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"Bye, Sis. Thanks. I owe you."
Georgiana winked. "Have fun."
He closed the door, and after Georgiana drove away, Elizabeth turned back toward the house and looked again at the candles lining the stairway.
"I know this sounds ridiculous, but I couldn't wait to get here. That hour and a half felt like ten."
"Well, birthday girl, the rest of the night is ours."
* * *
Elizabeth sat backafter eating a delicious dinner, still astounded by all Will had done. She sipped her wine and looked out toward the beach, watching as he fussed with the wood in the firepit, arranging it in a pyramid so it would ignite quicker. She could see the flames at the bottom as they licked at the logs, and she grinned at his fierce expression; he was clearly trying to intimidate the fire into building faster. Once he was apparently satisfied that it was growing to his liking, he turned toward the house and saw her watching him from the deck.
"Should I come back up there, or are you coming down here?"
"I'll come down there,” she said. “Just give me a minute."
After making a quick stop in the bathroom, she went back outside and down to the beach. She joined him on the blanket, sitting between his legs, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. She looked out beyond the fire to the ocean and the lights twinkling at them from Martha's Vineyard.
"You amaze me, Mr. Darcy. This is wonderful."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"How could I not?" She turned and kissed him. "I can't believe you did all this for me. This has been the best birthday...and this is the best present. I love it."
"It’s not youronlypresent."
She laughed. "Oh, that's right. How could I forget this morning? That was like my birthdayandChristmas, all rolled into one."
He chuckled and squeezed her. "For a little while there, it was like it was my birthday too. If you ever have trouble thinking of a gift for me for any occasion, whipped cream will do."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She snuggled deeper into his embrace, and suddenly his hands were in front of her, holding an envelope tied with an emerald-green ribbon.
"What's this?"
"It's another part of your present. Open it."
She took the envelope from his hands, and ran her fingertips over the ribbon and the bow, smiling at their imperfection, until he nudged her impatiently.
"All right, I'm opening it." Inside was a brochure from the Harbor’s Edge Hotel in Edgartown. "Are we going to Martha’s Vineyard?"
He smiled. "This weekend, if that’s okay."
She turned in his arms and kissed him. "Of course it’s okay! The Harbor’s Edge is gorgeous. I've never stayed there, but I know where it is. The views are beautiful."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Youare beautiful."
“I can't wait to go,” she said, already excited. “I can't wait to show you everything. It's so…so… It's just a special place."
"We can leave anytime tomorrow, and we'll come back Sunday afternoon."
“Maybe we can stop in and see Uncle Ed and Aunt Dee—we could have lunch with them or something if they have time, and if you want to. I'd love for you to meet them."
"I'd like that."
"I'll call them tomorrow morning to let them know. They'll be thrilled." She kissed him again and pressed her forehead to his. "Thank you so much."
