Page 80 of Imperfectly Ours

Neither of them said anything as Rosemary, dressed in the same black outfit as my mom with the same bun in her hair, pushed Charlie toward the empty tray. As he passed beside me, I reached out and placed a hand against his arm, stopping them in their tracks.

He should be here for this. Tenley needed that. He needed that.

I wanted it.

Charlie’s wispy, gray brows knitted together, confused as his gaze landed upon my touch. Slowly, he raised his gaunt face to mine. Without a word, he studied me, and then his eyes widened, knowing. A smile slid across his lips, and he gave me a single nod. That’s all, and I watched as a single tear slid down his weathered face.

Rosemary swung her head between Charlie and me, confused, but didn’t say anything. I removed my hand from Charlie’s arm and looked at Tenley as her parents remained in the room. Handing the gift to Tenley, she cautiously slid it from my hands and tugged at the golden string tied in a bow around the sparkling silver paper.

It fluttered to the floor and she peeled the tape from the wrapping as I pushed my chair back and stood up. Her eyes shot up from the gift as her mom gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth.

Walking around the table, my heart racing in my chest and swimming with anticipation, I stopped in front of her. Gently, I lifted the now exposed, blue velvet container from her hands and knelt down on one knee.

She covered her mouth with a trembling hand, her eyes misting over with tears.

“My darling Tenley,” I began, lifting the lid to the box.

“YES!” she shouted.

Her dad chuckled, as I sucked in a breath, biting back my own laugh.

“You have to let him ask, Tenley dear,” her mom whispered.

“Oh.” Tenley’s face burned red as she placed her shaking hands into her lap. “Right.”

I grinned. “I think I’ll just skip the little speech I’d prepared.”

“Good idea,” Rosemary blurted out.

“Quiet, Rosie,” Charlie muttered through gritted teeth.

“Sorry,” she whispered, blinking innocently.

I looked down for a moment, swallowing the laugh that was bubbling within me. Imperfect as usual.

“My darling Tenley,” I began again, and lifted my eyes to her swirling emerald gaze filled with love. “Will you marry me?”

She nodded fervently, tears streaming down her face.

“Tenley,” her mom hissed, waving at her.

“Yes. A thousand times yes!” She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and nearly knocking me over. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she cried out, over and over again. I held her, still clutching the box with the ring inside. I’d opted for something a little untraditional. Instead of a diamond centerpiece, I picked moss agate to match her beautiful green eyes. Little diamonds speckled against the fairy thin, rose gold band that twisted in a crown-like shape around the center piece. It looked magical, almost like it came from a fantasy world that didn’t exist.

Because to me, Tenley was magical.

My eyes caught her mom dancing in a circle with the serving tray, grinning so widely, her cheeks had to hurt. Her dad was nodding and crying. And honestly, as Tenley pulled away and held out her left hand for me to slip the ring on her finger, I shed a few tears, too.

Though, it was just some dust from the air in the barn. Not the fact that I was feeling overwhelmed with happiness. Just the dust.

An unusual stream of light suddenly danced across the floor as I stood up, helping Tenley to my feet. Following the glow, I caught my parents peeking through the barn door giving each other a fist bump. I chuckled, and glanced down at my beautiful girl.

She was admiring her ring, wiggling it back and forth in different lighting. “It’s more amazing than I would’ve picked for myself,” she gushed, and looked up at me through her lashes.

I smiled and took her hand in mine, pulling her against my body. “I know that things have moved pretty fast,” I began, whispering against her head. “But I needed your dad here for at least this.”

She nodded, another wave of tears sliding down her cheeks. “Thank you,” she quietly replied through her sobs. The door flew wide open and I took a deep breath as the barn was flooded with everyone we held dear in our lives.

Keaton was screaming, running forward, and jumped onto Tenley, wrapping her in the biggest hug possible. Well, I guess I lost my fiancé to him. That’s fine, whatever. Millie stretched her arms up at me, and I lifted her from the floor as my parents and Tenley’s embraced. A thick palm clamped down on my shoulder, and I glanced at Tenley’s grandpa.

---