Page 84 of Under the Northern Lights
“Marry me, Aurora. Let me be the man to love and support you as you travel around the world on assignments, living your dream. Together, we’ll find a way to make this work.”
“I’m not going to be traveling as often as I first expected to,” she told him.
“You’re not?”
Being able to tell him that filled her with so much joy. “I spoke to my editor while I was in Oregon, and we were able to come to an agreement about the amount of time I’m away on assignments. Better yet, they loved my Alaska photos. They have several articles coming up that they’d like me to cover there. One is on discovering wildlife on the move from a floatplane. But I’d need a pilot with a plane.”
“You’ve got him.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” she replied. “I was going to tell you all of this when I got to the retreat. I’m not about to give up on my heart’s dream for the sake of my career dream. Not when I can have both.”
“I love you, Aurora,” he told her. “I would move mountains for you.”
“Or climb them,” she teased. “Being the mountain goat you are.”
“Or climb them,” he agreed with a chuckle. “If you’re willing to relocate to Conley Island?—”
“I am,” she blurted out. “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather live than where you are.”
Gage smiled. “I was going to say I would move to Seattle if that’s what it takes.”
“No need,” she said excitedly. “I happen to love everything about Conley Island. Especially this handsome floatplane pilot I met while staying there.”
“He loves you too. So much so, I drew up plans to add an actual gift shop onto the lodge. One that I thought could carry some of your incredible prints. Maybe even some of Emmy’s artwork, if she’s interested.”
Her heart was bursting with happiness and love. Aurora looked at the ring box Gage held in his hand.
“I know it’s not the traditional diamond a man gives to a woman he’s asking to marry him, but I knew this was the ring for you as soon as I saw it in the jeweler’s display case. That opal in the middle carries all the breathtaking colors we saw swirling across the sky that last night.”
“It’s so perfect,” she breathed. “I love it so much, Gage.” Her tear-filled gaze lifted to meet his. “I love you so much.”
“Then say yes!” The crowd’s impatient chant echoed throughout the gallery. Aurora glanced around to find Emmy and every person in her art gallery standing there watching them. Heat flooded her cheeks.
“I like their way of thinking,” Gage told her with a grin.
“I do too.” Aurora’s smile bloomed, and her heart threatened to burst with the happiness she felt inside. Just as her parents had done, she too had found true love under the Northern Lights. “Yes!” she told him. “I will marry you, Gage Weston.”
Cheers rose up around them as he lifted the opal engagement ring from its velvety nest and slid it onto her finger.
It fit so perfectly, just like Gage did into her life.
He stood, drawing Aurora into his arms for a kiss that promised a lifetime of happiness and adventures, and, more importantly, love.
EPILOGUE
“You’re back!” Glady exclaimed when Gage and Aurora stepped into the diner where they had first met, her happy gaze fixed on Aurora.
“I just couldn’t stay away,” she replied, glancing up lovingly at Gage.
“Is that a spark I see?” the older woman said in delight as she crossed the dining room to greet them.
Gage chuckled. “Nothing gets past you.”
“We wanted to share our good news,” Aurora said, beaming with happiness. Lifting her hand, she said, “Gage and I are getting married.”
Glady gasped. She looked at Gage. “Does your mother know?”
He nodded. “She does.”
