Chapter 54 West
“Okay, Maysie daisy, what do you think?”
“It’s perfect!” My niece’s little body jumps up and down, barely containing her excitement.
I look down the path of my patio to the end of the dock, and my pulse races with nerves.
From my sliding glass doors, all the way down to the end of the dock, Maysie has left a trail of flower petals. Wren added candles along the way, and there, at the very end, is where I will stand.
Today, I’m asking Jade to marry me.
Fairy lights are strung in trees, and just like Maysie said, it’s perfect.
I make my way to the end of the dock and take a quick peek at the ring that’s hiding in my back pocket.
Inside a velvet box sits a beautiful gold band with a big purple amethyst surrounded by diamonds on the sides.
It’s not your typical engagement ring, but when I saw it, I knew it was the one.
It’s a perfect match to the bracelet I gave to Jade all those months ago.
I can’t wait to see it on her finger.
I close the lid, softly tucking it away as soon as I spot my parents and siblings off to the side by the tree line. Seconds later, Nick joins them, and I send him a grateful smile. I’m glad he gets to be here for this.
Those first few weeks after Jade woke up, Nick had to go back and reopen a drowning case. It turns out Jade’s family wasn’t the first time Adam killed someone.
At the crunch of gravel and slamming doors, I start to sweat with nerves.
I left Sarah in charge of getting Jade home.
I hold my breath and wait.
The doors to the patio slide open, and Jade steps out.