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“And do you remember when we were at the diner, talking about our dreams?” I nod, and he continues. “At the time I couldn’t really think of one. But that’s changed.”
He hands me the paper. I drop my backpack to the ground and slowly unroll it, careful not to tear it.
“What is this?” I ask, trying to make sense of all the lines. “I mean, I know they’re plans of some sort. Are they house plans?”
Drake looks at the paper and curses. “Shit. Wrong paper.”
He pulls another paper from his bag, unrolls it, and holds it open for me to see. “It’s our dreams.”
My eyes scan the drawing of a large building before landing on the words at the bottom: Cunningham Falls Surgery Center and Turtle Sanctuary.
“Oh my God, Drake.” Tears fill my eyes as I look at him. “What is this?”
“Our dream, if you’re willing to build it with me. When I was in medical school, I interned for a doctor who owned his own surgical center. He used it as a means to provide more affordable healthcare to his small community, and I think Cunningham Falls and the surrounding areas would benefit from having something similar. We can provide medical care at more affordable rates to patients who would otherwise go without.”
“We? I know nothing about running a surgical center.”
“And I know nothing about owning a turtle sanctuary.”
I smile. “You’re not serious about opening a turtle sanctuary.”
“Why not? It’s your dream.”
“Does Montana even have turtles? I don’t think I’ve seen one turtle since I’ve been here.”
“I don’t know, but I’ll make it my mission to find them. I’ll drive all over the country adopting them from animal shelters, if I have to.”
Damn, he’s good. “You’d do that for me?”
“Abigail…” Drake curls a hand around the back of my neck. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’d do anything for you. And I want to build our dream together. We’ll take it slow. I’ve done a ton of research already, and if you’re in, we can start building this spring.”
“Of course I’m in,” I say, throwing myself into his arms.
Drake catches me and spins me around. “That’s a yes?”
“Yes! Let’s do it.” I pull back and look at him. “But you didn’t have to bring me all the way up here to ask me about this.”
“Oh, that’s not why I brought you up here,” he says, dipping his hand into his pocket.
“It’s not?”
Drake shakes his head and drops to one knee, and everything around me comes to a screeching halt.
“Oh my.”
Taking my left hand in his, Drake smiles up at me. “Abigail Darwin, you have been the brightest light in my life. You give me strength and courage to chase my dreams and be the best man I can be. You make me laugh and smile, and even though your quirks are getting a little annoying like you promised, I can’t imagine living my life without them. I can’t imagine living my life without you. You’ve taught me that love doesn’t have to perfect; it just has to be real, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.”
He slips a gorgeous, emerald-cut diamond on my ring finger. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” I drop to my knees and wipe tears from my cheeks.
Drake holds my face in his big, strong hands and kisses me long and deep. We kiss for minutes, or maybe it’s hours. I really don’t know because when I’m in Drake’s arms, the whole world seems to fade away.
He’s right; our love isn’t perfect. Neither is our life or either one of us. But Drake has taught me that sometimes the most imperfect things can be pretty damn perfect. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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