Page 111 of Building What's Meant to Be

“Also, I kept it quiet because of my job and obviously didn’t want it to be broadcast on TV as a Designed to Last project.”

I make finger guns. “Gotcha.”

“But now I realize I didn’t tell you because I wanted us to have this moment.” Aiden drops to one knee and presents a dark blue velvet box. He opens it and says, “Tinsley, I want to officially carry you over that threshold. Will you marry me?”

I gasp and press my hands to my mouth. My belly swoops like it never has. Then I start jumping up and down, drawing him to his feet.

I plaster Aiden’s face with smooshes. With each one, I say, “Yes.”

He lifts me into his arms and then gently kicks the front door open.

Light floods the open floor plan. The dining room is to the immediate right followed by the kitchen. To the left is a huge stone fireplace and the living area. Broad wooden beams span the ceiling, but my attention goes to the view out the windows in the back with the deck overlooking Butterbury. The river snakes to one side, hills bump along the horizon, and the town fills in the rest.

“Okay, Butterbury, you win. I’m staying.”

Aiden wraps his arms around me from behind as we take in the view. He nuzzles my neck, giving me little smooshes that repeatedly make my belly swoop. I imagine us growing old here and hope those swoops never go away.

“Brave is going to love it,” I say.

“Lots of room to run around in the back.”

Below the deck is a pool and lawn that eventually drops toward the hill and trail that Aiden must’ve used to travel between here and Toby. I squint because it looks like several people emerge from the woods.

“Who’s—?”

“Hang on.” Aiden presses his pointer finger to my lips. “I want to kiss you once before the welcome party shows up. I, uh, kinda planned this, hoping you’d say yes and not kick me out of my own house.”

My eyebrows lift, but his lips are on mine. Our kiss fills me with something other than yearning. It’s light, bright sunshine parting the clouds, rainbows shining overhead and inside. It’s the best of our recent past and a promise of the future, filling me entirely.

Aiden gives me all of himself in that kiss, and I do the same.

When we part, the voices of our friends and Aiden’s family filter from below.

Before they come inside, I say, “Wait, there’s no furniture.”

“I was hoping you could fix that.”

“Seriously?”

Aiden nods. “As you said, the outside reminds you of me. I want the inside to be Tinsley.”

“How about Tinsley and Aiden?” I say.

“I like the sound of that.”

Aiden gives me one more smoosh before the door swings open and everyone shouts, “Congratulations!”

Louella Belle, Bo, and Brave enter first. Aiden and I give our dog a lot of pets then trade hugs with Christina and Buck, Mae, Taylor, and the baby who is in a sling on his mama’s chest, Camellia and Nash, Bubba, Tammy, the kids, and Beatrice follow. Rhondy and Paul make a brief appearance as well, bringing pies. Even Aggie from the bookstore pops over with a collection of mystery thriller novels for Aiden now that he’s retired from the bureau.

Treats from Sweethearts, iced tea, and various food items fill the counter. It’s part engagement party and part housewarming party.

Aiden gives tours of what amounts to a six-bedroom, seven-bath mansion. I am in awe. In love. When he and I find ourselves alone on the deck, Aiden slings his arm over my shoulder, pulling me close.

He points toward the west. “We’ll have a nice view of the sunset there.”

“This beats a jail cell.”

“They say marriage is like a ball and chain, but I’ve never felt so free.”

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