Chapter Sixteen
Flynn
I sat in our living room, staring at the wall while Heather gushed about Devan. She was describing their latest date, complete with mouth watering pastries, soft jazz music, and a cozy corner table at a little café downtown.
The whole time, I offered nothing but the occasional nod or a quiet “Uh-huh… wow.”
“…and did I mention he brought me fresh flowers again?” Heather said, her eyes gleaming. “I mean, he’s just so thoughtful, Flynn. Not too showy—he just does these sweet little things that make my heart flutter.”
She leaned back on the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest as if hugging the memory. “And I promise this café has the best croissants in the city!”
My mind was drifting, but I managed an absent, “Sounds great, Heath.”
She made an exaggerated face at me. “You do realize I’ve been talking for at least five minutes straight, right? Did you hear a word I said?”
“Mmh,” I muttered, blinking. “Yeah—croissants… Devan… best in the city.”
Heather shook her head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you today. You’re barely listening. Normally, you’d at least joke about how Devan and I are so wrapped up in each other.” She poked my knee. “Come on, big brother, what’s on your mind?”
I tried to focus, but Cedar’s face was all I could see. I kept remembering the way her eyes lit up when she was happy, and how protective I’d felt when I saw her upset outside the gala that night. That was when I should’ve realized something deeper was going on inside me.
Heather started in again, her voice taking on a more somber tone.
“…and with those articles about Cedar and Devan… you know, I was worried for a second. I didn’t want those rumors to hurt her. I mean, I know your engagement isn’t exactly real, so… a tiny part of me wondered if maybe she really had chosen Devan. Especially after those pictures.”
Her words cut through my haze. I frowned. “There was nothing going on with Cedar and Devan,” I said, a bit too sharply. “The reporters just… made things up.”
Heather gave me a sympathetic look. “I know. But people can be so gullible. Even I doubted for a split second. It’s so unfair.”
She sighed, glancing down at her phone. “Honestly, if I could figure out who started those rumors, I’d have some choice words for them. We should teach them a lesson about messing with the people we love.”
I nodded, still on autopilot, until something in me snapped. Abruptly, I sat up straighter, heart pounding. “I’m going to propose to Cedar,” I blurted out.
Heather froze. Then she let out a jubilant squeal that almost made me jump off the couch. “Finally! Oh my goodness, Flynn, that’s amazing! But, wait—this time you mean a real proposal, right?”
I nodded, the urgency inside me building. “For real. I want to marry her. Immediately.”
Heather’s mouth fell open in delight. “Okay, hold on! Last I checked, you said this entire engagement was a sham to keep the family and the press off your backs. So, what changed?”
“Let’s just say,” I began slowly, “I realized I’ve been in love with her for a while. I was too stubborn—or too scared—to admit it.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, you have no idea how happy this makes me. Now, fess up! Exactly when did you know?”
I searched my memories. A flash of Cedar in her evening gown at the gala came back to me, along with that pang in my chest when I saw her crying outside.
“It might’ve been that gala. When your boyfriend told us she was crying, I felt… protective. I convinced myself it was because she was my date for the night, but it was more than that. And then, that moment we almost kissed, I told myself it was just physical attraction. Lies, obviously. Eventually, I couldn’t ignore what I felt.”
Heather scooted closer, her voice softening. “You’ve known her forever, Flynn. She’s always been Ciara’s little sister in your eyes, but now…” She smiled knowingly. “Now you can’t imagine life without her.”
I exhaled, my chest tight. “Exactly. She’s… everything.”
Heather grinned, then practically bounced off the couch. “I’m so, so thrilled for you. You deserve this. You both do.”
I gave her a grateful look. “Thanks, Heather. I just… I don't know how to tell her.”
“Oh, please,” Heather said with a laugh. “She’s obviously head-over-heels for you. At least, that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing.”
“You don’t know that,” I argued half-heartedly, but my sister only rolled her eyes.
“I do. Everyone does—everyone but you, apparently.” She flicked the pillow at me. “So get your head straight and plan something romantic.”
