“People change,” I say, meaning it with every fiber of my being.
Esme and Linda somehow managed to find five people to help run the show tonight. “We sent someone to town to get everyone toiletries and a simple change of clothing,” Esme explains to the wedding party.
“Do you think all of our luggage is completely destroyed?” Cecily asks.
“We’ll know tomorrow,” Troy says. “I just got done talking with hotel and they don’t know how much damage there was. Thankfully, the fire was contained quickly and was just in a portion of the hotel. So, we might be okay.”
“Alright,” Sophia says. “It’s just, my wedding dress...”
“I know dear,” her mother says. “But there is no use fretting over trying to work that all out. Someone is running to grab us pajamas and toothbrushes. So, we can be grateful for that.”
Esme lets everyone know that dinner will be served in one hour and if they’d like to relax in the great room until then, there are cocktails and appetizers waiting.
Everyone starts to leave the foyer, a game plan in place, but I catch the eye of Ava, not wanting her to leave with everyone else.
Not wanting her to leave at all.
“Ava Grace, can you come with me?”
“Are you going to tell me what you want now?” she asks with a smile.
“I am.” I take her hand and lead her to the back of the house. I drape a coat over her shoulders and offer her a pair of gloves. I don a coat as well and open the back door, stepping back into the frigid winter air.
“Better be good, to bring me back out to the freezing cold.”
“It’s good. I promise.” I take her hand and lead her down a path away from the house. The sky is pitch black and you can’t hear a thing. I look at her and then raise my eyes to the stars.
“Ava Grace, there there are more stars in the sky than anyone can count, and that has always made me feel so small. But then I met you, and I didn’t feel insignificant anymore. I didn’t feel like I needed to hide. Your light was burning bright; you are stars, personified. You light up my life and I don’t want to be in the night sky alone. I want to be your star. And I want you to be mine.”
Tears fill her eyes. She’s looking at me as if she can’t look away. And I can’t look away either. She has captivated me.
“I love you, Ava Grace. And I know I am flawed. I know I messed up a part of our story and for that, I am so sorry. But I don’t think our story is finished, I think it has just begun. I think our love was written in the stars. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Ava Grace?”
Ava gasps, covering her mouth in surprise. “Yes, yes Samson.” She’s crying and nodding and trembling all at the same time. She’s laughing the laugh that captured my heart and fills my soul.
I dropped to one knee and pull out the black box. Then I open it, offer the final secret that I’ve kept.
“Oh, my God, Samson. You? You did this... for me?”
“I know is not conventional to ask a woman to make her own engagement ring, but—”
“It’s the most romantic thing. Samson, you truly have a heart of gold.”
She wraps her arms around me, and I breathe her in, her goodness and her truth and her love. I don’t know how I got so lucky as to find her, to have and to hold her, but I do.
And I’ll never let her go.
“I’m going to kiss you now, Ava Grace.”
My hands cup her cheeks and I pull her lips to mine. I kiss her softly, I kiss her gently. I kiss her and promise her my heart.
19
I can’t believe my life right now.
We walk into the great room, where everyone is drinking cocktails, laughing, warming up by the fire blazing in the gorgeous fireplace.
I don’t want to steal my sister’s thunder, but today was so wild, so unexpected on so many levels, and besides, everyone I love is here.
My sister and her husband and my parents. My cousin Trudy and her Star Wars fanatic husband and my aunt and her husband. I must tell them the news because there are no guarantees, all we have is now.
Right now, if I tell them, they can celebrate with me. We can toast together... and then Samson and I can continue with our night as planned.
After telling them the news everyone offers us hugs and congratulations. I’m grateful for my sister, because even if she’s got a total stick up her ass in so many situations, her heart is good, and her love for me is real. She wants the best for me the same way I want the best for her. And really, can anyone ask for more than that?