Page 72 of Restoration

His face softens. “It feels like a miracle to me too.”

He makes a big show about helping me into my seat and then scooting it into place. Then he pours the wine and takes his own seat.

There are two covered serving dishes on the table. The food inside them, whatever it is, smells delicious.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling unusually sentimental. “I love that it reminds me of the island.”

“If I was going all out, I’d change into the very attractive shorts I wore all the time there, and I’d have you dressed in your tank top and underwear.”

I giggle helplessly. “I might be a little cool in that this evening.”

“That’s what I thought.”

He nods at the coconut on my plate.

Evidently I’m supposed to pick it up.

I do so, having not a single clue what might be beneath it.

What’s beneath it is a small jeweler’s box, open to display the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s a square-cut diamond with a platinum band formed into what looks like delicate vines.

I stare down at it speechlessly.

“It might feel like a miracle to both of us, but what we have is real,” Edmund says, getting up and coming over to kneel beside my chair. “It’s always been real, and it’s realer and deeper every day. I love you, Autumn. I’m always going to love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life being the man you’ve helped me to be. I want to always be that man with you.”

I’m choking up with emotion. I tighten my face and take a few shaky breaths as I start nodding my head before he even finishes talking.

“So will you marry me?” His expression is nakedly sincere, but a little glint of humor appears in his eyes now. “I have the perfect place picked out for the honeymoon.”

I burst into laughter and throw myself down at him in a hug. It’s not a wise move. We both end up lying on the ground.

It doesn’t matter. We kiss and hug and laugh together.

“Was that a yes?” Edmund asks at last, reaching for the ring that’s still in the box on the table.

“Yes, that’s a yes. Of course I want to marry you.”

He slides the ring on my finger, and we beam at each other.

“Do we really get to go back to the island for our honeymoon?” I ask. “I would love that.”

“Me too. I wouldn’t want it to be anywhere else.”