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Luke leaned in and kissed her gently, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “No, no, no. You look perfect, absolutely perfect. Don’t change a thing.”
Emma breathed a sigh of relief and unfolded her arms. “Okay great. I’ve been wanting an excuse to wear this dress, so I took a risk tonight.”
“I’m glad you did. You look gorgeous,” Luke replied, kissing her again. “And now, are you ready for our ride?”
Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion. “A ride? What kind of ride?”
He gently turned Emma around to face the helicopter parked nearby. “That ride,” he said, a note of excitement in his voice.
Emma’s expression was unreadable, “Luke, what do you mean?”
Taking her hands in his, Luke looked deeply into her eyes, hoping to convey the depth of his feelings. “Emma, Lisa told me about how Chad ruined your birthday last year and didn’t let you go on the helicopter tour with your friends. And tonight, I wanted to make it up to you. I wanted to give you a birthday you’d never forget.”
“Luke, I don’t know what to say. This is so thoughtful and just nothing I would ever expect.”
Luke could see the glimmer of unshed tears in Emma’s eyes. He pulled her into a warm embrace, and felt her body relax against his. He knew that he had done something special for Emma, something that her ex-husband had denied her. And he hoped that she could feel how much he cared for her, even if she couldn’t express it in words.
He held onto Emma’s hand as they walked over to the helicopter. The pilot opened the door for them as Luke helped her into her seat. He hopped in next to Emma and held her hand tightly.
Luke handed her the headset and she put them on just as the pilot began to speak. “We’ll be in the air in just a minute folks, flying over Savannah, then up the coast to Hilton Head and then down through Hadley Cove before we return. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Just moments later the helicopter took off. The sun was setting, painting a molten golden hue over the vast and serene Low Country landscape beneath them. The marshes and rivers seemed to come alive, reflecting the vibrant colors of the sky, while the distant ocean glistened in the fading light, its waves dancing in an enchanting rhythm.
Emma snapped her gaze to the window and sucked in a sharp breath. “It’s so beautiful.”
Luke turned his head toward Emma, his own eyes taking in the stunning scenery. “It truly is,” he agreed, a sense of wonder in his tone.
The pilot’s voice was muffled by the sound of the rotor blades as he pointed out various landmarks during the flight. As the helicopter soared higher, they took in the stunning panorama of the coastline. They could see the intricate network of creeks and tributaries winding their way through the lush green marshes, while a flock of seagulls soared gracefully below. The view was simply magical, and for a moment, it seemed as if they were suspended in time, in a world that existed only for them.
As they made their way back toward Savannah, Emma leaned into Luke’s shoulder and sighed contentedly. “This is absolutely gorgeous,” she whispered, her voice crackling through the headphones.
Luke pulled Emma even closer to him, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he gave her a playful wink. “Not as gorgeous as you.”
Emma smirked, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. “Oh, you’re such a charmer,” she said, playfully nudging him with her elbow.
The pilot’s voice boomed through the headphones, interrupting their conversation. “Alright folks, we’re heading southbound for the finale.”
Emma’s gasp echoed through the cabin as her beloved Hadley Cove came into view. The marshlands sprawled out before them like a patchwork quilt, with shades of green, brown, and gold intermingling in a beautiful chaos. The sandy beach shone in the warm glow of the sun, and the Bridwell Lighthouse stood majestically against the horizon.
Luke’s eyes scanned the view, a mix of awe and nostalgia flooding through him. He thought of their walk on the beach, with Emma’s hand in his and the warm sand between their toes and how they had danced at The Point. He remembered how she had playfully coaxed him into sneaking into the lighthouse, and how he’d caught a cramp in his leg as they climbed the stairs to the top. And he thought about their first kiss, how he knew in that moment that she was the one for him.
As the helicopter turned back toward Savannah, the skies darkened with a deep shade of indigo, and the stars began to twinkle above them. Emma leaned her head onto Luke’s shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. He looked down at her and smiled, feeling grateful for this moment, for this woman, for this love.
Chapter 25
Emma
As they touched back down at the heliport, Emma took off her headset and threw her arms around Luke’s neck. “That was amazing! I’m sorry I was so scared earlier.”
Luke wrapped his arms around her waist. “No need to apologize. I should have given you a better heads up for that one. Luckily, the rest of our activities tonight will be on the ground.
She leaned back and kissed him on the lips. “That sounds great. So, where are we going next?”
Luke grinned mischievously and disembarked from the helicopter, teasing, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
As he assisted Emma out of the helicopter, she straightened up and gasped in amazement. Beside them was a white Rolls Royce with a chauffeur in a tuxedo holding open the back door.
Emma’s jaw dropped as she shot her hands up to her mouth. “Luke, we could’ve just taken an Uber!”
