Page 97 of Songs From Vacationland
“Marry me, Madeline,” Dean kisses the top of my head as I open the box; inside is a delicate solitaire diamond ring with a golden band. “Please say yes.”
I look up at Dean, his brown eyes twinkling, snow getting caught in his eyelashes. Memories of us flash through my mind. I’ve come to love this man so tenderly, so thoroughly, I don’t know how I could live without him. He makes me shine in the darkest of places.
“Yes. Of course, I’ll marry you.” He takes the box from me, removing the ring and slipping it onto my finger. “But can we go inside, please?”
He laughs, and we step back inside the warm house. “Yes, I’m sorry, I just had to ask you then, you looked so beautiful.”
“It’s the snow in my hair, isn’t it?”
“It’s like the first time I really got to see the real you. On the docks at Camden.”
“How long have you had this planned?” I ask.
“I picked up the ring last week when I was in Caribou. But I knew I wanted to marry you the moment you agreed to come to Allagash with me.”
“That long ago? Why did you wait so long?” I laugh.
“I wanted you to be sure,” Dean smiles softly at me, pulling me into a hug.
“I have never been more sure of anything than you,” I say as he squeezes me, and I peer around him at my shiny new ring. Calling Chessie back in, we go back into the living room. I climb under the blanket while Dean pokes the fireplace.
“I can’t wait to show Sierra.”
“She’s already seen it.” Dean laughs from across the room.
“Ah, you sneak! It must have killed her not to say anything.”
“She survived somehow.”
“We’ll have a winter wedding, right?” I ask him, daydreaming about snow falling as we say our vows.
“It’s required.”
“We have both our fantasies now, don’t we?” I say aloud, thinking about our conversation all those years ago. “You have your house on the hill. And I have my prince.”
“I’ll buy you a big fancy dress and pay for finishing school if it’s what you really want.” Dean walks over after putting a new record on, sitting next to me.
“I think I have everything I want. Do you?”
“I do.”
“Where do you want to honeymoon?” I ask him.
“How about a little road trip?”
