Epilogue
Three Months Later
Saylor opened the door after work on Wednesday three months later, stunned to see the living room transformed into a Christmas motif.
“What is going on here?” she asked, laughing.
There was an artificial tree in the corner fully lit up and covered with ornaments.
A red and green plaid throw blanket on the couch replacing the one she’d bought six months ago when she moved in.
The fireplace that was only for decoration in the living room had two stockings hanging from it with their names on it.
And Rowan was holding plastic mistletoe over his head and pointing to his lips.
“Ever heard of Christmas in July?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. Sometimes she didn’t know where his brain was at or what silly things he’d do next.
She strutted toward him and laid her lips to his.
“I have but don’t know where this is coming from.”
“We met over Christmas,” he said. “And spent that fabulous week together and yet neither of us had a gift to open.”
“We were strangers unprepared for what was handed to us,” she said. “Gifts weren’t on my radar.”
“But were we really strangers?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her and lifting her sideways, then putting her on the couch.
“It never felt that way to me.”
Nor had she felt uncomfortable around anything that related to him once she relaxed and realized her feelings were genuine.
His family was awesome and accepted her so easily.
She’d flown more in the past several months than she had in the past five years.
Foster’s wedding in April. To North Carolina to meet Talia’s daughter in May for two days, then from there to New York to meet Laken’s son for two days.
Luckily they planned it so they could catch a ride back to California on West’s jet with West, Braylon, and Nelson as Rowan’s three brothers had business on the West Coast.
Talk about traveling in style.
They’d planned on a quick two-day trip to meet her parents earlier this month, but her parents said it was too soon for her to be near Sandy and offered to spend some time in California.
She’d been relieved by the offer and took them up on it.
Her parents stayed at Rowan’s, had a wonderful vacation for five days they hadn’t had in a few decades and loved her boyfriend.
What wasn’t there to love about Rowan?
She hadn’t asked about her sister, but her father had volunteered Sandy was bitter over the vacation her parents were getting, but they’d said under no circumstances was her sister allowed to come or the threat to kick her out held.
The last thing she needed was her sister to blame her for anything more. All she wanted was peace and to live her life without the drama she’d experienced for years. Better late than never that her parents had her back.
Her mother even took the time to apologize for not standing up sooner or giving more support with her diabetes when she was younger.
It was behind her now, and in her eyes, she might not have turned out as strong as she had if she hadn’t been pushed to do it herself.
“I’ve got a gift for you,” Rowan said. He moved off the couch and pulled a big box toward her. She hadn’t seen it hidden there.
“Are you going to tell me what this is about? My birthday passed.”
He’d taken her to a romantic dinner, then given her a beautiful medical ID necklace to replace the basic bracelet she always wore and didn’t care for.
Somehow he’d figured out a way to have a fashionable necklace made that wouldn’t stand out for what it was unless you got close enough. On the back was his number to reach for an emergency.
She didn’t know why that made her cry, but it had.
“Have some fun,” he said. “You’re killing me.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll have some fun. Not sure what this could be. The box is huge.”
She pulled the paper away, undid the tape keeping it closed and found another box inside wrapped.
She let out a breath and squinted at him. “Yep. You need to unwrap each one to see what might hold the prize.”
“How many are there?” she asked, laughing.
“Don’t be a grouch. Just have fun with it.”
It was hard not to with Rowan nudging her on.
When she finally reached the sixth box, she caught on. “Six boxes for being the sixth kid?”
“You got it,” he said, tapping her nose. “Few would.”
“Because I get you.”
This box was small though. A jewelry box.
Her heart was hammering, her hands were shaking, her breath coming in short.
Rowan was still grinning.
He pulled it out of her hand. “It’s best if I do this one. You know, like unwrapping my love for you. You know what it is, don’t you?”
She nodded her head. “I do.”
“That’s for a later date. Unless you’re saying no. If that is the case, we just had fun with empty boxes and I’ll tell you this is empty too.”
“I’m not saying no,” she said, sniffling. A tear rolled down her cheek. She wasn’t one to cry when she was happy. Never once in her life.
Rowan pulled the paper off, then flipped the lid. Inside was a heart-shaped diamond on a thick diamond band.
It was almost blinding her.
“You stole my heart six months ago. See, the six thing there again.”
“I see you’ve got a theme.”
“I do. I like to think I stole yours too and I’m never giving it back. We are meant. The stars aligned, the waves crashed.”
“The snow and ice fell,” she added, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Everything that could be thrown in the path of the other happened. Happiest day of my life was having my flight canceled.”
“Since I’ve met you, it’s been smooth sailing. Are you going to ask me or are we going to chat about all the ways we belong together?”
“You already told me you’d say yes,” he said, laughing. He slid the ring on her finger. Her hand was shaking. “Are you low?”
“No,” she said. “I’m excited. Ask me!”
“Saylor Beach. The love of my life. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the planet?”
“Yes. Because I want to be the happiest woman on the planet right there with you!”
The End!