Chapter 41
Penelope
The wind teases at my carefully styled hair, turning my blowout into a tangled mess. My makeup is probably smudged, too.
From standing out here in the open, waiting.
Waiting for him.
Yet the cool gusts rolling off the lake do nothing to ease the clamminess of my palms. And my heart is hammering so hard it might shake me loose from this rock.
Shit. No turning back now. Not with all these people standing by, ready to witness this reckless plan unfold.
This felt like such an awesome idea—before I actually had to go through with it. Before I rallied half the town together to pull it off.
All because Tuck wanted something solid.
Well, I’ve given it my all: A bold, brazen, go big or go home type of move.
But now, standing on the edge of it, literally and figuratively, I’m trembling worse than the tufts of oat grass poking through the cracks in the boulders.
My gaze falls to the lapping water below. The depths of blue shimmering with streaks of turquoise, catching the light in a way that reminds me of Tuck’s eyes, making my stomach twist even tighter.
Well, on the plus side, if this all goes south, at least I’ve got a perfectly good cliff to jump off.
“ Penelope !”
I spin around as Nora charges over, one hand gripping her hat before the wind can snatch it away.
“He’s coming! Finn says ETA five minutes.” She glances at her phone again. “Make that four !”
“Nora—they didn’t give anything away, right?” I ask anxiously. “Tuck doesn’t know what I have planned?”
“Don’t worry,” she assures me. “Our ever resourceful Violet came up with a cover story. No one broke the secret pact, Penelope. Now, we better get set! Good luck!”
She gives my arm a reassuring squeeze before hurrying back toward the shaded grove where Brady and Vivian have set up their catering station.
Everyone’s there. My father and Laurie, Susan, Keith…friends, both new and old, all gathered beneath the towering pines, their excited voices a low, buzzing hum carried to me on the wind.
And here I am, perched on this rock, completely exposed. Vulnerable. Like that hermit crab from my childhood picture book, caught between letting go of the shell that no longer fits and finding the courage to step into something new.
My stomach lurches. Oh god. I’m really doing this. Have I truly thought this through? Is there any possible way to back out now?
Then again, at this rate, I might not have to. A coronary episode seems imminent. Either that or I’ll just flat-out faint and fall into the lake.
I press a hand to my stomach, swallowing hard. I have never been this scared in my life. Didn’t Laurie say that means this is right? Oh god, I don’t know…I need help…guidance.
I look up to the perfect blue sky, summoning a force that I want to believe in.
Mom…somehow, if you can hear me, please give me strength. Give me a sign this is the right thing. Anything.
I scan the endless shades of blues and dappled greens: the vast lake, the sky, the forest outcrops, and distant mountains. Desperate to invest my hope in something— anything. A drifting leaf, a darting bee, the flap of a bird’s wings. But in between the light gusts of wind, the world around me is unnervingly still. The water below smooth as glass.
It’s like being frozen in time, stuck inside a landscape painting, or between the pages of a book, waiting for the page to turn and tell me what happens next.
Then, just as I think I’ve reached peak panic, beneath the trees comes a shift. A ripple of awareness passes through the gathered crowd. The hum of conversation dies, replaced by an almost reverent silence. Every head turns toward the path leading down.
My pulse pounds in my throat.
He’s coming .
People’s gazes lock onto the walkway, anticipation thick in the air. My fists dig against my ribcage as if to hold in the emotion threatening to spill over.
Then, a figure emerges.
Finn. His demeanor is carefully neutral, except for the discreet thumbs-up he flashes against his chest, grinning at the crowd. Molly follows, her bright smile barely contained, her hands clasped together as if holding back excitement. Violet is next, her silver suit catching the light, her head tilted toward the man beside her.
Tuck.
He strolls at an easy pace, oblivious, one hand casually in his pocket, the other gesturing slightly as he talks to Violet. Then, at the last moment, he slows, stepping aside to let her move ahead down the final steps to the landing.
And just like that, the tide turns, pulling away the debris of doubt. I feel it. A deep, unshakable knowing. The fear dissolves, flushed away like waves slipping through the crevices of the rocks below.
It’s him. It’s always been him.
This is exactly what I want.
At the treeline, he halts, palms opening slightly as he takes in the scene. His gaze sweeps over the gathered friends and family as he tries to piece it all together.
There’s a gesture of surprise at seeing his parents, and I catch the flash of their smiles. But they don’t move toward him. No one moves at all. Everyone stands stiff with expectation. All eyes fixated on Tuck.
He stills, strokes a finger to his temple. Then, some back and forth with Brady breaks the tension, and laughter ripples through the crowd.
Then Tuck says something, maybe my name? And my heart floats to my throat as he turns in a slow circle, searching—
Finn points.
Tuck follows the direction, his head lifting.
His gaze lands on me.
And now he knows.
That I’m here. That I’ve been waiting.
That I planned all this for him.
With a final look back to the gathering, he comes toward me, climbing the incline with easy, steady strides.
Closer and closer…my heart in rhythm with his steps. And it’s all I can do not to run to him.
A familiar wry smile, like: you’ve really done it this time, creases his unbelievably handsome face, his eyes sparkling…a single crease between his brows signaling the lingering confusion.
Then he’s right in front of me.
“Nice view.”
I nod. “It’s a perfect day.”
“I wasn’t talking about the scenery, Pen.” He looks over my face, my dress.
“Oh yeah…” I smooth the fitted waist of the cream dress I finished at 2 a.m. The fanned sleeves set off the shoulder. The doily-laced pocket. And the billowing skirt that grazes my calves as it catches the wind. “I thought I’d put my design experiments to use.”
“And…apparently your previously untapped skill for event planning?” He grins.
