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Jared, the new pharmacist, was hired two months ago after Elowyn’s parents screened about a hundred or so candidates. The instant stress relief it brought everyone has been something to behold.
“Calm down, Elowyn,” Ensley calls out from the entranceway, heading toward us with the rest of the family in tow. “It’s just us.”
“Is there a reason that everyone is here right now? Is it a holiday I don’t know about? Is someone dying?” Elowyn’s face scrunches up at the sight of her parents and sisters, shooting me a confused look. “I know it’s our anniversary but—I thought we were just getting a quick lunch now and doing dinner later.”
And here I was worried that she was onto me. I was so secretive about getting her parents to come in today, even calling Jared this morning and telling him to take an extra-long lunch just to make sure she’d be inside the building when I got there.
“Elowyn,” I sigh. “I’m ready.”
“For lunch?”
“Yes,” I laugh, shaking my head. “But first. I know about the bowl.”
Her eyes go wide, and she blushes so hard the tips of her ears turn pink. “Darn it! It was supposed to be a surprise!”
“Then you shouldn’t have me manage the website,” I tease. As much as I love her, secrecy has never been her strong suit. She left a paper trail on this thing a mile long. “I saw the paperwork come through.”
“Fine. I was going to give it to you at lunch but never mind then. Hang on.” Shoulders slumped, she shuffles off to the employee door by the pharmacy counter. When she returns, it’s with a very heavy-looking gift bag. “For your heart chakra. I thought it would be a nice addition to your collection. And to celebrate our anniversary.”
Taking the bag from her hands, I pull the bowl from the tissue paper. And while it isn’t a surprise, it still makes my heart skip to see that it’s the exact bowl from the festival we went to. The one that I always thought about buying but never seemed to be able to afford, or to value myself enough to splurge on.
I look into the center and frown as my heart rate kicks up a few notches. “Weird. Is there something inside it?”
Elowyn’s face immediately darkens, brows knit tight, and she wrenches it from my hands. “No, it can’t be! If this bowl isn’t perfect, I’m going to lose my mind!”
Her concern shifts to confusion when she looks into the bowl. Reaching into it, she pulls out a small wooden box with a handwritten card. My penmanship isn’t the best, so I asked Ensley for help.
The love of my life reads aloud from the careful, looping script on the paper, “My heart would sing if you’d accept this ring.”
It takes her a moment to process the turn of events, and by the time she looks down to see me on one knee, I’m worried she’s going to scream and drop the bowl, denting it beyond repair. My lips tug upward as I imagine what kind of sound a broken healing bowl would make. Ensley rushes to take it from her arms so she can open the box without dropping anything, and there are already tears in her eyes as she hands me the box.
I flip open the lid, showing her the diamond solitaire I’ve spent the past six months saving up to buy. The ring had to be as beautiful as my forever girl.
“Yes,” she answers before I can even ask the question.
As I start to rise, she launches herself into my arms. Clapping erupts all around us along with cheers of congratulations. Elowyn’s lips meet mine as I hug her close, then slide the ring onto her finger.
She holds her hand out and stares at it. “Look at you. The one finding the perfect gift.”
It’s funny that she would say that. When she’s been the perfect gift all along.
*****
Six months later…
The morning sun spreads golden warmth across our backyard, a pristine canvas of emerald green that’s more than just a yard to me. When I think about how far I’ve come, I can only shake my head. This place… this amazing, perfect place, represents our shared dreams, a tangible piece of our joint life, a testament to the love Elowyn and I have nurtured. With both our businesses exploding, we were able to buy a house together and move in a few months before our wedding day.
It’s a small patch of Frostvale that is utterly and irrevocably ours, a charming nest of serenity and love. Our house, a quaint two-story, stands proudly, its whitewashed walls glowing under the sun. It’s a beautiful home, brimming with charm and character.
I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to own a home. Just a decade ago, I was worried I’d be thrown in prison for trying to protect someone I love.
I can’t help but grin as I stand there, my gaze drifting across the backyard. The newly planted flowers are blooming, their vivid hues dancing with the morning breeze, while the weathered garden fence offers a rustic touch that makes El’s eyes dance every time she looks at it. Yet, there’s an empty corner by the fence, a spot that has been calling out to me ever since we moved in. It’s a spot begging for something, something rich with a deeper meaning.
Elowyn’s laughter—the sound that always makes my heart swell—wafts out from the kitchen window. I can almost picture her there, her big brown eyes sparkling with mischief, a dusting of flour on her cheeks, and her chestnut hair tied up in a messy bun.
She’s probably wearing a frilly apron that I’ll take off of her as soon as she’ll let me. Along with everything else.
The rumbling of a truck echoes down our quiet street, drawing my attention away from the empty corner. It pulls into our driveway, the logo ofTom’s Nurseryprominently displayed on the side. The driver, a burly man with a friendly smile named Tom, jumps out of the cab, his gaze meeting mine.
