Page 116 of Wrecked on the Mountain
The eastern sky begins its slow transformation from deep purple to rose gold, and everything feels just right.
"Try the chocolate croissants," I say, uncovering the pastries. "Chloe outdid herself again."
Brooke takes a bite and moans appreciatively. "These are amazing. Seriously, what's all this for? Did I forget an anniversary or something?"
I settle beside her, close enough that our thighs touch through the blankets. "Can't a man spoil his girlfriend without an occasion?"
She studies my face in the candlelight, those intelligent eyes searching. "You're nervous. Why are you nervous?"
Because my entire future depends on the next five minutes.
"Remember the first time I brought you here?" I ask as the sun begins to peek over the mountain ridge. "When I told you I was falling in love with you?"
Her smile is soft, remembering. "Best morning of my life."
The sunrise begins is subtle change in the valley below. I'm biding my time until it's just right. Shades of gold and pink start to glow, exactly like I knew it would.
Everything's timed perfectly—the light, the moment, the words I've been rehearsing for weeks.
"Bets morning of your life… until now."
I pull the small velvet box from my jacket pocket, and Brooke's coffee mug slips from suddenly nerveless fingers.
"Jamie..."
I drop to one knee on the blanket, the ring box trembling in my hands.
"Brooke Shields, you saved my life the day you showed up here, yielding that axe woefully, and making my heart race the second I looked at you."
"You've shown me what it means to love completely. The way you honor your father's memory, how you embraced my crazy family like they were yours, how you fight for every patient like their life depends on you alone. You care so fiercely, Brooke. You give everything you have to everyone you love."
I pause, my voice catching with emotion.
"But today isn't about your patients or my family or anyone else. Today is about you, sweetheart. About how you deserve someone who will love you as completely as you love everyone else."
I open the box, revealing the ring that's been burning a hole in my pocket.
"Will you marry me and let me spend the rest of my life loving you just as much?"
The center diamond catches the sunrise, throwing rainbows across the snow-dusted deck.
"Jamie," Brooke breathes, dabbing at the corner of her eyes. "It's beautiful."
"It's my old ring," I explain, watching her face. "But I had it reset. New stones, new setting… new promise. Because what we have isn't anything like what came before, but deep down, I'm still the same man. I chose love when I bought this ring, and now, my love chooses you."
Tears stream down her face as she stares at the ring. The moment hangs between us, perfect and terrifying and full of every dream I never dared to have.
"Yes!" The word bursts from her like she can't contain it another second. "Yes, oh my God, yes! Of course yes!"
Relief floods through me so fast I'm dizzy. My hands shake as I take the ring from the box, and Brooke extends her left hand, fingers trembling.
She said yes. She's going to be my wife.
"Perfect fit," I beam as the ring slides into place. "Just like us."
She launches herself into my arms, and we tumble backward onto the blankets, laughing and crying at the same time. The sunrise is complete now, everything shining in the bliss of a new dawn.
The deck I built to allow myself to heal, the valley and the town spread below us, Brooke's face as she kisses me with tears streaming down her cheeks.
