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I followed the parking attendant to an open parking spot, and we got out, pulling on extra layers before we followed the crowd inside. I grabbed Everly’s gloved hand. It had become a habit, and it had nothing to do with appearances.
“I didn’t realize how popular this place was,” Everly said.
“People drive from all over to see it.”
“We did,” Wren observed.
Inside, we passed customer service counters and the gift shop to get in line. It was a timed entry, and the tickets were on my phone. Once the attendant scanned the tickets, we went through the doors to the gardens.
Everly grabbed a map and opened it. “We could go to the Duponts’ house or the conservatory. Or there’s the train.”
I gestured to the path. “The water fountain is right here. There should be a show starting in a minute.”
“Let’s do that,” Everly said as we headed in that direction. A large crowd had already gathered.
Everly moved in front of me to preserve space when more people gathered. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight to me. Whispering in her ear, I said, “I like this.”
I hoped to rectify my poor choice of words in the truck, but I was telling the truth. I enjoyed these excursions with Everly and Wren. I could almost pretend we were a real family. I could see us doing things like this more often.
I could envision us spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together. We’d introduce Everly to our traditions. We’d take family photos in front of the tree in matching pajamas, Wren barely able to contain her excitement, and us drinking coffee while Wren opened her presents. I wanted to share the joy of the season together. But I also wanted the other days too. The ones where we didn’t do anything more than go to work and cook dinner at the end of the day. My heart expanded and contracted. I wanted that more than anything.
I didn’t want to walk away at the end of this. I could only hope Everly felt the same way.
Finally, the show started. The water sprayed up in time with the holiday music, creating rainbows in the sky. It was magical. I enjoyed watching it as much as watching Wren’s excitement and reveling in the feel of Everly in my arms.
I didn’t want to go back to living this life alone. I couldn’t imagine it without Everly. It was too soon to be having these thoughts, so I’d keep them to myself. But Gran’s ring sat in the drawer of my dresser and weighed heavily on my mind.
It might be what Jackson said we had to do for the case, but I wanted to be engaged to Everly. I wanted my ring on her finger and her to live in my house. I wanted everything.
“That was amazing,” Everly said as the water slowed and the music drifted off.
“Did you see the rainbows?” Wren asked me.
“I did.” The moment was surreal for me because I wasn’t just paying attention to what was in front of me, but also to what was possible. And I wasn’t waiting for fate to make it happen. I’d create my own future.
A plan formed in my head as we headed toward the conservatory, admiring the lights as we walked. It was daytime, so we couldn’t see the outside lights, but I made a note to return next year when we could.
I needed to talk to Wren and make sure she was okay with my idea. A conversation we’d had about our last fairy-tale movie,Beauty and the Beast, came back to me. Everly dreamed of having a library with a rolling ladder, and she needed a space for her work. I’d renovate my office for her. Show her that I didn’t see her as temporary, but as a permanent fixture in my life.
Then I’d move my office into the spare bedroom. It was perfect. I walked with the girls through the conservatory, posing for pictures. Then we went to the building next door for lunch before searching for the outside train garden. Wren wanted to find the tree house next.
We held hands the whole way, with me pulling her into my arms at every stop. I never wanted to let her go. I hope she felt that. Because I couldn’t always say how I felt, especially without talking to Wren first.
Not much had changed between us other than our living arrangements. But getting engaged couldn’t happen without Wren’s okay.
We followed the path to the Duponts’ house. After admiring the interior, Wren mentioned that the paths led to a lake illuminated with lights.
“Can we find it?” Wren asked.
Everly smiled, so I said, “Why not?”
We’d driven a long way to get here, and I wanted to enjoy the day. If we stayed long enough, we’d be able to witness the grounds lit up for the evening. It was the perfect day, made better because it was spontaneous.
As Wren led us through the woods along the paved path, following the directions on the map, I couldn’t help but think I wouldn’t have done this without my parents, my sister, or Everly here. And it was so much more special with Everly.
I enjoyed my family, but I wanted to create a separate unit. I wanted my own slice of that heaven. Satisfied I was making the right decision, despite our circumstances and how we started out, I focused on the lake that was emerging through the opening in the trees.
Lights bobbed on the surface, illuminating shapes and patterns on the water.
