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Theo grins proudly and hands the camera off to Scarlett when he walks over to me and puts his arm around me. He shifts and looks down at me and exhales slowly, pulling back and putting his fist to his mouth. That’s when I notice his hand is shaking.
“Theo? Are you feeling all right?” I ask.
“Uh, yeah,” he says, swallowing hard.
Scarlett’s brows crinkle, but she’s grinning. “You sure? You look a little green.”
“Shut up,” he says, but she just laughs.
He reaches into his pocket and the next thing I know, he’s down on his knees.
“I think it’s supposed to be one knee, but I feel steadier this way,” he says, looking up at me. “I didn’t plan on doing this here, but…”
My mouth drops and he holds up his hand, holding the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. There’s a stunning large oval blue sapphire center stone—my favorite stone of all—and the two rows of small diamonds flare out on either side, making it look like—
“A firefly for my firefly,” he says.
“A blue sapphire! Theo, you remembered…” My voice cracks and I’m too overwhelmed to say anything else.
He swallows again and his eyes suddenly fill with tears. Mine do too.
“I’ve almost asked you so many times, but I wanted to wait until I had this ring in my hand, specifically made just for you, and I picked it up an hour and a half ago. It’s been burning a hole in my pocket ever since,” he says, grinning.
I put my hand over my mouth and my vision is blurry before I blink the tears away.
“I love you, Sofie Anne Copewell. I’ve loved you for as far back as I have memories, and that love has stood the test of time. It has grown, despite all the obstacles, despite distance and separation and heartache. And I suspect it will keep growing until our last breaths, because wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be, loving you.”
I choke back a sob and get down on my knees to face him. “I love you, Theo. I love you so much and there will never be a moment when I don’t.” My voice is shaky, and he grasps my hand tight and leans his forehead to mine. “Were you going to ask me something?” I whisper.
I hear Scarlett’s laugh first, but she’s sniffling a lot. I look around and see Aunt Hilary dabbing her face with a tissue. Sutton laughs.
“Dad,” Owen hisses, which makes all of us laugh.
Theo pulls his head back and blinks fast as he gives his head a slight shake. “I’m botching up this proposal,” he says.
“You are not,” I say, my smile widening and my heart tripling in size.
“Sofie, will you marry me? Be my wife and love me forever?” he asks.
“Yes.” The tears are streaming down my cheeks now and Aunt Hilary hands me a tissue as I wipe my nose before it starts to run. “Yes.I want to be your wife more than anything,” I say, half-laughing and crying.
He kisses me and everyone cheers, the sound bouncing off the stable walls. Chief makes a low, short whinny and I smile as I pull away from the kiss.
“Even Chief is happy about it,” I say.
I wrap my arms around Theo’s neck and go back in for another kiss, feeling happier than I ever thought possible.
There’s more cheering and whistles.
“When’s the wedding?” Owen yells, sounding way more excited now than when he was shushing his dad.
“Tonight?” Theo whispers, grinning at me.
I laugh. “Tonight’s good with me.”
“No, don’t deprive us of our fun,” Scarlett says. “Give us at least a week to plan something.” She laughs and Jamison pulls her back against his chest, kissing her hair.
I suspect they won’t be long behind us in the engagement department.
