Chapter 60 I might keep you forever
I might keep you forever
We drive out to the farm. It’s early afternoon.
I feel a bit giddy because she has no idea.
I’ve been planning this day for weeks—even the finer details, like the bunch of mixed flowers I picked fresh this morning, what wine I selected, to the spot I chose in the fields where the wildflowers are just starting to bloom again.
I spoke to her dad months ago. And I’ve had Danielle help me with the design.
She looks so gorgeous right now, even singing along to “Juno” by Sabrina Carpenter, of all things. Her left arm hangs out of the window, making waves in the breeze as we drive.
When we pull up to the house, It’s just Mum and Nicole home. I’ve let her believe we’re here for family dinner. We are. Just not only for that.
I help Camille out of the car and she goes straight for Mum, giving her a big hug.
“Hey Darling.” Mum says as she brushes her fingers over Camille’s glossy long hair, and I see a tear fall down her cheek.
I knew I shouldn’t have told her. She’s going to get all weird and give it away. But I needed Nicole and her help to set everything up.
I pull Mum in for a hug, “Mum.”
“My baby boy.” She pats my back.
I whisper into her ear. “No cryin’ til later, Mum. Please.”
“Okay. Okay. I promise. Let’s get you guys inside.”
“Uh, where’s my hug everyone?” Nicole puts her arms out and Camille gives in, sinking into a hug. I know my girl is a hugger and she loves that my family are too.
We head inside the house.
“So how’s the salon been Cam?” Mum asks.
“It’s been great. We actually just hired an apprentice this month too. The business is doing so well. How’s everything been going around here?”
“Good Darling. Everything is always good. It gets lonely sometimes. You guys need to hurry up and have some babies to keep me busy.” She winks at me.
Fuck. Mum.
Of course I want her babies. I’d start right now. We’ve had the chat already. She wants them as badly as I do. But we want to wait til we’re married before we have them.
“Hopefully one day soon Jill.” Camille smiles.
“Anyways, I’m gonna steal this woman for a bit. I need to show her something outside.” I grab Camille’s hand. The sun is going to set soon, and I wanna do this at the perfect time.
“Okay, but let me freshen up first. I’ll meet you out there?”
“I’ll wait out there. Just head towards the wildflower fields, past the big gumtree.”
She nods, and she walks off.
“Good luck.” Mum and Nicole whisper, giving me a thumbs up before I head outside.
I grab the picnic basket I hid in the back of the ute and walk down the field. The sun is warm against my cream shirt, the grass soft beneath my feet.
I head towards the blanket Mum spread out earlier.
The farm has never looked more beautiful. Green everywhere and small butterflies flutter around. The soft hum of bees, the birds singing, the gentle rustle of wind through the leaves. It smells like soil and gumtrees, wildflowers and fresh-cut grass. It smells like spring.
I hear the back door close. She’s coming.
She walks toward me, barefoot through the field, the hem of her dress catching the breeze. It’s light blue and flowy, the kind that flutters in the wind and makes her look like she stepped out of a dream.
The waves of hair catching the sun, and she’s laughing at something I can’t hear from this distance.
God, she’s beautiful.
My Angel. My Camille.
My heart doesn’t just beat for her. It belongs to her. I can’t believe I get to love her.
When she reaches me, I stand and press a kiss to her temple, guiding her down onto the blanket. The basket is full—cheese, crackers, strawberries, wine—and she looks delighted as she leans into me, giggling at the effort I put into this. She has no idea.
“What’s all this?
“I wanted to have a picnic.”
“Yum! You packed all my favourites,” she grins, popping a grape into her mouth. “If this is how you treat me all the time, I might just keep you forever.”
“Might?” I tease, nudging her knee with mine. “I drove all the way out here, picked this spot, packed the picnic, chilled the wine, and even remembered the gluten-free crackers you pretend taste good.”
“They do taste good,” she says with a mock glare. “But you forgot chocolate.”
“I didn’t forget it,” I smirk, reaching behind me and pulling it from the basket. “I was saving it for after I asked you the most important question of my life.”
She blinks, her smile softening. “Lucas…”
I can barely listen now, because my heart is thudding with nerves. I know what I’m about to do. I know what I want. I reach into my jacket and pull out the satin white ring box.
I kneel.
She freezes.
“Camille,” I say, my voice already thick, “you’re everything I never knew I needed.
You walked into my life and everything finally made sense.
You didn’t just give me love—you gave me a life I want to keep building, day by day, with you in the center of it.
You’re my best friend, my peace, my future.
You are my home. You are a love so big I still don’t know how my chest holds it. ”
Her eyes fill with tears instantly.
“I’ve watched you build a life from everything that tried to break you.
I’ve seen you rise, over and over. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.
I don’t think I could. You are it for me, Cam.
You always will be. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you and I will love you for the rest of my life. ”
I open the box.
A simple, perfect oval-cut diamond on a gold band. Exactly what she described she wanted.
“Will you marry me?”
She gasps through a sob and throws her hands over her mouth, crying harder now. She nods, whispering a breathless, “Yes,” then says it again louder, “Yes, yes, yes!”
I slip the ring onto her finger, and she launches herself at me, knocking me backward onto the blanket with a laugh and a kiss that feels like sunshine.
I hold her tightly, my heart full to the brim, and think: This is the start of everything.