Page 62 of The Forever Formula
I’d been here just over two months, but it felt like I’d never left. This family was like my own family, and in a way, I guess they were.
Later that evening, we sat down to a table filled with loud, boisterous conversation and steaming dishes of delicious food. I piled my plate with smoked turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, potatoes, and mac and cheese, made by yours truly. It was something Grandpa always requested at Thanksgiving, and it just felt right to make it this year.
I realized I was most thankful for Noah and this family who had accepted me into the fold as one of them. Not as an outsider, or a neighbor ... but one of the family. This was something I’d always dreamed about since I’d known the Harts, and now I was actually a part of their clan, more or less.
We went around the table, at the request of Natalie, and shared what we were thankful for.
Austen was thankful for me signing the lease agreement, he said as I rolled my eyes in unison with Natalie. Logan was thankful he was ahead on all his classwork and could take a nice break from school. Dottie was thankful that she’d hit her first hole-in-one on the golf course earlier that year. Natalie was thankful for her goats and her family—in that order, she insisted. I said I was grateful I’d been brought back home.
Then it was Noah’s turn. He stood up, and everyone looked at him curiously.
“It’s not a speech, son. You don’t need to stand,” Dottie joked.
“What are you—” Natalie said and then snapped her mouth shut.
We all looked around in confusion until Noah spoke, looking right at me.
“Rachel, I’m thankful that you took a chance on an awkward sixteen-year-old me. And that you came back to me and were patient through all my bullshit. And that you agreed to be my girlfriend after all these years. I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier. And I wanted to know ...” He paused then and lowered himself to one knee in front of me.
Everyone gasped, and poor Austen choked on a sip of spiked cider.
My heart thumped wildly as I wondered, hoping, guessing, praying, that what I thought was happening, was really happening.
I doubt I even took a single breath as Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, flipping it open to reveal a tear-shaped diamond ring. The most beautiful ring.
“Ask her already!” Dottie shouted, and everyone chuckled nervously.
Noah shot a glance at her, and she giggled. He met my eyes with a small, sweet smile, and I did my best not to pass out from excitement as he spoke the words.
“Rachel Rose Tyson, will you be my wife?”
I nodded and jumped from my seat. He stood, and we hugged as he lifted me off my feet. Everyone clapped as he set me back down.
“Is that a yes?” he whispered on a chuckle amidst the noise from the table.
“Yes. Yes!” I shouted and kissed him. “A thousand times yes!”
When the excitement of our proposal finally died down—my new ring secured on my finger—Dottie clapped her hands.
“All right, now. Time to eat before it gets cold.” She was always great at telling it like it is.
After we’d stuffed ourselves, Natalie came into the dining room carrying the wishbone, and she waved it at the table. “Whose turn is it this year?”
“I need it more than these ungrateful people,” Austen grumbled.
“Me too. I’m old. Might not have many wishbones left,” Dottie said thoughtfully.
Natalie groaned at her mother, but no one made a challenge.
Austen and Dottie looped a pinky finger around each half of the delicate bone and tugged. When it snapped, Austen had secured the larger half and smiled.
“That’s a good omen,” he said more to himself than anyone else.
Dottie bugged her eyes at him. “Well, what are you going to wish for?”
Austen blushed then, which was a rare sight. He was normally confident, cool, almost cocky. He looked slowly around at each of us. “Jameson’s married. Noah’s getting married. So, I wished for a wife. It’s probably about time, I guess.”
The room seemed to freeze in shock at his words. Everyone raised their eyebrows and gave each other little questioning glances. Natalie looked like she’d never been more surprised. I worried for a second that Dottie might have a heart attack.
