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“Day before yesterday, when we stood in this spot, I realized you were right.”
“What are you doing?” She climbed over the coffee table as though he could see and hear her.
“You showed me your magic and shared a part of yourself with me that meant the entire world to you. You shared your family with me and a place that gave you the key to who you are inside. I felt selfish taking from and accepting your kindness and generosity even though you gave it so willingly.”
He signaled and Shawn walked into the view of the camera, pen in hand, and waved.
“You placed your world in my hands and now I’m placing mine in yours.”
“No, Marshall, what are you doing?” He was not doing what she feared.
She dove for her phone and before she could punch in his number Shawn turned around and Marshall scrawled his name across the bottom of several pieces of paper. The cameraman zoomed in and her heart dipped to the floor and stayed.
“BlackCo doesn’t need me. I needed BlackCo. My father saw it, and you did too even though I couldn’t. But there’s one thing I do know. In less than twenty-four hours away from you I know without a doubt I can’t live, couldn’tbreathewithout you in my life.”
He dropped to one knee and looked directly into the camera, the blues of his irises glittering with so much emotion she could feel it where she sat. “Juniper Winters, if you can find it in your heart to meet me where you showed me magic exists, I have a question I would like to ask you.”
“Well, there you have it folks, stay tuned to see if Ms. Winters will come find her smitten cowboy. More on the story of how the single wedding planner found her groom right after this.”
“What are you waiting for?” Ivy, her mom, Callie…everyone rushed her into her bedroom and proved warp speed was possible. In record time she had her teeth brushed, hair pulled back in a ponytail and another dress. This one with tiny pink flowers among gold leaves.
They topped off the soft look with a couple of strokes of mascara and a light pink lipstick to play off the flowers. Someone made sure she had sandals on as she was hauled out the front door.
A whirlwind of motions later, she was standing at the entrance of Wish Alley, the butterflies in her doing somersaults.
“This is too much.” She fanned her face, unable to believe how fast everything was going. Despite the warm ocean air, she needed more. Her lungs couldn’t work fast enough.
She bent at the waist and braced her palms on her knees. She couldn’t grab a breath since she saw Marshall on TV what felt like seconds ago.Wasseconds ago. Time didn’t seem all that tangible at the moment.
“What do you think all this means?” she blurted out the question to no one in particular but her mom came to the rescue.
“Sweetie, that’s a question only Marshall can answer.” Gran and her mother pulled her in for a hug. “Now go get your answers—”
“—and your cowboy,” Gran finished with a wink, pushing her forward with a nudge.
A small crowd started forming around her as she stepped away from the car and walked the short distance to find Marshall.
Before she could take more than a couple of steps a hand on her elbow drew her to a stop.
“Stacey?”
Banners held her hands up in peace. “I just wanted to thank you, Juniper. I hope you can forgive me. I’d like that do-over if you’re willing.”
Juniper smiled. Her mind automatically wanted to shut down anything the other woman had to say but she fought against her instinct and opened her heart instead. “I would really like that.”
“We’ll talk later?” Stacey looked hopeful.
“Yeah, but first one thing. Why the sudden change?” Juniper laughed lightly. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“You made me stop and do a lot of rethinking with your impromptu tongue lashing the other day. I think we could both use some peace.”
Juniper smiled and returned the quick, unexpected hug. Today was full of all kinds of surprises. “That sounds nice. I’d like that.”
“Me too.” Stacey pulled back and Juniper retraced the steps she’d taken with Marshall.
She pushed aside her conversation with Stacey for another moment and bit at the inside of her lip since she didn’t have any nails to speak of anymore.
As she rounded the small bend in the path Marshall came into view. He stood this time, no suit. Instead, he had on her favorite jeans of his and a short-sleeved button-down that matched the gold leaves on her dress.