I swallowed hard. “Alright. Will you help me put something simple but nice together? I want it to be special, but not over the top.”
Heather raised both hands like a victor. “Yes! You don’t have to ask me twice.”
I rose to my feet, feeling both exhilarated and nervous. “Great. I’ll see you later then—I have a re-engagement to plan.”
Heather clasped her hands. “We’re doing it today?”
I nodded. “Yes. Today.”
She let out another squeal. “Wonderful! I’m calling my designer right now.”
My brows drew together. “What does your designer have to do with anything?”
Heather snorted. “We have a wedding to plan, obviously. And this is my only brother’s wedding—I need to look good!”
Shaking my head, I headed for the door. I couldn’t help but smile. If ‘dramatic’ had a face, it was definitely Heather’s.
***
Before going to Cedar’s, I made a stop at the cemetery. Ciara’s headstone sat beneath a tall oak tree where the sun filtered gently through the leaves.
I knelt down, brushing away a few fallen leaves. For a moment, I just stood there in silence, remembering.
Ciara had been my best friend for as long as I could recall. She was always full of laughter and had a wicked sense of humor. Even when she got sick, she managed to crack jokes that made me roll my eyes or double over with laughter.
And then there was Cedar—her younger sister—always trailing after Ciara, looking up to her, wanting to help. In some ways, Cedar reminded me of Ciara, but she was so wholly herself: quieter, warmer, more patient.
Today, I needed Ciara’s blessing. I’d been coming here a lot lately, but I’d talked about everything except the real reason I was here.
I took a deep breath, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“Ciara… I know you always teased me about caring too much for your sister. Maybe you saw this coming. I—well, I’m in love with her. Deeply. She’s… changed my life. I want to protect her, make her happy, and keep her laughing. I’m asking for your permission, your blessing, or… I don’t know. Maybe I just need to believe you’re okay with it.”
A breeze rustled the leaves above me, and a warm ray of sunlight hit my shoulders. Somehow, I felt a strange calm, like Ciara was telling me she approved.
“Thank you,” I whispered, kissing my fingertips and pressing them to the headstone. “I promise I’ll love her, the way we both wanted you to be loved.”
On my way back to my car, my phone rang. It was Heather, calling for the fourth time in the last two hours.
“Hey, Heath,” I said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “What’s up?”
“Good news! The beach setup is almost ready. I’ve got the lights going up, the sign is on the way, and the music is covered. A friend of mine owes me a favor, so he’s playing guitar—‘A Thousand Years,’ right?”
My heart gave a little lurch. That was Ciara and Cedar’s song. “Yeah, that’d be perfect.”
“Great. Oh, and I think you should talk to the florist to confirm the flowers. Can you do that?”
I agreed, hanging up with a flurry of grateful words. It was all coming together, and somehow it felt right.
A short while later, I arrived at Cedar’s place. My nerves must have been showing, because the moment she opened the door in a simple white floral dress, she paused.
“Hey,” she said, giving me a radiant smile. Her gray eyes sparkled in the afternoon light. “You look… tense. Are you okay?”
I realized I was practically shaking. “I’m good,” I managed. “Really good. Ready to go?”
She nodded, slipping on her sandals. “Yep, ready.”
In the car, my phone rang and I ignored it. Cedar glanced over at me, curiosity in her eyes. “So… where are we off to?”
“Oh, just… somewhere nice,” I said, trying to sound casual. My phone buzzed again; I glanced at the screen—it was Heather. I ignored it this time to avoid raising Cedar’s suspicions.
“Flynn?” Cedar asked, turning down the music. “You’ve been getting a lot of calls today. It’s not more ‘training’ like with Zanzibar, is it?”
I chuckled nervously. “No, love. I promise I’m not dragging you into anything like that ever again.”
She studied me for a few seconds, then seemed to accept my words. “Alright, I believe you.”
Still, her curiosity must have been piqued because she tried again to start a conversation. “How was your day?”
I swallowed, forcing a steady tone. “Busy. Meetings, calls. You know… typical stuff.”
Cedar smiled gently. “Anything you want to talk about? You seem distracted.”
