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“Yes, that would make it more enjoyable,” she quietly joked back, and I couldn’t help the ridiculous smile on my face. She had just agreed to be mine.

“I’ll make a list on my phone. Tell me something you’d like to do.” I pulled out my cell and started a note.

“Hmmm . . . I’ve never been to the circus,” she considered, tipping her head in thought.

I willed my heart to keep beating, and then I immediately vowed to make everything on the list happen. I wanted Sawyer to have these moments more than anything, and I wanted to be there for every single one.

I typed “Take Sawyer to the circus.”

“What else?” If she wanted to go to the moon, I’d figure out how to rent a shuttle. My girl was getting everything on this list.

“Hmm . . . I never went to my high school dances, but I’m not sure I want to do that as an adult. Let me think . . . ” She laughed.

I typed “Dance with Sawyer” on the list. I was a goner. I’d do whatever this girl said. She named a handful of things that I took notes on.

“This one is kinda dumb . . . but I’ve always wanted to swing on a tire swing,” she said in a wistful tone.

It felt like a kick in the gut when she said it. The day she came by to bring cookies, I had startled her while she gently pushed my childhood tire swing with her hand. I pocketed my phone and called over my shoulder as I opened the door.

“It’s not dumb. Let’s do it.” I jumped from the truck, walked to her side, and flung open her door. She had slid off her shoes as I scooped her up bridal style, because I was on a mission.

“What are you doing?” she shrieked, a smile on her face.

“I’m pushing my girl on a tire swing.”

She leaned her head against my chest and I could almost feel her smile through my shirt. The moonlight guided me to the swing as I put her legs through the middle and she grabbed a hold of the rope.

“Hang on.”

I pulled her back and let go as she sailed through the starlit night sky. She tilted back while holding the rope to get a better view of the sky. Her long hair trailed behind her like a wave of golden silk underneath the light of a billion stars. The rope creaked when it rocked back and forth as she swayed, a smile never leaving her face. After several minutes, she said she was done, and I helped her out, a smile fixed on her face. Once she was on the ground, she partially sat back in the center of the swing, leaning her head back to see the stars.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she exclaimed reverently.

“It is,” I agreed, never taking my eyes off her.

She hopped down and wrapped her arms around my waist, and I wrapped my arms around the most precious woman alive.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” she whispered softly.

And somehow, as the stars shone down on us, I thought of Abel and how he must have made a deal with God to bring this girl into my life. There wasn’t anything I could have done to be this lucky.

Chapter

Thirty

Sawyer

Soren:

Pretty Girl, what do you think about me making you lunch and watching a baseball game on Sunday? Lane and Jonah are threatening bodily harm if I don’t bring you around more.

Sawyer:

That sounds fun! Tell them I look forward to seeing them again.

Soren:

See ya at 11 a.m.