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Tatum lifts a hand my way, waving as she says, “No worries. She’s just running a tiny fever. She was bummed to miss the wedding, but she’s having fun at Grammy’s house. They’re watching an appalling number of Barbie cartoons and she gets as much Ginger Ale as she wants.”
Leaving the other women to discuss just how many Barbie cartoons is an appalling number—I vote one—I take Wren’s hand, leading her out through the lobby and down to the dock. To my surprise, she doesn’t ask where we’re going. She just leans her head on my shoulder when we stop beside a slip with a gorgeous view and says, “So pretty. And warm. I’m glad we’re having a mild fall so far.”
“Me, too,” I say, my throat tightening now that the moment is nearly at hand. I had a speech prepared, but I suddenly can’t remember a word of it.
I swallow, trying to talk myself down, but my brain remains one big blank.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to be nervous,” Wren says, squeezing my hand. “I already know.”
I glance down at her to find her watching me with a warm smile. “You know what?”
“You left the ring on your desk at the office. I saw it while I was grabbing your gym bag for you the other night.”
I exhale. “I ruined the surprise.”
“No, you didn’t,” she says. “You just gave me a chance to plan a surprise of my own.” She brings her fingers to her lips and lets out a piercing whistle. A beat later a metallic bark pierces the air and I turn to see Keanu tearing down toward us like that first day at the park.
Chapter Twenty-Six
WREN
Bending over, I greet Keanu with coos and praise as I unclip his bow tie from his swanky little shirt. “Yes, you are. You’re a good boy, the very best one I know. Now go, go on. Back to Starling and Kyle. You can do it.”
“Come on, Keanu. I have a carrot treat for you,” Starling calls from just outside the door to the party room. With a final clattering bark, Keanu dashes back toward my sister, while I open the hidden pocket at the back of the bow tie.
Turning back to Barrett, I pull the ring from inside and hold it up between us, my heart soaring as his lips part in wonder.
I was worried he’d feel like I stole his thunder, or ruined the moment, but judging from the shine in his eyes, he’s loving the surprise. “Barrett McGuire, you are everything I’ve ever wanted in a husband and more. You are my best friend and my teammate and the only person I ever want to make out in a bathroom with. You bring so much joy and comfort and fun to my life and I don’t ever want to wake up to a day without you in it. Will you do me the honor of being my husband forever and ever, no take backs?”
“It would make me the happiest man on earth,” he says, his voice rough with emotion as he holds out his left hand. He laughs softly as I slide the ring on his finger. “I was so nervous I forgot everything I was going to say.”
“Why were you nervous?” I ask, holding his big hand in both of mine, admiring how perfect my ring looks on his finger. “You knew I was going to say yes.”
“I hoped,” he says softly. “I didn’t know. I don’t like to take anything about you for granted.” Pulling one hand away, he reaches into his inner tuxedo coat pocket and pulls out a jewelry box, but it’s longer and flatter than a typical ring box.
Accepting it, I arch a brow his way. “What is it?”
He nods toward the box. “Open it.”
Heart fluttering with excitement, I creak it open to reveal a gorgeous (and huge) diamond solitaire that had to have cost him a small fortune and what looks like a lapel pin. Plucking the pin from the cotton with shaking hands, I glance at the bird with the stethoscope and ask, “Does this mean what I think it does?”
“Dr. Wren,” he says. “You’re going to be a great one. And when you’re finished with your residency, we can practice together.”
Tears filling my eyes, I whisper, “But I don’t even know if I’m going to get into a med school in Minnesota. If I don’t, I’m not going to go, Barrett. I don’t want to leave home or you or our families.”
“You’ll get in,” he says without missing a beat. “Your MCAT score left mine in the dust. You’ll be able to take your pick of schools. And when it’s time for your residency, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. If I have to hand the practice off to another doctor for a few years and move somewhere with you, I can. We’ll make it work. I want to make all your dreams come true. Not just the ones that involve me being your very sexy and devoted husband.”
