Page 115 of In Plain Sight
“I’d love that.”
“We have one more stop to make on the way home, if that’s okay.”
Hannah raises her brow as she gets into the truck.
I smile, kissing her cheek and getting in the driver’s seat. I drive us back toward Ivy Ridge, but veer off at the signs for the state park.
“Where are we going?” Hannah asks, peering out the window. The sun is starting to set in the distance, leaving the world in a golden hue.
“You’ll see,” I say, pulling off the road to park. “We’re getting out here.”
She follows my lead, getting out of the car and taking my outstretched hand. “Do we have to walk far?” she asks. Her voice shakes a little, and I think she may have caught on to what’s happening.
“No, not far.” I lead her down the wooded pathway and to the clearing.
“Wow,” she breathes as the trail clears to an empty area. Marley got here about an hour ago and set everything up beautifully. There’s a quilt laying on the ground with fake tea-light candles around the edges, and polaroid pictures of us hanging on a tree branch nearby.
The view is spectacular. We’re overlooking the river, surrounded by trees and bluffs that are the perfect backdrop for this moment.
“Thomas,” Hannah sighs, the golden sunset lighting up her face so beautifully. Her cheeks are my favorite shade ofred, her freckles prominently lit up and on display. I pull Hannah to the blanket, and take both of her hands in mine, turning her so we are face to face.
I cup her cheek in my palm, kissing her gently before reaching into my pocket and pulling out my grandmother’s ring. I drop to one knee, holding the ring up for her to see.
“Hannah, I love you so much. Every day with you is a new adventure, and I find something more to love about you. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Every moment with you is the golden hour. Everything is sunshine and glowy, you light up the world in a golden hue that makes everything shine brighter, simply by being you. I can’t wait to spend every day by your side, watching you shine. Hannah Pearson, will you marry me?”
Tears fall down her red cheeks. She covers her mouth with one hand as she weeps, nodding her head frantically up and down. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she murmurs, eyes focused solely on me.
I rise to my feet, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her deeply. “Thank you,” I murmur between kisses. Hannah laughs, and the sound is music to my ears. I vaguely hear Marley clicking away on her camera in the background, but I’m so glad that besides her, this moment is private, and only ours. I knew Hannah wouldn’t want it to be a huge affair. She wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy it that way. The party with our families will come later, but for now, this moment is about us.
I’ve almost forgotten the ring still clutched in my fingers. I pull away, taking her left hand and sliding the ring onto her finger. I had it sized to fit her perfectly.
“I love you,” I murmur, kissing her once more.
A dragonfly circles us, landing on the blanket at our feet. I smile, almost feeling as though thedragonfly is my grandmother’s sign of showing her love for us at this moment. She was always fond of signs.
The engagement ring that once belonged to Grandma Irene rests on Hannah’s finger, the single pearl surrounded in a set of diamonds resting on a gold band. The night of our first date, before things went wrong, I knew this was where we would end up someday. I knew that I’d found the love of my life, and it was only a matter of time until we could start our forever. Now, we are officially taking the first step toward a lifetime of happiness, family, and love.
