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“Oh, really? Where?” Allie asks.
“I need to talk to you before we start,” Fisher interrupts.
Fisher and Noah walk a few feet away, and Allie and I make conversation while we wait for them to rejoin us.
“Sometimes he’s so caveman.” Allie crosses her arms and shakes her head while the two men talk, then she busies herself with making sure Laurie’s doing well while I try to slowly wake Axel so he’s not a nightmare for the pictures.
“It seems weird that Noah agreed to do this,” I say. The way he’s talked about his landscapes and shooting in the wilderness, I never would’ve thought he’d take on a job like this.
A guilty look crosses Allie’s face. “I did twist his arm a little. You know how hard it is to find photographers who shoot families in this area? Especially when the weather is nice.”
I sit on the bench at the side of the path. “A lot of photographers come through the inn throughout the year. You could’ve asked me.”
She shrugs. “Hopefully this all works out.”
Both men return and Allie’s shoulders relax when it’s clear that neither of them looks upset. Well, Fisher has a permanent resting-asshole face unless you’re his family or friend, so I can’t base my opinion on him, but Noah seems good.
“We’re going to do you and Fisher first to make sure we get some good photos before we involve the babies.” Noah fiddles with his camera.
Allie is quick to shoot down Noah. “Oh, I just wanted family, not us as a couple.”
“We should have some of just the two of us,” Fisher says, and Allie draws back. I’m surprised too. “Stop looking at me like that. Let’s go.”
Fisher places his hand in Allie’s. The love between them is so transparent that a bud of hope grows a little more inside me. I can’t deny that I want a man to look at me like that one day.
“Okay,” Noah says, positioning Allie with her back to Fisher. “Perfect, Allie. And now Fisher.”
Allie looks confused that Fisher isn’t touching her. “Shouldn’t—” Allie starts to move to glance over her shoulder, but Noah moves between her and Fisher.
“I’m trying to gauge the lighting and stuff, so just stay the way you are. I’ll snap a few and then we’ll get to posing you guys.” Noah walks back to the babies and me.
Allie glances in my direction, her teeth on her bottom lip as though she’s worried something is amiss. I’m trying to keep a straight face while I watch Fisher behind her. She deserves this surprise.
“Just like that, you two,” Noah says, and Allie flashes a quick smile. “Okay, go ahead and turn around, Allie, while I make sure everything looks good.”
Allie turns toward Fisher, and her gaze falls to find him on bended knee with an open ring box on his palm.
“Fish,” she whispers.
“I love you, Allie. I’m not sure how you did it, but you found me and loved me and brought me back to the land of the living. You’re the best mom the twins could ask for and I want to make a million more babies with you. But most importantly, I want to spend every minute for the rest of my life loving you. Will you please be my wife?”
A tear trickles down her cheek. “I thought you didn’t do marriage?”
“Keep giving me shit and I’ll put the ring in my pocket.” He holds it up higher. “Want me to count to three?” He raises his eyebrows.
“I swear I’m a saint for marrying you,” she says and falls to her knees, holding out her left hand. “I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.”
He takes out the ring and places it on the tip of her left ring finger. “I thought you were a smart girl.”
“Me too.”
“Well, this seals it. It’s now or never?” He slides the ring onto her finger slowly as if she might say no.
“Just put it on.”
He chuckles softly and slides it all the way down. “It looks beautiful on you.”
Allie stares at the nontypical engagement ring that suits her so well. “Fish?”
