Chapter 26
Gage
I stare completely bemused at the text Gina just sent me.
Hurricane Gina
I didn’t know if you’d want these since we all knew the wedding was for convenience, and we weren’t sure how it would play out. Now that I know what you’re planning, you’re getting them. Take a look at these and tell me that you ever thought this was actually fake. Love you, now do your thing
She’s sent a series of pictures from the wedding.
I didn’t even realize she took any, and we didn’t hire a photographer or anything.
I told her what I’m planning for Celeste to get advice, and the pictures came along with the advice.
I’ll be forever thankful to Wayne for bringing a sister into my life like her.
Love you, too, and thank you. For everything
She responds by hearting my text.
The first picture shows us staring at each other in front of the Justice, reciting our vows, our hands entwined.
We’re looking at each other like no one else in the courthouse exists.
The second is a picture of me slipping the ring on Celeste’s finger, and we’re both fixated on the gesture like we’re in our own little world again.
Then there’s the kiss. The passion in it cannot be denied, our heads tilted and eyes closed as if we can’t get enough of each other.
Finally, she got a shot of the back of us as we were leaving the courthouse, our hands intertwined and heads turned toward each other.
The sun silhouettes us very aesthetically, but I can see that we’re sharing a secret smile, like we thought we actually got away with something grand.
All of the memories from that fateful wedding come flooding back.
The way Celeste looked that day will forever be etched in my memory, with or without pictures.
She was luminous and perfect in that jumpsuit, her hair laced with flowers like some magical nymph from the stories she loves so much.
I damn near couldn’t breathe when I saw her.
Our first kiss is still branded on my lips, completely altering my entire brain chemistry.
Gina is right, as always. This was never fake. At least not for me, and I plan on telling Celeste exactly how I feel today. The little valuable box I have sits heavily in my pocket, it’s a compulsion to keep making sure I haven’t lost it.
I never bought her an engagement ring or properly proposed to her, and that is getting remedied very shortly.
First, we have to take a little drive. Iggy is holding down the bar tonight, and Celeste will be back soon from her community service at the animal shelter.
She knows I’m planning to take her on a light, easy hike after she gets home.
Hopefully she doesn’t suspect what else I’m planning.
Sitting in my office, I can’t help but think about all of the ways she’s stirred up my life.
Heat floods through me looking at the desk where she let me help her live out her fantasy.
Hermes says her name several times a day, especially when she’s not here and he misses her.
Dinners are now a team effort, dancing around the kitchen and feeding each other little tastes before we sit down for the meal.
Her laugh fills what was once a lonely bachelor pad.
She’s also pushed me to be better, and own my shit.
I had my first teletherapy session with the same woman that Lyra talks to, Dr. Kirkfield, the other day.
It was timed perfectly for a few days after my dad’s retirement party to talk through all of the emotions I’ve been experiencing.
She’s wonderful, but I can see why Celeste calls it brutal in the best way, and we’ve only scratched the surface.
When it was over, I felt less burdened, but completely exhausted at the same time.
My heart skips a beat when the sound of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts.
“Casanova?” Celeste calls.
“Marco!” I call back.
“Polo!” she laughs, coming to stand in the office doorway. Her shoulder rests on the frame, those grey eyes bright as she looks at me inquisitively.
“You ready to head out? I’m excited to show you this hike I found. You’ll love it,” I tell her.
“I wish you would tell me what it is. Am I ok in sneakers, or should I have bought hiking boots?” she asks.
I shake my head.
“It’s a super easy trail that even kids can do, I wouldn’t ask you to do some insane hike. Neither of us are really outdoorsy, but this one is special.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I’m ready then,” she says with a tentative grin.
The drive up to Millburn, NJ passes quickly with conversation and singing along to the music playing.
I hope she doesn’t notice how many times I keep patting my left pocket to make sure the box is still there.
It’s fairly mild for the beginning of October, so we’re both in thin sweaters, jeans, and sneakers.
Celeste’s hair is in loose waves, skimming around her shoulders as she takes in the area when we get out of the car.
