Epilogue One
. . .
GRAYSON
“You remember the plan, sugar?”
“I’ve got it under control!” Nova squeals, doing a spin so her dress fans out. “I won’t mess this up.” She gives me knuckles, clutching the cloth in her little hands.
“I’m counting on you.” I wink and then get into position.
I can hear their whole conversation from where I’m standing on the other side of the house. I try to muffle my laughs as best as possible.
“Will you play a game with me, Waisie?” Nova screams, a little too loud and obvious. “You have to wear this, though.” I can’t hear Maisie’s response, but Nova’s giggles tell me enough.
Nova leads her around the house to where I’m standing with The Foxes and Laine. Everyone stays silent as Nova marches Maisie right up to me.
“Now what?” Maisie asks, the prettiest smile on her face.
“Now it’s my turn,” I rasp, my throat catching. I rip the blindfold off and clasp her hands in mine.
“What’s going on?” she mumbles, looking around. She looks over my shoulder at her new surprise, her gorgeous eyes blowing wide. “What’s that?”
I place a kiss on each of her knuckles before pulling her behind me. “This is the start of your dreams, Maisie.”
I open the door to the pastel pink shed I built, leading her inside. It’s finished with hardwood flooring, bookshelves along the walls, and a handmade desk sitting in front of the single window, the typewriter I got her sitting on top.
“You built me a writing shed?” she squeals, jumping into my arms.
I kiss her and set her back down. “Well, go on, check it out,” I laugh, my heart beating erratically for what’s next.
She runs her palm across the fake lupine wall adorned with a neon light that reads Maisie Rae, her pen name.
“It’s perfect. I love it so much.” She walks over to the desk, dragging her fingers over the typewriter. She freezes after reading the words I typed on the page notched inside.
I’m already down on one knee when she turns around. “Come here, honey,” I beg. She rushes over, one hand planted over her mouth. I grab her free hand and let her see all the raw emotions I’m feeling.
“Maisie, you are, without a doubt, the love of my life. You are the blood that runs through my veins, the laughter that feeds my soul, and the love they write about in romance novels. I’m eternally indebted to you.
Holding your heart is my greatest achievement.
There are no words that could ever equate to the love I have for you, but I’m hoping you will do me the honor of calling you mine forever. ”
I pull out a little black velvet box from my back pocket, flipping it open to reveal an emerald cut diamond set in a gold band. “Maisie Rae Brooks, the sweetest honey I’ve ever tasted, will you marry me and complete our epilogue?"
A sob wracks her body so hard, she falls to her knees and grabs my face. “Yes, yes, yes,” she chants. “Yes times a million, I will marry you, Gray. I don’t want to live another second not being yours.”
I slide the ring onto her finger with shaky hands before I draw her in for a tear-filled kiss. Cheers erupt behind us. Our family floods Maisie’s new writing shed, pulling us in for a group hug full of happy tears and smiles.
After we both faced a life without family, we’ve found ourselves the best one we could have asked for. I’m not sure how life could get any sweeter.