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“Yeah,” he sighs, “It was all going rather well until the secondary drowning kicked in.”
We sit for a moment, gazing out over the shining silver expanse of the loch, both lost in our thoughts.
I can’t help myself. “Was it good?” I ask.
“No, it was fairly scary, if I’m honest. The woman I love dropping like a stone in my arms…”
“No, I mean the sex. Wait, what did you just say?”
“You dropped like a stone…”
“No, not that part. The bit before it.”
“The woman I love…?”
“You…love me?”
“Yeah, we covered that too. Victoria Canmore, I love you. I have loved you from the moment I saw you standing looking terrified on that school bus. I loved you then. I loved you the night you almost died. And I love you now.” He pauses and places his hand over mine. “But I know things are difficult for you…that this isn’t the right time. So, if what you need is a friend, then I’m here.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes, no. We’ve been friends long enough. I’m not looking for you to be my friend. Well, you’ll always be that, but I want more.” I turn my hand over so his palm rests in mine. I twine our fingers. “Corran, will you marry me?”
His blue eyes widen in shock.
“Yes,” he beams. “Yes, my love, I will.”
EPILOGUE
Victoria
Corran guides me to the edge of the road, his huge hands covering my eyes and most of my face. The gold band of his wedding ring is cold against my skin.
“Are you ready?”
I nod.
He releases his hands. My eyes take a moment to adjust in the gloaming light. The large, pale moon hangs low and heavy in the sky, barely peeking over the jagged tops of the Darroch Mountains, casting a long, shimmering reflection into the gently ripping waters of the loch. A more brilliant light comes from the campfire that crackles on the sandy shore.
“I asked Andy, our farm hand, to set it up for us. What do you think?”
I look at the picnic hamper set into the sand, and the large tartan rugs spread over the huge hulk of the fallen oak that has served for so long as a both picnic bench and table in this spot, and I sigh.
“It is perfect. Takes me back. Remember the parties we used to have here…?”
“Yeah, remember how you had to fight to come to every one,” he mutters with a grin.
I laugh. “Dad was never keen. Thought you guys were a bad influence.”
Corran shrugs. “I’m not sure we weren’t.”
“Ah, nonsense,” I reply. “We were a tame bunch. Look at us all now, all adult and successful and whatever.”
“And married.” He scoops up my hand and makes the solitaire on my so-long hidden engagement ring sparkle in the firelight.
I smile. “Indeed. So, what do you have planned for me, Mr. Beattie? What’s the surprise?”
