Page 164 of Shattered

Micah burst into laughter.

“Stop being ridiculous. Also, our flight should be a little early. I’ll let Drew know so he can get there earlier and then we will

all be at the pier so we can grab a drink while we wait for the big

moment.”

“Have one waiting for me.” Callum ran a hand over his face.

“Stop worrying. Sam will say yes. She and Kristin have damn near already planned out both our weddings and she and I still have two more years before we walk down the aisle.”

Callum laughed.

Micah had planned to wait to propose till match day when Kristin found out what her med school specialty would be. But he had never been one for patience. He’d popped the question three weeks into Kristin’s first year at Duke. Kristin was still going to make him wait till she finished school before she walked down the aisle, though. Something about getting her own last name on that degree.

“For some reason, I don’t think Sam is going to want a long engagement.”

“God, I hope not,” Callum agreed.

*******

This had become somewhat of their thing. Ice cream and walks on the beach. It was rather cliche, and Callum gave the customary groans whenever Sam brought it up but, on the inside, he absolutely loved spending this time with her. He had just discarded their empty paper bowls in a trash can when the sun started to set.

Sam had spent the last hour gushing over her day, but he’d barely heard a word. She was so wrapped up in how much she loved her new placement that she couldn’t tell his mind was on something else, or that his fingers kept reaching into his left pocket, or that his eyes kept darting up to the pier, making sure their best friends were ready.

She had just started to explain the discharge process for the older kids when he cut her off.

“Sam?”

Her eyes quickly cut to his. “Yeah?”

“I want to hear all about that. I do. But if I don’t get this out, I might just have a heart attack right here and now.”

She froze. “What’s wrong?”

“I love you.” It wasn’t the first time he’d said it. That had been after a practical marathon night where they had made love until the sun came up. Now, he said it almost every chance he got. “I’ve loved you since the moment you walked into work and spilled those drinks on me. I want you to know that no one ever truly saw me until you walked into my life, and I can’t thank you enough for what you have given me.”

She took a step back. In some way, she knew what was happening, but in another, she felt unimaginable shock. “Callum?”

“I know your life hasn’t been what you would have hoped for, but I plan to change that. I know that all you have ever wanted is somewhere to call home. I want to be that somewhere. I want to be your home. I want you to know you belong with me, and that nothing will ever change that.”

He pulled out the ring then and promptly began to kneel.

“Yes!”she blurted out before his knee hit the ground.

Callum laughed.

“I haven’t even asked yet.”

She buried her tear-soaked face in her hands as she laughed with him.

“Samantha Williams. Will you marry me?”

“Yes. A million times yes!”

She heard the screams of excitement from on top of the pier before the ring was slipped on her finger, and through tear filled eyes she could just make out the rest of her family. Kristin, Micah, Drew, Melanie, Connor, Justin, Ashlyn, and Millie were all sharing in their own excitement at what they’d just witnessed.

It was Kristin who made it down to the beach first. She crashed into Sam so hard they both fell to the sand.

“You’re getting married!” Kristin yelled out.

“I’m getting married.” Sam laughed through the tears as the boys helped them back on their feet.

It was a moment filled with wonderful chaos and hugs and laughter and, thanks to Millie, a thousand pictures.

“Where should we go to celebrate?” Ashlyn questioned as they all started walking back to the car.

Callum kissed Sam on the cheek and then said. “I know just the place.” He gave her a wink and directed the group to their favorite spot for pizza.

The End.