“Tyler?” I ask, wondering if I’m reading the situation correctly. One part of my brain is thinking why else would he be down on his knee in the snow, while the other part of my brain is thinking that he might have dropped something.
Something that looks an awful lot like a jewelry box. When he opens it, I see a square cut diamond on a diamond-encrusted platinum band. Oh my God, this is really happening.
“Ashley, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I’ve been nodding like a bobble head since the second he said my name because I want to make sure he knows that my answer is yes.
When the word wife comes out of his mouth, I drop to my knees and throw my arms around him. “Yes, yes, yes!” I tell him, my voice breathless.
I’m aware that people are applauding but my focus is on Tyler. After a hug and a nearly-too-hot-for-the-park kiss he pulls back and says, “Give me your hand, babe.”
Unwrapping my arms from around his neck, I hold out my trembling left hand and watch as he slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly and is so beautiful that I’ll never get tired of looking at it.
I feel like I’m in a dream—a beautiful, amazing dream, at that—as Tyler stands and helps me to my feet. He puts his arm over my shoulder and smiles down at me as I look from him to the ring.
I’m engaged.
I’m getting married.
I’m marrying Tyler Jameson.
I’ve never been so excited in my life.
“Smile for the camera!” someone yells.
Turning, I look toward the voice. When I do, I blink a half dozen times as I take in the view before me.
Rob, Karen, Tyler’s parents, Eve, the Andovers, and the Falls are all here. I’m completely shell-shocked as they surround us for photos and ask to see my ring. Seeing that all the people I love most made a three-hour trip to be here for this moment, I start to cry. When I wrote down all of the things I wanted to manifest before I made the decision to relocate to Charlotte’s Cove, creating a family was on the list. This is it. None are related to me by blood, but each and every one of them is essential in my life.
There are more blessings than I can count, all because I took a leap of faith.
I wouldn’t change a thing about my life now. It’s everything I dreamt of and more.
EPILOGUE
____________________________________
“I HAVE YOUR something new,” Rob announces.
“My something new is my dress,” I remind him, gesturing down to myself as I do.
“Your something new was your dress,” he corrects as he pulls a black velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “But now it’s this gift that’s been tucked away in my drawer for the last few years.”
My eyes fly to his as the meaning of his words hits me. My grandfather was still alive a few years ago.
“Is it… from my grandpa?” I ask, my voice wobbly.
“It is. Before Uncle Leo died, he had this commissioned for you. When it was finished, he asked me to keep it until this very moment. I’m to tell you that even though he didn’t live to see this day, he’s been with you every step of the way.”
Blinking to hold back tears, I wave at my cheeks as I do my best to keep my emotions in check. When I have myself relatively under control, I take the box from Rob. My fingers tremble as I open the lid and peer inside where a beautiful charm bracelet rests on a bed of black silk.
Once I start looking at the charms, I quickly see the theme. There’s a small piece of petrified wood, an American goldfinch, a hemlock tree, a charm shaped like Washington State, an Adirondack chair, and a heart made of the sea rocks that line the shoreline behind my house. Every bit of this bracelet tells a story about the place I love most in the world—Charlotte’s Cove. My lower lip trembles as I let out a little laugh.
“He was pointing me home,” I whisper.
“You know, I think he was,” Rob agrees, his voice thick with emotion.
That my grandfather shared his love of the Cove with me is why I’m here today, minutes away from marrying the man I love more than anything in this world.
_______________
AFTER ROB PUT the bracelet on me and I fixed my makeup, the wedding planners came and announced that it was time for us to get into place.
“Keep your bouquet down by your waist. There’s nothing worse than seeing photos where the bride had her flowers up by her collarbone. I promise you that flowers are not intended to act as a second chin,” one of the planners says as we walk into the vestibule of the church.