Chapter 47 #2
Within minutes, we’re in his truck, weaving slowly through town. The streets are packed with people gathered along the bridge and sidewalks, everyone waiting for the boats to begin their procession out into the ocean.
Instead of heading toward the harbor, Aiden turns into our subdivision, and a few minutes later, he’s pulling into the driveway outside his house.
“Come on,” he says again as he jumps out of the truck and disappears inside his house. A moment later, he reappears with Neptune and Skye on their leashes, the two dogs practically vibrating with excitement.
He hands me one of my sweaters that I apparently left at his house.
“You might need this,” he says.
I slip it on while he takes my hand again, and together we start walking down the street that runs along the shoreline. We pass several homes I’ve grown familiar with over the past few months.
At the end of the street, he leads me into a small field filled with tall trees. The ground is soft beneath my boots, still damp in places, and I’m suddenly grateful I wore my rain boots this morning.
We move through the trees and along what looks like a narrow, hidden path between tall grasses and thick coastal vegetation. I follow him without asking questions, trusting the quiet certainty in the way he moves.
Then we step through the last stretch of greenery, and suddenly the space opens up.
I stop in my tracks.
Before us is a hidden scenic point overlooking the cliffs, a small clearing surrounded by wild vegetation where the ocean stretches endlessly in every direction. From here, the harbor is perfectly visible below, the boats just beginning to leave the docks and move out into open water.
“Wow,” I breathe.
As if the timing were planned, the procession begins the moment we arrive. One by one, the beautifully decorated boats pass in front of us, flowers spilling over their rails as people aboard wave toward the shoreline.
We wave back, laughing quietly as the boats glide past.
Natalia’s husband, Officer Garcia, had offered earlier for Aiden and me to join them aboard one of the Coast Guard vessels. But honestly, I didn’t know if Aiden would be ready to go out into the ocean yet, so I thought we might enjoy watching it from shore instead.
Standing here now, with the ocean spread out before us, Aiden beside me, and our dogs racing happily through the grass, I realize I made the right decision.
Aiden slips his arm around my waist as the boats position themselves in a wide circle out on the water.
A moment later, the unmistakable sound of a Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter echoes overhead.
The aircraft sweeps over the town first, circling once while cheers erupt from the crowds lining the bridge and shoreline.
Then it turns and heads straight toward the harbor.
As it approaches us again, the door is wide open.
Finn is standing inside.
Even from this distance, I can see the enormous grin on his face as he spots us. He lifts a hand and waves.
We wave back, laughing as the helicopter moves into position above the center of the circle formed by the boats.
When it steadies itself above the water, Finn—wearing his bright orange rescue suit and flippers—moves to the open doorway. A large wreath of flowers rests over his shoulder.
Slowly, the cable lowers him toward the ocean.
Everyone watches in silence.
When his feet finally touch the surface of the water, he gently releases the wreath into the center of the circle. One by one, the boats surrounding him begin dropping their own flowers into the ocean until the water is covered in drifting petals.
It’s a beautiful ceremony.
Standing here, watching it unfold from this quiet, hidden place, I feel something tighten in my chest.
I turn toward Aiden.
“I thought I lost you before I even had the chance to love you.”
He looks at me immediately, surprise flickering across his face as his hands settle on my arms.
“You love me?” he asks.
I smile and nod.
“I love you,” I say softly. “So much.”
He just looks at me, a slow smile forming on his face.
“Well,” he says, a little smirk appearing on his face, “I’m glad you do… because I have something to ask you.”
My heart stutters as he reaches into his pocket.
When he pulls his hand out, there’s a ring resting in his palm.
The sight of it makes my breath catch.
It’s my grandmother’s ring.
The rose-gold band curves delicately around a pear-shaped ruby, the deep color of red wine, its surface catching the sunlight and glowing warmly against the metal.
Small diamonds curl along the sides of the setting in intricate, almost vine-like patterns.
I’ve always admired it, because it’s both delicate and powerful.
The same ring my mother treasured, though she only wore it a few times, always saying one of us would wear it someday.
“How did you—”
“April gave it to me,” he says gently. “Before she left. She thought you should have it… and that I should be the one to give it to you.”
My thoughts are still spinning when he suddenly lowers himself onto one knee in front of me.
Shock freezes me in place, and the world seems to go very quiet around us.
“May Moreira, I love you with all my heart,” he says, looking up at me with a softness in his eyes that makes my chest ache. “Would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”
Fresh tears fill my eyes instantly.
“Yes!” I say, nodding so fast it almost makes me dizzy. “Yes, Aiden. A million times, yes!”
He stands and slips the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms and lifting me off the ground.
We both start laughing as he spins us in a slow circle, the ocean stretching endlessly behind him.
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him with everything in my heart while Neptune and Skye run excited circles around us, barking and racing through the grass as if they somehow understand what just happened.
And standing there with the wind coming off the ocean, the ring on my finger, and Aiden’s arms around me, I know with absolute certainty that this is only the beginning of the greatest adventure of my life.
Our life.
Together.