Page 155 of Wilde Flame

“I hope so,” he said, as he stopped just shy of the lake.

“Maybe she can learn to swim and fish in this lake,” I said, as I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. “The air is so crisp and clean.”

When I opened my eyes, I turned to my right…to see Caden down on one knee. My hands flew to my mouth as I drew in a sharp breath.

“Someone once told me to stop waiting for the perfect moment. I listened to her then, and I listened to her again earlier today. I don’t want to wait another second for you to be my wife. You’re everything to me, Lilibeth, and I promise that I’ll spend the rest of my life devoted to you and loving you with every ounce of my being.”

He opened the black box, and I just stared at the ring. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. The diamond was stunning, and the setting so unique.

Caden smiled. “Lilibeth Elizabeth, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Crying, I nodded my head. “Yes! Yes, nothing would make me happier!”

He took the ring out and reached for my left hand. He slipped it on, and we both stared at it. It was a perfect fit.

“How did you know my ring size?”

Caden stood. “I didn’t. This ring was my grandmother Nellie’s. She gave it to me a number of years ago.”

My head jerked up, and I almost asked if he’d proposed to Rachel with this ring. Instead, I bit my lip and focused on the ring. As usual, he read my mind.

“I didn’t use this ring when I asked Rachel. I’m not sure why, because I’d had it for years by then. Somehow…it didn’t feel right.”

When I looked back up at him, I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

“This ring, just like my heart, was made for you, Lili. The perfect fit only proves once again that you and I were meant for one another.”

I threw myself into his arms, causing him to take a few steps back. He managed to keep us both upright as he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.

“I love you so much, Caden.”

Letting me go, he cupped my face in his hands. Our eyes locked, and he gave me that same smirk of a smile he gave me when we first met.

“Oh, I love you more, Flower Child.”

Laughing, I reached up and kissed him.

Lilibeth

The wedding was, of course, held at the very same spot where Caden had asked me to marry him. It was a small event, with family and close friends only. Ensley and Vivianne had thrown all their energy into helping me plan it. Honestly, they’d pretty much planned it all. Caden and I didn’t want to wait long to get married, so we set the date for October 6th. The leaves were changing, and the weather was still nice enough for an outdoor wedding.

When it was time to think about wedding gowns, Nellie had brought her gown over for me to see. When Vivianne took it out of the box it had been preserved in, we all gasped. It was a three-quarter-length gown of silk with a tulle overlay.

“Oh, try it on, Lilibeth!” Emeline said, as she rocked Jackson. Ensley was holding baby Nellie.

Looking at Vivianne, I asked, “Will you help me?”

“Of course!”

We’d taken the dress to my bedroom, where I’d slipped out of my clothes. Vivianne carefully lifted the dress over my outstretched hands, and we’d shimmied it down over my body.

We both just stared into the full-length mirror for a long moment.

“It fits like it was made for you,” Vivianne had said, smiling at me in the mirror.

I’d held up the engagement ring. “Just like the ring.”

Vivianne had blinked back tears. “Yes. Just like the ring.”