Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
CAMERON
FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER
Strathwyn Castle
Lochaven, Scotland
Snow has been falling all evening, quietly drifting and softening the gardens and surrounding forests.
Light and laughter reflect in the tall window of the tapestry gallery, illuminating the snow that’s accumulated on the windowsill.
Inside, the castle is warm, and garland that’s woven with silver and gold still winds along the sweeping staircase banister.
Centered on the far end of the room, an enormous Christmas tree towers toward the vaulted ceiling, its ornaments catch the firelight in quick flashes of gold and red.
The smell of coffee and desserts mixes with the smell of evergreen, the New Year only a few minutes away.
Fifteen months ago, I never could have imagined this.
Not Strathwyn.
Not this life.
Not this peace.
I stand near the tall windows, coffee warming my hands, and watch the snow curl against the window.
“Good grief,” Mom says, stepping up beside me.
I glance over at her, and she’s staring at the wall of tapestries as if they might start moving.
“Your boyfriend just casually lives here,” she murmurs with a teasing smile.
“He doesn’t live here.” I laugh softly.
“Sweetheart.” She looks around the room. “There are suits of armor in the hallway. And that dinner? I don’t think I’ve ever had rack of lamb that delicious.”
I smile into my coffee cup and turn away from the window, immediately finding Gregg.
He’s standing by the Christmas tree talking to his parents, his sweater matching his beautiful emerald eyes and his smile is wider than I’ve ever seen.
Harrison claps a hand on Gregg’s shoulder, pulling him toward him. And he doesn’t flinch.
Mom looks at me with a soft expression. “Cameron,” she says quietly, reaching out and adjusting the collar of my shirt as if I were a child. “I’m proud of you. For everything.”
For a moment neither of us speaks. The fire crackles from the hearth nearby, and laughter echoes from Riley and Julian, who are cozying up to one another on a sofa.
Mom places a gentle hand against my cheek and studies my face in a way only a parent can. “You’ve been through so much,” she continues softly. “More than anyone should have to carry in a lifetime.”
Drew.
Marc.
The silence and everything it took to stand back up again. Her other hand finds mine and squeezes tightly. “But you did it. You kept going.”
I look back at our reflection in the snowy window. “I didn't do it alone,” I say quietly with a smile.
“No,” she agrees. “You didn't.” Mom’s eyes drift over to Riley, then Gregg, then back to me, and her expression is full of steadiness. “But I want you to hear this clearly. No matter where life takes you, no matter how grand your surroundings get.”
Her voice softens and I let out a laugh.
“You are the thing I am most proud of in this world.”
My eyes begin to sting.
“I love you more than anything,” she says simply. Mom gives my hand one last squeeze before letting go. “Well,” she glances toward the other end of the gallery where Victoria and Harrison are standing, “I think I’ll go mingle before I embarrass you by staring at the tapestries any longer.”
“You could never embarrass me.” I laugh.
“You say that now,” Mom counters with a knowing smile.
She leans up and kisses my cheek with familiar warmth, then makes her way across the gallery.
Victoria pulls away from Gregg and loops her arm through Mom’s with easy warmth, guiding her to a sofa.
The two fall deep into conversation and Harrison joins them with a scotch in hand—a secret surely to be kept from his doctor.
Watching Mom and Gregg’s parents interact feels surreal, but in a good way. I’m smiling to myself when suddenly—
“Happy New Year!” Riley appears, planting a loud kiss on my cheek.
I laugh, draping my arm around her. “It’s not time yet!”
She freezes in the middle of celebration, glancing dramatically toward an antique clock on the fireplace mantle. “Oh.”
“Still a few minutes away,” I say. “It’s okay though, at least you’re pretty.”
She punches me playfully in the shoulder, then sighs in mock disappointment. “Well, that’s anticlimactic.” Her arm loops through mine easily. “Still,” she adds with a grin. “Happy almost New Year!”
“Happy almost New Year, to you!”
For a few moments we stand there and take in the warmth of our surroundings.
“You know,” Riley states, nudging me lightly, “this whole transferring to the London base was kinda the best decision we ever made.”
I nod. “No more long haul flights across the Atlantic. Remember that Globe-Trot we did?”
“God,” she groans. “Sometimes I try not to. That was insane!” She laughs and takes a sip of mulled wine. “I’m here for the short hops to Paris, Rome, Vienna… up and down.”