“What is this place?”
“It’s called the South Mountain Fairy Trail.
I thought we could use some fresh air and magic today,” I inform her, reaching for her hand to lead her to the entrance.
Her jaw drops at how beautiful the scenery is as we make our way onto the trail that constitutes a half mile stretch of the full Rahway trail. Then she notices them.
“Look at all of these beautiful fairy houses!” she exclaims with a gasp, running up to examine one.
They’re small, adorable, whimsical pieces of art built to blend in with the trail.
Some are wood, some are stone, some have gable roofs, and some even have little chimneys.
A couple of gnome figurines sit outside of one.
There are mushrooms, moss, butterflies, and some bright flowers that make the whole place feel magical.
She lets out the most adorable squeal in the history of squeals as she looks at everything.
“This is by far the cutest hiking trail in existence,” she gushes.
“I thought you’d like it,” I murmur, sidling up to her to wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her temple. She melts into me, huffing a disbelieving laugh.
“I love it,” she says, nuzzling into my chest.
“Here, let’s keep going. There’s more to see,” I say, pulling away to take her hand and keep moving on the trail.
Her head is on a constant swivel, trying to drink in everything all at once.
The flush of her cheeks makes her look so luminous in the low lighting of the cloudy day.
We’re not walking for long before we make it to exactly where I want us to be.
This part of the trail overlooks the Rahway river and the Hemlock falls, and it’s breathtaking.
She’s staring at the cascading falls in awe.
“This is absolutely incredible. I had no idea there was a place like this right in our state,” she says with a shake of her head.
When she looks back at me, I pull the box out of my pocket, drop to one knee, and hold it up. Her face goes slack with surprise.
“Mi vida, we started out this whole crazy marriage of convenience scheme as two friends who were simply trying to reach our goals. I was so scared of love before I met you that I refused to see the truth. From the moment we met, I’ve never been the same.
I started to wish and hope you’d come to the bar after work so I could see you.
When my dad said I had to get married to get the bar, you were my first thought. ”
Her hand is over her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. My own voice feels throttled, my eyes stinging at seeing her emotion. It takes me a few hard swallows to gather myself, but I press on.
“Once you moved into our house, it was like finding the missing puzzle piece to finally complete the picture of what I want every single day for the rest of my existence to look like. I can honestly say that I love every last freckle, every glance over our coffee cups, every sassy comeback, every reassuring touch that you’ve brought into my life.
Calling you mi vida is fitting, because my life is infinitely better with you in it. I love you so much, Celeste.”
She’s dissolved into hiccuping sobs now, and my tears are falling pretty damn freely, too. I inhale deeply, waiting anxiously for her response, trying to let the soothing sounds of the waterfalls and the woodsy smells of the trail ground me.
“I love you too, Gage. So much. You’ve become the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
I’ve lived in so many different houses, but the one we live in is the first that feels like a true home, because of you and the birds.
I’ve been a little anxious about what is going to happen with us since we both got what we wanted from the marriage.
Things have been so good between us that I’ve been too scared to ask,” she croaks in that throaty voice of hers.
My breath hitches, my heart going into a gallop.
“That’s on me. I should have talked about it with you sooner, but I wanted to surprise you with this to ask you. I’ve been preparing it for weeks to give you the fairy tale you deserve,” I say sheepishly.
“It’s perfect,” she whispers brokenly.
I open the box, and show her what’s inside. Her loud gasp melts into the surrounding sound of the water when she sees the ring.
“I never want to live another day without you in it, Celeste. Please stay. Stay and be my wife and make me the happiest man on earth,” I rasp through the lump in my throat.
“Yes! So much yes!” she cries.
I slip the ring on her finger with shaking hands. Hers are shaking, too.
It’s an antique looking beauty, with gold scrollwork on each side that has a little diamond nestled within the scrolls, all of it housing an oval center diamond.
When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect fairy tale ring for her.
It matches the delicate band she has on so well, I made sure to take a picture of it before I went shopping.