Page 30 of Crewe
Ry pulled out her camera while he was getting Freya ready in her gloves, protective apron, and glasses. She took hundreds of pictures as the kids did the activities. She was so excited by the expressions she was able to capture on the kids’ faces as they made their ornaments.
She alternated between pictures of the glass blowing and pictures of the kids doing all the activities. It was such a unique activity; she could see this being something that became a tradition when visiting the town. He had bright red boxes with gold ribbon to put the glass balls in for the kids.
When they were done, they all gave feedback but told him it was such a fun experience they would sign up to do it and pay.
When he saw the pictures she had taken, he wanted to pay her for them. Ry declined becausehe’d given them so much for free. He thanked her but then caught sight of one of her nature photos with a deer she’d taken near the resort. He told her he’d love to buy a print, but she should check with one of the other shops that stocked local artwork.
Ry left with the kids feeling a sense of renewed happiness about her artwork. It brought her joy, but to have someone she’d just met try to pay her and also suggest a gallery for her work was a dream of hers, and she was going to grab onto it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Crewe got everyone situated in the horse-drawn carriage and then climbed in beside them. It wasn’t cold enough to need the blanket provided. At Crewe’s tap on the coachman’s seat, the man clicked his tongue and flicked the reins. The snow-white horses set off at a steady clip.
“This is awesome, Crewe,” Wyatt said, leaning around Crewe to see the side of thecarriage. Crewe slipped his arm around Wyatt. He didn’t need this event ruined with Wyatt taking a tumble.
“Where are we going?” Ry asked, her arm around Freya.
“We’re taking a ride through Main Street, circling the Falls parking lot, and then we’ll come back to the resort,” Crewe said, lying through his teeth. He wanted tonight to be a surprise, and Ry was too smart and would figure out his plan if he’d told her they were stopping at Mistletoe Canyon Falls.
He realized he was tapping his foot and stopped. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. He loved Ry. He’d told her he loved her, and she’d said it back. Why did tonight make him nervous? It was the next natural step to him being all in and all of them realizing it.
The kids oohed and aahed seeing Mistletoe Falls Road with all the shops lit for the night. Multiple times this week, he’d heard Vivi, Ellie, and Ry talking about how festive the buildings looked with the lights outlining the rooflines. Whiskeyhad mentioned to the cousins to be prepared to buy a huge amount of outdoor lights to outline their businesses this year.
The carriage made the turn to go closer to the Falls, which had the grove of mistletoe trees. How it stayed perfect year-round was a mystery. One shop owner had said they just accepted it. But the Falls were nestled in a canyon so maybe that was why. And maybe if he distracted himself with inane questions, then he wouldn’t disgrace himself by sweating or stumbling over his words. The carriage slowed as it entered the parking lot for the Falls. Instead of turning around, the carriage took a path across the grassy area leading to the Falls and stopped near one of the trees with lights strung through it.
It was far enough away from the Falls that they could still see them well, but the noise wasn’t quite so loud. Crewe didn’t want to have to scream his proposal. He was going for romance, not comedy.
“Folks, I know I was supposed to just turn around, but the sun setting over the mountains is gorgeous, and I know Ry is a nature photographer.You’ll have about thirty minutes before it’s gone. Why don’t you get out? I’ll let the horses rest for a little bit,” the coachman said, getting out of the carriage.
“Well, let’s get out,” Crewe said, helping both kids out and then grasping Ry around the waist to lift her down. Her smile as he pulled her close for a quick kiss had his stomach knotting even more. He led them to the perfect tree, at least as far as Ellie and Vivi had said.
He maneuvered Ry in front of him with both kids directly to the right. He took a deep breath, dropped to his knees, and pulled the ring box out of his pocket, opening it.
“Ryanne Blackstone, you walked into our bar, and my life was forever changed. I didn’t ever know I could love someone this much. My heart grew bigger because of you. I love everything about you. Your love for your children. Your deep need to be strong and independent, which makes it so much sweeter when you rely on me to help in any way. Even when I was teasing you and calling you Ryan to see you get that fire in your eyes, Iwas falling deeper in love with the woman I didn’t know I needed more than my next breath.
“I didn’t have an example growing up of a successful marriage. But my dad and uncles showed me how a family has each other’s backs and loves each other even through disagreements. Ry, I’m asking you to marry me and let me love you for the rest of our lives.”
He stared at Ry’s smiling face as her eyes filled with tears. She nodded yes, but he needed more.
“Baby, I’m going to need the words, or my brothers and cousins will never let me live this down,” Crewe said.
“Yes, I will marry you because you’re the man I adore,” Ry said.
Crewe stood, slid the ring on her finger, and claimed her lips—a short taste to seal their pledge, but he had one more thing.
Crewe reluctantly pulled away and knelt down in front of Freya and Wyatt.
“I love your mom, but since I met you, I’ve been falling in love with both of you too. Each time we played a game or read a book, you burrowed yourway into my heart until my love overflowed. What I want more than anything is to be your dad. I pledge to love you and shepherd you. My fondest wish is for you to grow up to live your dreams. Freya and Wyatt, will you agree to be my children and let me be your dad forever?” Crewe asked, pulling two small bags from his pockets.
Freya and Wyatt threw their arms around his neck, crying and saying yes. He wrapped his arms around the children and sniffed back a tear. Ry wrapped her arms around them all. He pulled back and held the bags out to the kids.
“Just like Mom got a ring to seal our pledge, I have something special for both of you,” he said, pulling out silver bracelets with a silver disk engraved withWithout Fail.
“These words mean I will always be there for you. Without fail, I will always show up. I talked to the jeweler who made these. As you grow, he’ll add links to the chain.”
He slid them on their wrists, letting the tears fall down his face. He was telling the truth. He hadn’t understood how he could love someoneso much.
He stood up with his family to yells and congratulations coming from the trees. His family came out from where they’d been hiding to congratulate them. His dad was the first to pull Ry and the kids into his arms.
