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But hey, if I keep repeating it, the ache in my chest may recede over time.
“Oh, Evan. You’re home.” August comes out of the back holding another basket of biscuits, and I notice that the minute she sees him, her ears turn bright red.
“Hey.” He gives an easy smile. “Yeah. The prodigal chef has returned.”
Though I notice he doesn’t seem overly enthused about that sentiment. Still, August is studying him like her favorite book.
“That’s great. I know your family must be so happy. The customers too, they’ll be in for a real treat.” August pays him a compliment.
But Evan is barely looking at her, his head on a swivel like he’s dreaming something up for the restaurant. “Thanks. Let me put this stuff down in the back and I’ll come out to sit.”
As he retreats, I notice an exhale of air deflate the teenage girl in front of me. No one else in the room seems to clue in to August’s feelings, but damn, if I’m not interested in what is happening there.
“I’m so happy he’s home.” Leona claps her hands, tears clouding her eyes.
“Uh-oh, her favorite is back in town. Watch out, Patty,” Liam teases.
His mother hits him on the back of the hand, and he swears, apologizing.
A second later, August comes back out and takes a seat beside his mother in the chair she just pulled next to her. That’s when Patrick clears his throat and taps his water glass with a fork, and the whole table turns to him.
“I just wanted to take a minute and thank each and every one of you for getting Cassandra and me through our recovery in this last week. It’s been a rough time. We were suffering in silence there for a while, not knowing what was going on or who was responsible. The way you all stepped up, accepted her into this family like she was one of your own, it means the world to me.”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes because I’m fortunate to have fallen into all of their laps. I’m lucky that this man loves me.
He turns to me, his knees brushing the side of my thigh, and takes my hands in his.
“Speaking of the world, you are mine. When you breezed back into town, I think I was so terrified because I knew you’d change everything. I knew you’d challenge every safe, sane decision I’d ever made. Love had never been dangerous or scary before, not until I met you. That’s how I knew it was real, how I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my whole life with.”
Now he drops to one knee, and I see his hand go into his pocket. The gasp that fills my mouth seems to echo in my ears, surprise suffusing every cell in my body.
“Oh my God, Patrick!” I tighten my hold on the one hand he still lays in mine.
“You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met, Cassandra. Your strength, resilience, the way you see the world in bright colors, even though it’s not been the kindest to you. You’re it for me. I was a goner for you a long time ago, even if I didn’t admit it. So please, marry me? Make me the happiest man in the world because I already know I’m the luckiest. Spend your life with me, please?”
Then he flicks open the velvet box he pulls from his pocket, and I’m even more stunned. When he had time to pick out this ring, a stunning diamond that is almost shaped like a flower with tiny opals running around the band, I’ll never know. It’s exactly what I would have wanted, and that right there tells me all that I need to know. Not because he got me an expensive piece of jewelry but because he knows me down to every facet of what I prefer. He can tell what kind of mood I’m in just by wrapping his arms around me. He knows exactly what makes me feel better, what will cause me to laugh, and how I want our day to begin and end with each rising or setting of the sun.
Patrick is the only man on this planet for me, and I’m floored that he wants me to be his forever.
“It’s all I want.” I nod my head yes as I whisper this, sinking to my knees in front of him and throwing my arms around his neck.
“Oh, my heart!” I hear Leona exclaim from somewhere over my head.
“As if you two haven’t given us enough excitement.” His dad gruffly chuckles, but I hear the happiness in his voice.
“I love you so much,” Patrick whispers in my ear. “And I want nothing more than to have your body wrapped around me. But could I please put this on your finger and seal the deal?”
I pull back, smiling sheepishly, and let the man of my dreams put the ring on my left hand.
“Wow. It’s so perfect.” I admire it as Patrick bends down to kiss the knuckle he just pushed it past.
“You are.” He pulls me to stand as everyone closes in around us, congratulating and welcoming me to the family.
Leave it to this man to turn a whole week of bad into the best moment of my life. Then again, he’s been doing that since I returned to this destined, crazy, beautiful small town.
33
PATRICK