I shot her a quick grin. “Soon,” I said, “but not right now.”
That answer only fueled her confusion, but thankfully she let it go. We drove along the coast, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. As the breeze from the open windows ruffled Cedar’s hair, I couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she looked.
When we reached the beach, golden light still glinted on the waves, and the sand felt warm beneath our feet. We strolled hand in hand, the rhythmic crashing of the water lulling us into a tranquil state.
“It’s been ages since I came here,” Cedar said softly, glancing at the horizon. “Not since—”
“Not since Ciara.” I finished the sentence for her. A flicker of sadness crossed her features.
We walked a bit further when faint music drifted through the air—“A Thousand Years.” Cedar’s head snapped up in surprise.
“That’s… that’s Ciara’s favorite song,” she whispered. We rounded a small dune, and lights blossomed in front of us. Twinkling strands were wound around makeshift posts, forming a pathway toward a small, decorated area on the sand. A single guitarist strummed softly, blending the gentle melody with the surf.
Cedar’s gaze darted to me, wide and questioning. “Flynn… what is this?”
I swallowed, my heart pounding. “Come on,” I said, guiding her forward.
As we followed the lighted path, Cedar’s hand tightened on mine. Up ahead, a sign lit up: “Marry Me Again.” Tears brimmed in her eyes. She turned to me, lip trembling.
I dropped to one knee, a small velvet box in hand. My voice wavered. “Cedar, I don’t know why it took me so long to see what was right in front of me. But these past few months… I realized I’m helplessly in love with you.”
She stared, seemingly forgetting to breathe.
“I don’t want to pretend anymore,” I continued. “I want you—truly, wholeheartedly—to be my wife. Will you marry me, for real this time?”
Her tears spilled over as she let out a shaky laugh. “Flynn… are you serious?”
I nodded, my own eyes burning. “I’ve never been more serious. I love you with everything in me.”
She barely managed to say, “I thought you’d never ask,” before throwing her arms around me. I slid the ring onto her finger, right next to the original engagement ring we’d used for the show. They glinted together in the light.
The guitarist finished the final chords, and then there was a burst of cheers from behind us. I turned to see Heather, stepping out from behind a post with her phone raised like a camera.
“Oh my gosh!” she squealed, capturing pictures. “That was so beautiful—I’m so happy for you guys!” She hurried over, hugging Cedar fiercely. “Welcome to the family, girl.”
Cedar laughed, her cheeks damp. “Thanks, Heather.”
I pulled Cedar against me, still shaky from the rush of emotion. “You okay?”
“More than okay,” Cedar whispered, turning to press her forehead against mine. “I love you, Flynn. I always have. I was just… scared you didn’t feel the same.”
I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, relief and joy coursing through my veins. “You never have to be scared again.”
Heather was practically bouncing. “Alright, lovebirds, come on. Let me get some more photos for the official announcement. Mom is going to freak out—in a good way. I already told her something big was happening tonight.”
Cedar blinked. “You told your Mom before telling me?”
I laughed sheepishly. “I had to. It’s complicated. You’ll forgive me, right?”
She smiled, lacing her fingers with mine. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m just… so happy.”
We stood there a while longer, letting the waves and the fading sunset cradle us in warmth. Heather took pictures, and for a few moments, I could almost sense Ciara’s presence—like she was laughing along with us, celebrating, giving us her blessing.
And in that moment, I knew beyond a doubt that I’d made the right choice—one that would shape the rest of my life.
Later, after the photographer friend and the guitarist had packed up, and the lights were still twinkling on the beach, Cedar and I remained behind for a quiet walk along the shore.
We talked about the future—about wedding plans, about how soon we wanted to make it official. She teased me about how clueless I’d been and admitted she’d nearly lost hope I’d ever come around.
It felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of us, walking barefoot on the sand. A gentle breeze tugged at Cedar’s hair, and she leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder. For a moment, I closed my eyes and thanked Ciara, and most importantly the Creator—for bringing us here.
We had challenges ahead, sure. But right now, in the hush of the waves, I knew we’d face them together.