Chapter 25 #2
Carly nodded, then curled into his arm as he pulled her into him with a twirl. He guided her back out with another spin, then motioned for her to spin around on her own. She did, hoping Christian would take hold of her and march her right out as promised once she was through.
But as she circled back around, eyes settling on the man before her, she realized it wasn’t Christian anymore; it was Gage. Standing there in all his tuxedoed glory, the lights accenting his chiseled jaw and hypnotizing brown eyes.
Her breath hitched.
Gage stretched his arm out to her. She looked at it for a blink, then straightened her arm out in return. She spun into him as Gage curled his arm around her. Just as she considered asking him what he was doing and why he was making her remain on that stage, Gage dropped onto one knee.
The band quieted, and then started in on another tune—The Moonlight Sonata. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the beautiful melody, one she’d once deemed belonged to Gage. In her mind, it always would.
A spotlight kicked on.
Christian extended a microphone to rest in front of Gage.
“Carly Bridger, I’ve spent months getting to know as much as I can about you. From the fact that you wanted to play the flute as a young girl, you were once terrified of frogs, and you, as it turns out, do not like peanut butter protein bars.”
Carly bit her bottom lip over a grin as all the heart flutters of hope swirled through her.
“I’d love to spend the rest of my life discovering all the things I have yet to learn. Will you do me the honor of being my bride?”
The massive room went still as Gage pulled out a ring box and popped it open. Gasps sounded around the room as the diamond came into sight. It was gorgeous. Exactly what she’d always wanted.
It took everything in her to not jump up and down in place like her mom and sister did when he came onto her TV back at home.
“Yes,” she blurted. “Of course!”
A heartwarming smile lit up his face as he shot to his feet and wrapped his arms around her. The crowd cheered loudly as he planted a warm, lingering kiss on her lips. And then another. “I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he said between kisses.
“Everybody, let’s give these two a round of congratulations here, shall we?” Christian motioned to them as the spotlight broadened to include him. The crowd cheered as Gage planted a kiss to her cheek.
As he walked her back to their table, the thought came to Carly that Gage’s premiere was less than two weeks away.
He’d be walking her onto the red carpet as his fiancée.
Gage didn’t have anything to prove to her; he’d already declared he loved her on live TV.
But it was just another reminder of how very committed he was, and Carly was grateful.
Her and Gage’s family were on their feet, ready to greet them with hugs of congratulation.
Carly moved from her mom, to her sister and her husband, Shawn, the two sandwiching her in a group hug.
Gage’s mom, Joan, was next. Carly had grown close to the woman over the last few months.
She’d been surprised at first to find that Joan was quite easygoing and down to earth.
Of course, Gage had said as much, but Carly had been pleased to find the truth of it for herself.
“You’ll make a wonderful addition to the family,” the beautiful woman said, a gleam in her hazel eyes. “I’ve been outnumbered in the Craven home for far too long. It’s about time we start evening up the score with a few ladies, I’d say.”
“Sounds good to me,” Carly agreed.
“I’ve been saying a similar thing for three years,” Jill’s husband, Shawn, bellowed. “I’ve finally got someone to help me man the grill.” He smacked Gage on the back.
“I make a mean polish dog,” Gage boasted through a grin.
Mark moved into the circle and pulled Carly in for a hug. “Thanks for making my boy so happy,” he said. “We look forward to having you officially join the family, Carly."
“Thank you,” Carly said, still riding on waves of adrenaline from the excitement.
“Carly Craven…” the man said with a nod. “It has a nice ring to it.” He gave her a pat on the shoulder and grinned that famous movie star grin.
Carly smiled in return. “I think so too.”
Everyone shuffled back into place as the staff came out with the salad plates.
Carly couldn’t wipe the grin off her face.
Gage rested a hand, palm up, on her lap, and Carly took hold of it.
In the hours ahead, they would finish dinner, enjoy the entertainment, dance together on the glowing squares, and then count into the new year.
Carly was looking forward to all of it, but most of all, she looked forward to the life she’d been hoping for since she was a kid.
She reached up and took hold of the pendant, considering that future and what it might bring over the years.
She offered a word of gratitude to the man upstairs.
Carly had spent a lot of years watching the waves go by, hoping that her circumstances would somehow change.
What she’d learned, by looking back over the last half year of her life, is that she had played an important part of making that happen.
It was like being on the water—there were several good times to be had.
She simply had to make the effort to catch the waves.
Someday she and Gage would be out there on the beach, a couple of little ones in tow, teaching them all about chasing tides and catching waves. Literal ones, of course, but metaphorical ones as well. They’d teach them to take initiative and take hold of the joy life has to offer.
With that hopeful thought in her heart, she offered one last prayer of gratitude. Life wouldn’t be perfect. In fact, it was sure to keep her guessing. But whatever she faced—God willing—Carly would have Gage by her side, and that was truly something to celebrate.