I give a nervous smile, glancing at the faces below the crest, all fixed on us. I catch Susan’s fist pressed anxiously to her mouth. Hmm…I should really cut through these pleasantries and get to the point.
“Um, Tuck? Thanks for coming—” I blurt, strangely formal.
He tilts his head, amused. “Call me crazy, but I feel like I’m the only person here who has no idea what’s going on. Is that about right?”
I nod, holding his eyes. “Exactly. Which, incidentally, is a perfect example of something I’ve been working on.”
“Oh?” He crosses his arms, intrigued. “And what’s that?”
“That…maybe I don’t need to do everything on my own.”
His eyes soften slightly, filling me with the strength to continue.
“It takes a lot of courage to let people in…but that risk is repaid a hundred times over.” I fold my hands together, steadying myself. “Because there’s strength in numbers. When you work as a team, it lifts everything. Even the impossible starts to feel…possible.”
“That so?” His eyes sparkle with more brilliance than the entire lake.
“And so, yes, you’re right.” I nod. “Everyone here knows what this is, except you.” I gesture toward the figures under the trees. “This—this is a very carefully planned ambush.”
His brows shoot up. “An ambush ?”
“Uh-huh.” I give a hopeful smirk. “With all these people here, I figure you won’t have much choice but to roll with it.”
He strokes his jaw, playing along. “And what does this stealth plan of yours entail?”
I square my shoulders. “You asked what I’ve figured out. What I see for us. Something solid.”
He nods slowly. “But, somehow, I thought we’d talk it through…alone.”
“Maybe we’ve talked enough, Tuck,” I say gently. “Or, I’ve talked enough. Spun in circles long enough. Questioning things that didn’t need questioning. Like whether we’re compatible enough, resilient enough to make it work. Keeping score of every way I’ve been hurt, tallying up all the reasons I couldn’t trust anyone. It means that whenever things are good between us, my fear kicks in.”
He doesn’t interrupt. Just listens.
“That I’m not good enough. That eventually, you’ll want out. So that I preempt it. Push you away. Break the trust before you can.”
Tuck shifts his feet. “And now?”
“I found a way through, Tuck.” I gather my strength, striving to make him understand. “A way to rebuild that trust. To show you how far I’m willing to go for us. And I’m hoping—praying—you’re still up for the challenge. Because this isn’t a solo feat. It’s going to take all our combined skills and fortitude. And a lot of luck and daring to see it through.”
His eyes don’t leave mine. “So what’s the way through, Pen?”
I angle my chin, draw myself upward, ready to put it all on the line.
“By accepting what’s always been true: I love you. You love me. And we want to be together. Right?”
His eyes darken. “Right.”
“Then…I have a proposal. A clearly defined, unambiguous proposal for our future. One that we can both sign off on.” I smile through my nervousness. “I even brought witnesses.”
He swallows, glancing toward our riveted audience before returning his gaze to me.
Then, slowly, he reaches out a hand.
I grip it tightly, allowing his heat and energy to meld with mine, penetrating my skin like rays of sunlight, surging deep into my cells.
“Pen.” He holds my eyes, searching. “I really hope this is what I think it is—” He breaks off, unsure. “But then I think I would be dreaming.”
“You’re not dreaming, Tuck.” My voice cracks with emotion. “Unless we both are. Unless all those people over there, who want this for us, who’ve been cheering us on, are dreaming too.”
I take a deep breath from the very soles of my feet upward, as if I’m about to jump off this cliff and plunge into the waters below. My body braced, my heart pounding.
“Tuck. I want…I want to know if—”
His head inclines, eyes unblinking, the pressure of his hand intensifying, like he’s poised for impact right alongside me.
“If you’ll…” My voice falters, and I’m forced to strive deeper.
At last, it comes in a rush.
“I want to marry you, Tuck. I want us to get married.”
He lets out a stunned laugh, dragging a hand down his face.
“Geezus, Pen—if anyone had told me this morning I’d be engaged by sunset—” He shakes his head in wonder, reaches for me.
But I hold up a hand, halting his progress.
“I don’t think you understand.”
He blinks, uncomprehending. “Didn’t you just say you want us to get ‘ married’ ?”
“Yes. Married . Not engaged,” I say firmly. “Tuck. I’m asking you to marry me—today! Right here. Right now. That’s what all this is. That’s why everyone’s here.”
I watch his expression, realization dawning slowly as I hurriedly press on.
“You saw John, right? Mom’s old boss. He’s here with his wife, Sheila. She’s a marriage celebrant, Tuck! She can marry us right away. My dress?” I gesture down. “This is the dress I want to marry you in. I’ve got the borrowed—Mom’s lace doily as the pocket. My blue is the satin underwear I’m wearing.” I grin through the rush of nerves and forge onward.
“Maybe you want a prenup? John’s already drafted one. I got the marriage licence—Susan dug up your birth certificate, and I had the photo of your driver’s license from when we rented the car. We sign. We marry. We celebrate with the people we love. Then we go home tonight— married . And…maybe start practicing making babies.”
I laugh, and it trembles with nerves and joy and my own daring.
“Tuck, I know it’s totally crazy, and you probably—”
I’m suddenly silenced by his finger pressing firmly to my lips.
Then I’m in his arms, wrapped in warmth and certainty, his mouth finding mine with a hunger that answers every question I didn’t ask aloud.
“Hey!” Brady’s voice breaks through. “Is that a yes ?!”
I blink my eyes open just in time to see Tuck flash a thumbs-up toward the crowd—his other hand still cradling my face, his lips brushing mine again as cheers erupt below.
And the joyful sound echoes off the cliffs, drifts over the water, gets carried on the wind, up into the mountains…like a promise of the future—of happiness—cast into the world.