Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Emily and Aaron stayed at a lovely little boutique inn on Bribie Island. It was old and a bit run-down, but the owner was an elderly lady who put freshly baked sourdough bread in a little box outside their door each morning. And the fridge was packed with local produce—eggs, butter, milk, homemade jam, chocolates and more.
“This is luxurious,” Emily said the next morning as she sat in a rocking chair wearing only a white robe. She raised a piece of sourdough slathered in jam to her mouth and took an enormous bite.
“It’s perfect.”
They ate scrambled eggs, bacon, bread with jam and drank cappuccinos from an espresso maker in the small kitchen. After breakfast, Emily had a bubble bath and read a book while Aaron went hiking on one of the trails that ran parallel to the beach. She could hear the waves crashing to shore while she read.
After she felt as though she was pruney enough, she climbed out of the bath and towelled off. Then she got dressed in a pair of loose-fitting pants and a singlet top. She put on suncream and sunglasses and went out onto the beach to see if she could find him.
He was out there, sitting in the sand in his hiking clothes—shorts and a T-shirt—staring off into the distance over the curling waves. She sat next to him and put her head on his shoulder. He wound his arm around her.
“Did you have a nice bath?”
“Lovely,” she said with a yawn. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in…well, I don’t know how long.”
“I’m glad.” He turned to face her and pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket. “Because I want to ask you a question.”
Emily gasped and pressed both hands to her mouth. “What?”
He smiled. “I’ve known you longer than I can remember. I knew you were cute and fun.”
She laughed.
“But that was the extent of most of my attraction in the teen years. And the fact that you were Tristan’s little sister was enough to keep me from asking you on a date. But that was a long time ago. Now, things are very different.”
“I’m so glad,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
He grinned. “I’ve learned that you are warm, kind, sweet and thoughtful. That you spend all of your time, energy and attention helping and caring for other people. You’re the most selfless person I know. And when I’m with you, I feel happy.”
“I’m happy with you too,” she said, holding back a sob.
He opened the box, and a small diamond glinted back at her in the morning sunlight. She wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Emily Miller, I love you and want to spend the rest of my days with you. And I know I’ve asked this once already and been turned down…” He laughed. “But I’m hoping you won’t make it twice. You asked for me to do it properly, and you were right.”
She loved his heart. Loved his face, his eyes, his sweet nature even as he was tough and strong. But was it his compassion provoking this proposal? She didn’t want that. She wanted to be longed for, desired as a wife. Not someone he felt responsible to take care of. He’d said that before, and she couldn’t get those words out of her head.
“I don’t know…” she replied with a sniffle. “I don’t think we should get married out of convenience. And I’m worried…”
“But it’s not convenience,” he replied. “We both know where we’re headed. And I was giving you time to finish your studies first because that’s what I thought you wanted. But after our recent discussion, I started thinking more about it, and I’m ready. I don’t want to wait. We’ve waited long enough. I want to marry you. I love you. You’re the one for me. I want to get married because I’m dying to marry you. Will you marry me?”
Emily pressed a hand to her mouth. She nodded her head slowly in disbelief. Could this really be happening?
“Yes!” she shouted. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you too. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”
He cried out for joy and leaned forward to kiss her on the mouth. Then he slipped the golden ring around her finger. She held it aloft to admire the glimmer. Then he kissed her again.
“I’m the happiest man in the world,” he whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers.