Page 110 of My Promise To Keep

‘Wait, so you had a picnic on the beach?’ Lynnie questions as we all sit around the huge patio table Doug made for her.

‘Yeah, but it was like this company that sets it all up with blankets and cushions and lights.’ Zoe pulls out her phone and brings up the photos. ‘They set up champagne and charcuterie and make it look so beautiful.’

‘You arranged all that?’ Doug points the neck of his bottle at me while he sits with his arm around Cara’s shoulder. A soft smile pulls at his lips.

‘That’s so romantic, Leo.’ Missy beams at me. I love that she’s here in town now. She fits right in, and the girls are all so happy to have her around.

‘Didn’t know you had that in you.’ Nick winks, and I laugh.

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Lucy asks, smiling.

‘I wasn’t planning to ask her. I didn’t have a ring, but it just seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I asked.’

‘And she said yes.’ Lynnie rests her chin on her hand and gazes wistfully at us.

‘I told him I didn’t need a ring.’

‘You deserved a ring, munch.’

We hold each other’s gaze for a moment, and I remember the conversation we had. She didn’t need a ring. She’d been married to Luke the whole time and never had a ring, but this was us.

We weren’t kids. We made good money, and I wanted to see my ring on her finger.

We went together to this little bespoke jeweler that had been recommended to us, and the three of us designed it together. Teal sapphire and lab-grown diamonds set in platinum. It’s perfect for her, and her hair has been teal since she got it.

‘He’s right, Zo Zo.’ Bree smiles and steals her sister’s attention. ‘You do deserve a ring.’

They hold up their fingers, pressing the tips together for a second while the conversation flows.

Laughter fills the night air. Bowie is asleep upstairs. Missy has taken Jonah home to bed, Nick left too Pop and Lu, Lynnie and Merv are a little drunk and laughing over a game of cards. Bree is sitting planning our wedding at the table with Cara and Doug, and Zoe and I are slow dancing on the patio, smiling at our family.

‘This was a nice welcome home,’ she says softly against my chest, and I lean down to kiss the top of her head.

‘It was, munch.’

Turning her head up to look at me, she smiles, and I can’t resist stealing a kiss.

‘I love you, Zoe Bennett.’

‘I love you, Leo Bennett.

‘When should we tell them?’

She shakes her head. ‘Let’s not.’ I tip my head and narrow my gaze at her. ‘Look at them, Leo. They’re so excited for us. Let them have the wedding.’

‘Really?’

She nods, smiling, and I turn to look at our family.

I hear them talking about flowers and lights and music, and I smile. She’s right. So what if wetechnicallyalready got married in Vegas on our way home? We’ll let them plan us a wedding. We’ll give them that.

‘The big thing then?’

‘Yeah, let’s tell them the big thing.’ She giggles, and I laugh. I know she can’t wait, so I spin her around, holding her back to my chest, and call out.

‘Hey guys, guess what.’

And when all eyes are on us, Zoe says the words she’s wanted to say for the longest time.

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