“We can actually sleep like normal people when we get back,” I add.
“We live actual lives,” Riley corrects me.
She’s glowing so much these days, even more than she did before.
Somehow stronger, softer, and steadier. Her hand lifts absentmindedly as she gestures while she talks, and her ring catches the firelight.
I reach for it without thinking, taking her hand in mine gently and turning it slightly so the stone flashes again.
“I still can’t get over this.” I sigh happily.
“Two whole months,” Riley states proudly as she beams.
The diamond is elegant without being too flashy, and exactly her style. It’s Julian’s style too if I’m being honest. “He did good,” I admit.
“He did great.” She squeezes my hand.
With Mom occupying Victoria and Harrison, Gregg was free to join Julian by the fireplace. I glance over toward them, they’re casually leaning against the mantle, but Riley and I are keenly aware at how Julian’s eyes dart toward her every few seconds.
“Have you started any planning?” I ask.
She snorts. “Ha! Nope! We’re just enjoying it all.”
I give her a squeeze and say quietly, “I’m really happy for you.”
“I know,” she says, her expression softening. “I’m happy for you too. But you know what?”
“What?”
“As wild as that Globe-Trot was, if I had to do it with you again, I would.”
“And why would you put yourself through that again?” I ask confused.
“Because I would’ve never met Julian. And you’d never have met Gregg.”
But before I can respond, Gregg looks up and our eyes meet. The room lights up even more and I feel warmth spread through me. Gregg glances at his watch and his brows lift.
“Well!” he says suddenly, clapping his hands together once. “We’re about to miss it!”
Everyone turns toward him.
“It’s almost midnight,” he announces, already moving toward the hall and dragging Julian by the sleeve behind him. “Come on, help me get the champagne in here.
“Oi!” Julian protests, and he laughs as he’s dragged away. Their voices fade down the corridor, the two of them speaking excitedly about something.
I’m still looking toward the darkened hall with a smile when Harrison approaches me. He’s recovered well from his heart attack and surgery, and he moves with strength. He stops in front of me and extends his hand, and I take it.
“Cameron,” he says as he grips my hand with warmth.
“Harrison.”
He releases my hand and glances around. “Well,” he says, “how does it feel to be back at Strathwyn?”
“It’s been incredible,” I admit, following his gaze to the towering tree. “I’ve really enjoyed the holidays here.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
Silence settles between us, thoughtfully.
“And you?” I ask. “How’s retirement treating you?”
“Boring,” he says immediately, letting out a dry laugh. “Absolutely dismal. Forty-five years of waking up with a battlefield waiting for you, and suddenly there’s nothing.”
He gestures vaguely toward the window behind us, snow continuing to collect against the panes. “But,” he adds, “it has been nice as well.”
“Nice?”
“To step back,” Harrison says simply. “To step back and rebuild.” He looks at Gregg as he returns with Julian, a tray of champagne in his hands.
“Come along everyone,” Gregg announces as he places the tray on a table and begins offering glasses of pale bubbles. “Only a few more moments till midnight!”
A proud look spreads across Harrison’s face, then he turns his attention to me and studies me.
It’s the same evaluating gaze I remember from that terrible night at Ashcombe, except now it’s warmer.
Perhaps prouder. He reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder, a simple and familial gesture. “Thank you,” he says.
Two words that carry the weight of one hundred things unsaid.
Thank you for saving him.
For loving his son.
“You’re welcome,” I say quietly.
Harrison gives my shoulder one last squeeze before stepping away toward the others. Victoria calls him over with a gentle wave, and soon they’re standing with my mom and Riley near the tree. Their voices blend with warmth and festivity.
I step toward the fireplace and hold my hands out toward the stone hearth and welcome the warmth as it steeps through my fingers.
The New Year is almost here, and it’s hard to believe that it’s been fifteen months since everything shifted.
Fifteen months since I decided not to run.
Behind me, footsteps approach, and I don’t need to turn to know who it is.
Gregg steps up beside me and places two champagne flutes on the mantle, his dark hair catches the light of the fire.
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, my back pressed against his chest, and tucks his head close to mine.
“It’s so wonderful having everyone here.” He sighs happily.
I turn and plant a kiss on his cheek in response.
“And you,” he continues, “have never looked more handsome.”
