Page 45 of Penalties and Proposals

“Which is crazy,” I giggle, pulling my hands out of his as I use them to balance myself and stand up. “And the fact I love it doesn’t escape me.”

The sun is setting and it’s gotten a little cooler, not too much but enough that a tiny shiver makes its way down my spine. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply, enjoying the park, this place and this moment in time. One thing Noah’s got right is that I am more present now. He is too, and it’s nice. It’s like since we’ve found each other, we know that we have time. Time to enjoy this life and what it has to offer us together.

“Okay, Mr. Beaumont. Where are we going tonight?” Smiling, I clap my hands together and turn around. One of us needs to steer the ship and this ship needs dinner soon.

But, when I look, Noah’s changed position. He’s on one knee, holding out a very teeny tiny little blue box, smiling at me.

“Hopefully we’ll be going forever,” his voice is deep, gravelly, as he locks his eyes on mine. “At least that’s my plan.”

Ever so slowly, he lifts the lid and plucks the most beautiful engagement ring I’ve ever seen out of a cloud of fabric.

“I’ve never wanted to give this kind of present to anyone else but you. Since the day we met, as horrific as it was, part of you seeped into me and stayed there. Seeing you last year was like a sense memory––nothing was going to keep me from you once I saw you were here, in front of me again.”

I feel my jaw go slack as a storm of emotions swirls inside me. There’s an electric charge in the air, a frenzied rush that fights for control. Our gaze remains steady as he grasps my left hand, holding it close to his heart.

“If you’re looking at a house here, in Maple Falls,” Noah whispers, “I want to be a part of that future with you.”

“Noah––” I begin, but he raises a finger to my lips, only to remove it and press his lips there instead.

“I’m not done.” He steps back, hands intertwined with mineonce more. “I love you. I’m in love with you and I want to wake up beside you every morning, to see the world through your eyes … or your lens,” he says with a wink. “I’m not perfect, but I can promise you that I will be the best version of a husband you could ever ask for, deserve, want, or need. You give me strength because you are love, kindness, hope, and all the sweeter things in life I’d been missing all rolled up into one powerful strong force of nature.”

Wet hits my cheeks as the tears that have been building up begin to fall. I can’t speak, so I slowly nod.

Noah holds the ring in the palm of his hand. “Willa, will you please marry me so I can kiss you all day every day, for the rest of our lives?”

The shock that washes through me is real, and intense. In this oh so sweet moment, I freeze: I don’t even answer him, I just thrust my left hand out.

“I feel like you need to at least answer me,” he chuckles.

“Oh, my gosh,” I say, springing into the air and wrapping my arms around his neck as I throw myself against his hard body. “Yes! Of course I want to marry you.”

Still laughing, Noah takes my hand and slips the ring on my finger. It’s all I can do to not crawl up his body like a ladder. In a matter of seconds, I’m in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist, my lips pressed on his as he spins us in a circle.

In a matter of seconds, we’re dizzy enough that the world around me resembles a Monet––everything is blurred and around us the colors are blending together. There’s a moment where I feel the equilibrium shift; it’s Noah’s knees as they buckle underneath us. Somehow Noah manages to pad our fall, with me landing on top of him, now straddling him as he lays on his back, grinning up at me.

“So,” he says as one of his hands sneaks out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re gonna be Mrs. Beaumont, huh?”

I hold my hand up, looking at the shiny bauble sparkling in the last rays of light. “I am. And I can’t wait.”

“Maybe we can make it a fast engagement then?” he says, winking.

“We could elope,” I suggest.

“Well, we’ve got plenty of time to decide.” Noah peeks at his watch. “Not trying to hurry us along, but I made a reservation at The Glass Olive for us. You know, to celebrate you saying yes.”

“Well that was presumptuous,” I tease, jumping up and holding my hands out to him. “How did you know I’d be a sure thing?”

Noah stands beside me and wraps his arms around me again. “I didn’t, but I hoped you were. A man can dream, right?”

As I nod, I take one last look at the grassy park behind me––only this time, movement of something small and blue catches my eye.

“Noah!” I whisper, nodding my head in the direction of the small bird. “Look. There it is!”

Noah turns, squinting his eyes and focuses on the tiny creature. “Is that it?”

Smiling, I nod slowly. “It’s a Blue Rock Thrush.”

I’m scared to move, I don’t want the little guy to spook and fly away but I know there’s no way I can get my gear back out now. Plus, I’m engaged. ENGAGED! I really don’t need to worry about this bird.

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