AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Simon, this means so much to me.I can't believe you would do this…" Her voice quavered as she reached outto touch the side of 'Charlotte's Grace,' feeling the tangible proof of hisaffection beneath her fingertips.
"Believe it, because there'smore." His tone held a hint of nerves now, a tremble that betrayed thecalmness of his rugged exterior.
Before Charlotte could inquire further,Simon took a deep breath and lowered himself down onto one knee on the woodenplanks of the dock. The act seemed to slow time itself, the momentcrystallizing like salt upon the skin.
"Charlotte Moore," he began,his gaze locked with hers, fierce and unyielding, yet vulnerable in hisdeclaration. "I want to share every sunrise and sunset here in Cheshamwith you, if you'll let me."
Her breath caught in her throat, tearswelling at the corners of her eyes as she looked down at Simon, this man whohad come to embody the rugged beauty and strength of the cove that had embracedher so warmly. She was torn, a tempest of emotion whirling within her, theuncertainty of the future clashing with the depth of what she felt in thismoment.
"Simon…" she whispered, herhand reaching out to trace the line of his jaw, the gesture tender and ladenwith the weight of her burgeoning response. He reached into his pocket for thering box. Her eyes shimmered in the reflection of the moonlit water—wide withwonder and glistening with unshed tears—as she beheld Simon, her heart poundinga fierce counterpoint to the sea's hush.
"Charlotte," he said, hisvoice steady but his hands betraying a slight tremor as he held out a smallvelvet box. "Will you marry me?"
Time seemed suspended between thelapping waves and the soft creak of moored boats, each second pulsating withthe gravity of his question. Charlotte's gaze flitted from the earnest bluedepths of Simon's eyes to the ring—a delicate band with a stone that caught themoonlight like a captured star. Wasn’t this what she wanted?
Her lips parted, but words failed her.This wasn't just a proposal; it was an anchor being offered in the tumultuousocean of her life. Yet, the shadows of her past loomed behind her like specterson the windswept shore.
"Simon, I—" She paused, hervoice a fragile whisper as if afraid to disturb the sacred stillness of themoment. Her fingers brushed the necklace she now wore, a talisman of the newlife she'd built here in Chesham Cove, away from the shards of her old one.
He rose slowly, closing the distancebetween them. His hand reached up to cradle her cheek, thumb caressing away themoisture that threatened to escape her lashes. "Take your time, love. I'mnot going anywhere."
She leaned into his touch, eyes closingas she inhaled deeply, letting the familiar scent of him—sawdust and seaspray—fill her senses. Opening her eyes again, she saw not just the man beforeher, but all the sunrises they had shared, the laughter they had echoed againstthe walls of The Old Crown Inn, and the quiet moments where their silencesspoke volumes.
"Simon, there is nothing I wantmore than to say yes, to leap without looking and trust that we'll soartogether," she confessed, the honesty in her voice threading through thecool breeze. "But there's so much at stake, and my heart... it's stillhealing from the storms it's weathered."
"Charlotte," he interruptedgently, understanding dawning in his gaze. "I've never asked for a heartunscarred. I have my own share of fractures. But we can find strength in ourimperfections."
Her response remained poised on theedge of tomorrow, unspoken.
"Charlotte?" he promptedsoftly, the solitary word carrying the weight of their combined futures.
But she couldn’t answer—her throatseized, and all she could do was stare at Simon in loaded silence.
