking up at the night sky where the full moon is shining so brightly it’s like the earth’s own nightlight.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” His hands slide out from around me and the warmth from his body pressed against mine is gone. When I turn around, he’s down on one knee with a little velvet box in his hands.

“Because I’m going to ask you to marry me instead.” Then he pops the box open and I have to fight back the urge to scream.

Oh my God I’m turning into Taylor.

“Sawyer—”

“Dove, let me stumble through this really quick then you can say whatever you need to say. Because if I don’t do this now, I might throw up.” I choke out a laugh through my tears and nod for him to continue.

“Leah, I have loved you from the day that I met you. Not in the same way I love you now, of course, but I loved the way you carried yourself. You were quiet but sure of yourself, you were smart beyond belief and loyal to your friends and you lit up a room with your smile without having to utter a single word. As we grew up, you became one of my very best friends and I would have chosen you over anyone else if ever given the ultimatum. Because even before I realized it, you and I were meant to be. Then you brought me hot pink tape for my hockey stick one night and winked at me, and like a switch being flipped, I realized I would do anything to have you do it again. I fell in love with you through the years and I thank my lucky stars you’ve fallen for me too.” I can’t see through my tears anymore but that doesn’t stop him.

“If the last few weeks taught me anything it’s that I don’t want to spend another day without you, for the rest of my life. So, will you do me the honor of being my wife and promise to never stop coming back to me? No matter what life throws at us?”

“Yes! Sawyer, Only, always, and forever. YES!” I rush the words out and he slides the ring I can’t even see onto my finger before picking me up and spinning me around with his lips on mine—where they belong.

“There’s something else.” I let out another strained laugh.

“What else could there possibly be? You’ve already asked me to move in and marry you in the last 24 hours.” He takes a deep breath and pulls an envelope from his inside jacket pocket. I look down and see my name scrawled on the front, but it’s not Sawyer’s handwriting—it’s my dad’s.

“I haven’t read it, but he sent me one too and told me when to give it to you. Which I thought was strange until you told me he had a stroke prior to the one that took him… Um, I’m just gonna let you open it now.” My brows knit together but I refrain from asking any questions because I doubt he has the answers for them anyways. I rip the envelope open and pull out the letter, his handwriting alone making my throat feel tight with emotion.

Hey Sweetpea,

If you’re reading this letter then it’s safe to assume two things.

That boy has some sense and finally put a ring on your finger.

That I’m not there to celebrate with you in the flesh.

I’m sorry for that second one, babygirl. Just know that even if I’m not there, I’m never really gone. I’m up in heaven celebrating that my little girl found her way into the arms of the one man I’ve ever been confident could take proper care of her. (Besides your old man, of course.) The night you brought Sawyer home, I took him on one of our rides (I’m sorry I had to leave you home for that one) but I needed to make sure he knew how lucky he was to be in your life. You are the single greatest accomplishment in my life. You are smart and beautiful and kind and wise beyond your years, and I will always be proud to be your dad. I’m not sure if he’ll tell you this or not, but Sawyer told me his intentions to marry you, and I gave him my blessing right away. You are so deserving of a life full of love and happiness, and to be with someone who helps your light shine even brighter than it ever has before. I just know you lit up the whole universe with your smile when he asked you to be his wife. Don’t you worry, I’m sure I saw it.

I wish you a lifetime full of adventure, laughs that make your stomach ache, and new memories that you can hold onto for an eternity. And since I’m gone, I want you to think of me any time you see the moon, because you were always my sun baby girl—the absolute light of my life.

I love you LeighAnn Gates. (Future Mrs. Clark I suppose) You will always be my Sweetpea.

Love, Dad.

“Thanks, Dad,” I whisper to the moon. Feeling a little more of my heart mend as I hold his letter close to my heart.

“You okay, Dove?” Sawyer asks, pulling me closer to his chest. I nod my head and sniff back my tears.

“Yeah. I’m gonna be.”

“Can I give you one last thing?” He asks hesitantly. I’m not sure if my heart can possibly take any more at the moment, but the look on his face tells me it’s important so I nod in agreement, and he reaches into his jacket pocket again.

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