I roll my eyes automatically and smile earnestly. “You say that anytime we dress up.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“And you also say that when I’m in sweats lounging at home.”
“Still true.” He maintains.
“And the time I had the flu.”
Gregg grins. “You were pale but absolutely striking.”
“One minute!” Riley and Julian call out together.
Gregg releases me and takes the glasses from the mantle, placing one in my hand.
“Your ‘not champagne’ champagne.”
I smile as I clink my glass of sparkling cider to his glass of champagne, bubbles surge from the depths to the surface. Gregg takes a slow breath as he guides us toward everyone.
“Cam,” he says gently, and I look up.
“Life without you,” he says quietly, “was like life without music. It was unbearable, and I mean that.”
I bump my shoulder into him and smile, blush spreading through my cheeks. “And look where we are now.” I gesture to everyone. “Would you have thought then that our holidays could look like this?”
“Never in a million years.” He laughs. “I’ve reflected on the last year and a half and I’ve realized—”
“Thirty seconds!” Julian’s voice booms like a cannon.
The room erupts with laughter and everyone stands and gathers toward the tree. Gregg places an arm at my back and guides us toward them. “I’ve reflected and realized that every good thing in my life, every bit of joy and step forward…”
His voice dips low.
“It’s because of you. My life is better because you’re in it.”
My heart stumbles, and I look into his eyes. Gregg takes my hand and traces my knuckles with his thumb as the countdown begins around us.
“Twenty!”
Riley looks up at Julian, and he beams back at her. Victoria leans against Harrison, looping her arm through his.
“Ten!”
Mom catches my eye, smiles, and blows me a kiss. I glance sideways at Gregg, and he’s looking at me. Not the clock. Not the room. Just me.
“Five!”
The chandelier glitters.
“Four!”
The fire crackles.
“Three!”
Snow blows outside like confetti.
“Two!”
Gregg’s thumb grazes the back of my hand.
“One!”
The whole room shouts and cheers, “Happy New Year!”
Gregg pulls me into a kiss that feels warm and electric all at once. Fifteen months of healing and learning and choosing each other is wrapped up in a single breath. When we finally pull apart, we’re both smiling like idiots.
“Happy New Year, my love” he murmurs.
“Happy New Year, babe.”
We lift our glasses with a clink, and I take a sip of cider as he sips from his. Something taps softly against the glass and glints. I lower the glass slightly and peer inside as the object shifts in the bubbles, and I look up at Gregg.
“Is that…?” My voice breaks into a laugh. “Is that a ring?”
Gregg bites back a grin. “I think,” he says calmly, taking a deep breath, “you’ll have to drink it to find out.”
Laughter ripples through the room behind us, but my focus has narrowed.
Carefully, I take a few more sips till I can gently slide the ring out with my fingers.
I set the glass aside and turn the polished platinum band over in my fingers.
Three small diamonds are set into the band, and they catch the light of the fire.
My vision blurs. “Oh my…”
When I look up, Gregg isn’t standing anymore. He’s down on one knee. The room is silent, and I glance over my shoulders and see everyone has gathered around us. Close enough to see, but far enough away to recognize it’s our moment. My heart pounds in my ears, and Gregg takes both my hands in his.
“Cam,” he says softly, “my darling.”
Tears fall freely from my eyes, and I let out a laugh through them.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life.” His voice is steady and his emerald eyes shine. “You are the best part of my day. You are my home.”
His thumbs brush my knuckles.
“You are my music. My heart.”
My chest aches with how much love is packed into those words.
“So, Cameron Hayes,” he says gently, taking the ring and holding it between us. “Will you marry me?”
His voice softens even more. “And be mine, always?”
I glance back over my shoulder. Mom stands beside Riley, both of them crying. Riley presses a hand over her mouth while Julian smiles, holding her close.
Everything I’ve lived through. The grief. The healing. The growth. It’s all folding into this moment. I look back at Gregg, and all I can say is, “I love you.”
The truth of it fills me like air in my lungs. “Yes,” I whisper simply. “Of course I will.”
The words land like a promise, and Gregg laughs softly through his own tears as he slides the ring onto my finger. Our family cheers around us, but for a moment it’s only us.
It’s just us.
All the loss, the grief, the growth, it’s all lead here to this moment.
The distance between us finally closed.