10. Chapter 9
Liam
I stand in the opening of the third cave, waiting. I wanted Serena to find the treasure herself, if there even is a treasure, so I had the pilot drop me off here.
But there may also be another reason.
“Do you think she’s chickening out?” Caleb asks.
I grin at him and Amelia and my grandfather, all leaning against the inner cave wall, hugging it like they are afraid they will fall off into the ocean.
Getting them here wasn’t easy. But it will be worth it for the look on Serena’s face when she steps around that bend.
If she does. Did she find it? I’m dying to run out there and help her look.
“It’s hard to back out of a wedding you don’t know is happening. Which is why I didn’t tell her,” I say.
“She might push you into the ocean.”
She might.
But just as I think that, the most beautiful woman in the world steps out of the cave opening and into my view.
Her hand flies to her mouth. “Liam?” she squeaks. Her gaze flits between the people gathered around, people who I know love her nearly as much as I do. “What’s going on?”
“Oh yeah, you missed my question.” I smirk, stalking toward her. “Will you marry me?”
Her eyes widen like a cartoon character. “Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“But what about the treasure?” She holds up a dusty rucksack. Old me would be ripping into that bag, but new me couldn't care less what’s inside that dirty bag.
“I already found the real thing.”
“What?”
“Six months ago, when you came back into my life. I found the treasure I’ve been searching for my whole life. My one and only.”
Tears spring to her eyes, and she blinks rapidly, trying and failing to force them back.
I drop to my knee on the rough cave floor. Rocks dig into my skin, but I barely feel them.
“Marry me, Serena,” I whisper, trying to portray the extent of my love and desperation for her. I’ll never be able to though.
“You mischievous little…" she shakes her head with a laugh. "Aren’t you supposed to let the woman plan the wedding?”
I raise a brow. “Did you want to?”
“Not at all.” She laughs. “This is absolutely insane, but yes, I’ll marry you, right here, right now.”
“Well, get on up here then,” Grandpa breaks in with a laugh.
“You got ordained?” Serena asks.
“Sure did. I also got my pilot's license. Liam said I could take the helicopter for a spin later.”
“I most definitely did not.” I chuckle.
“It was worth a shot.” Grandpa sighs. “Alright, are we ready to begin?”
“Wait!” Amelia speaks up for the first time. I’m honestly surprised she lasted this long. “Serena, can I be your maid of honor?”
Serena fights a smile. “Fine.”
Amelia squeals and hugs her then places herself on Serena’s other side. I turn to Caleb. “What do you say, sport?”
“I’m not even sure I should support this union,” Caleb says. Amelia glares at him and he sighs. “But I’ll admit, you’ve made my partner happy, and that’s all that matters to me.”
I pat his shoulder. “We’ll be best friends before you know it.”
“I could still push you off this cliff.”
“You need some more time; I get it. We’ll start simple—dinner parties in my penthouse.”
Caleb clenches his jaw and turns his attention to my grandfather, who is smiling so big he has tears in his eyes.
“We are here today to join this man and this woman…” My attention slips away from his words as the feeling of love nearly knocks me off-kilter.
Never in my life have I been surrounded by such an overwhelming feeling of completeness.
Never in my life did I think I’d find Serena, that I’d get a chance to redeem myself and marry her. But here I am.
“Liam?”
I blink, looking at my grandfather.
“Your vows?”
“Oh, right.” I turn my attention to Serena.
“I’ve been planning our wedding for months.
When we got to London two days ago, I put Amelia and Caleb on a plane to meet us here.
I planned on marrying you beneath that willow tree where you first kissed me.
But then I remembered this spot when I read the journal and knew this is where I wanted to surprise you.
I texted them all to get here, then plans changed because we like to keep each other on our toes.
” I grin at her and a slight blush finds her cheeks.
“You set this all up?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “Was this a fake treasure hunt?”
“No, the treasure hunt was very much real, as real as the treasure in your hands. It was simply luck our first clue was beneath a dress store. I did lie about the jewelry store though. There was no connection. I just needed to pick up this.” I slip the ring box from my pocket.
I open the box to reveal the vintage ring with a large oval diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, like it’s the sun.
She’s my sun, my light, everything. I designed it my first week in Phoenix.
Yes, I was bored, but I wanted to be ready for the right time. Which I found.
“Is this stolen?” she whispers.
“Like I’d tell you if it was.” I slip the ring onto her finger. She immediately cradles it to her chest.
Her bottom lip trembles. “You’ve been telling me your vows this whole trip, haven’t you?”
“I have. Because I want you to know I’m not in this for today only, but forever.
Every day I’ll repeat my vows. Every day I will prove myself to you.
I promise, Serena, I’ll love you more than you have ever been loved before.
You've made me an honest man, and I will be the man you deserve for the rest of your life. You will always be my greatest treasure.”
She’s crying. I’m crying. I’m pretty sure the only one not crying is Caleb. Does the man even have a heart?
“Serena,” Grandfather says, “your turn for the vows.”
Serena shakes her head, swiping at her tears.
“I thought falling for you would be the biggest mistake of my life. But you are the best thing that has happened to me. When we were kids and now. You bring the color to my life. You make me laugh, make me dream. Sometimes you make me curse,” she grins, “but I only want to curse and dream with you. You showed me true love, and I will show you true love in return for the rest of our lives. I couldn’t imagine a better ending for us. ”
“Oh darling. This isn’t the end,” I whisper. We have so much life ahead, filled with the love we both dreamed of.
Grandpa Henry clears his throat. “By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
“Come here, wife.” I grab my bride and dip her, giving her a kiss I’ve been dreaming about all day. The last six months, I’ve thought of nothing else than this. Of marrying the woman I love. And I show her just how much I love her with every brush of my lips for a very long time.
“We, um, need another picture pose,” Amelia cuts in. “Maybe one where you’re looking at the camera?”
Serena pulls out of my grasp and turns to smile at our guests, but I last all of two seconds smiling toward the phone before my wife steals my attention again. My wife.
Only when Amelia has posed us fifteen different ways and is content with the variety of photos does Serena remember the treasure.
“We need to open it!” she says excitedly.
“You do it.” It could be a potato in that sack and I would still be smiling like a fool.
“Okay.” Serena takes a deep breath, and everyone gathers around as she loosens the ties on the bag.
She pulls a dust-covered book from the bag.
“A book?” Amelia asks, deadpan. “That was anti-climactic.”
Serena turns the book over and reads the title. “The Mysteries of Ireland.”
“It seems the adventure has only begun.” I grin.
“Let me guess. You won’t be starting on Tuesday,” Caleb says.
“You’re learning quickly, partner. I’ve got to take my wife on a honeymoon now, don’t I?” I grin and slap him on the back. “Also, there’s a treasure hunter named Howie Garfield running around Europe causing problems. Take care of that for me, would you?”