“She knew something wasn’t right,” Tanner replies and scratches the cat behind her ears. “What do you say to a walk on the beach? Are you up for it?”
“It’s a cut on my arm, Tanner, not a stab to the heart. I don’t even have a concussion. Let’s do it.”
It’s a sunny spring day, and the wind is surprisingly light when we get down to the sand and kick off our shoes. Hand in hand, we set off toward the water to walk by the shoreline.
“It’s wild how much can happen in the span of twenty-four hours.” I blow out a breath and then take in a deep one, filling my lungs with the salty air that always seems to revitalize me. “I’m really,reallyglad it’s over, Tanner.”
“Me, too.” He hugs me to him, cradling me against his chest, and kisses the top of my hair. He didn’t leave me at the hospital for a minute. He even slept in the chair next to the bed and was glued to my side until they released me this morning. “I was scared out of my mind when we rushed into that chapel.”
“I’m surprised the police let you in,” I admit. “They don’t usually do that on cop shows.”
“I didn’t really give them a choice. And I needed to get to you.”
I look up at him and see the worry, the love, in his eyes.
“I’m okay. I really am. I’m pressing charges, and June’s pressing charges, and I don’t think either of them will be bothering me again. Oh, Wolfe and Zeke are also pressing arson charges.”
Suddenly, Tanner takes my hand, wraps his other arm around my back, and begins to lead me in a slow dance here on the sand, with the water singing around us.
“I was so worried that I wouldn’t get to do this again,” he says with a tender smile. “That I wouldn’t get to do a lot of things with you.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
“I don’t ever want to get rid of you. In fact…”
He stops swaying and thenkneels.
Tanner pulls a ring out of his pocket and holds it up to me.
“I’ve waited averylong time to do this. I think we both had to live through a whole different life to circle back around to each other, and I’m glad we did. It gave us both insight into what really matters and what we want out of life.
“For me, that’s you. I want to be by your side for the rest of my days, rooting for you, building each other up. I want to plant our own roots here in Huckleberry Bay with a family. I want a life with you, Sarah. I know, in my heart, that no matter how long I have with you, it’ll never be enough, but I want every single minute of it. I’m greedy like that.”
I don’t even bother to brush away the happy tears falling down my cheeks.
“Will you marry me, pretty girl?”
I laugh and nod, and then he slips the gorgeous diamond onto my finger and stands to hug me close.
“Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He kisses me, slow and easy, tickling my lips with his. And when he pulls back, he cups my cheeks in his hands.
“I love you so much, I ache with it, Sarah.”
“I love you, too.” I tip my forehead to his and hold on tight. “Now, let’s go get started on those roots.”
He grins and kisses me softly, then more urgently.
“As you wish.”
June 20,2022
Dear Diary,
It’s been one hell of a crazy month. I just got word that Anthony and Bridget have both been sentenced to prison. They plead guilty to all charges, which actually shocked me, but I suspect that Anthony’s attorney talked him into it. They won’t get out of jail for a long, long time. I feel bad because Bridget gave birth in prison, and her family will raise the baby. But it’s probably for the best.
It seems like every day I find something new that Bridget messed with. Nothing has been dangerous, just odd. And, if I hadn’t known that it was her, I would have felt like I was losing my mind when I found it.