AllFreeNovel
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Samuel walks Rose home, and I take the car. I drive into our underground garage and wait out front on our esplanade fence. In the distance, Samuel walks with Rose, holding her little hand. Then he lifts her onto his shoulders because at her snail’s pace, it’s going to take all day.
I pad the half-dozen steps to our double glass doors and press the code to unlock the doors. Rose takes each step by herself, screaming if Samuel tries to help her.
“Someone is quite independent.” He laughs. “Shall we head to the beach for a picnic today?”
“You two go. I have washing to finish.”
“No, Eden.” He lifts my chin until I meet his beautiful blue eyes. “We’re a family today. Everything else can wait.” He kisses my lips, and I want to fall into his arms and beg him to tell me the truth.
On the kitchen island is a cane basket. Beside it is a large picnic blanket. “I have everything ready. All we have to do is apply sunscreen.”
* * *
The waves roll in one after the other and break along the foreshore. It’s not hot enough to swim, and the water is cold on my feet. Rose jumps in the shallows then runs away as though playing with the waves in a game of chase.
“She loves the ocean, like you.”
“Not as much as I love you.” His gaze locks with mine, and there’s a seriousness behind them, reminding me of our days in Ulara. “Rose, come here.” She chases a seagull and attempts to waddle past Samuel. He scoops her up and swings her around in the air. He kneels and places her on one bent knee. Samuel whispers in her ear, and she giggles.
“Mum, Mum wing.” She giggles again, and then he dips a hand into his pocket and gives Rose a box. Rose looks at me and holds it up.
“Not so quick.” He laughs, taking the box and opening it. She screams, and he hands it back to her.
“Samuel.” I gasp, realizing what’s happening.
“I originally planned a candlelight dinner for the two of us. Only I wanted to include Rose as it really is the three of us, and I imagined no better place than here at our beach.” He stands with Rose on his hip and her still holding the box in front of me.
With his free hand, he guides my hands away from my shocked face and takes my left hand in his. “All my life I have waited for you, and I never want to lose you again. I love you with all my heart and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Eden, will you marry me?”
I burst into happy tears as he slides the ring on my finger. “I said yes many months ago. A hundred times yes.” There were times Samuel and I didn’t need a ring to define our love. Nothing has changed, and yet my heart is full. It’s a step forward to a future together.
“God, I’m glad it fits. When we went furniture shopping, I hid one of your other rings in my pocket and hoped I grabbed the right one.”
“You’re lucky I don’t wear jewelry every day.” I swipe the tears from my cheeks so I can admire my beautiful ring—a rose diamond. The significance to our daughter makes me choke out a sob. “I love you,” I rasp. “You kept it a secret.”
“A wonderful secret.” He kisses me, holding my face to his. Rose giggles at our feet. He stoops to lift Rose and include her in our hug.
We continue playing along the shoreline until Rose whimpers so we pack up the picnic basket and cross the road to our home.
I wait until we are inside the house before I speak again, “Earlier, I was talking aboutallsecrets.” I hold his gaze and wait.
“Do you mean other rings as secrets?”
I freeze.
“I wasn’t prying.” His hand rests on my cheek. “When I was searching for a place to hide this box, I stumbled across another box. The only reason it concerned me is because it appeared new, and if you’d bought it, then I imagine it would be with your other jewelry.”
Lowering his hand from my face, I take both his hands in mine. “You know I’m referring to you.” I bow my head, knowing I should have told him about the ring Ethan gave me when he first came home, only it was the least of my concerns. “Yes, I should have told you.” My eyes plead with his. “And I’ll explain it, but first, I need to know about these tests you’re having for abdominal pain.”
“It’s nothing to be concerned about.” He lifts my hand, admires the new sparkly diamond, and kisses the palm of my hand. “I anticipated a parasite, which is of no surprise, or something else I contracted in the jungle. I’m having multiple tests for elimination’s sake. I’m fine, so please don’t be concerned.”
“Easier said than done.” I spring up onto the white marble counter and pull Samuel to stand between my legs.
His brow furrows. “Should I be concerned about the other ring?”
Oh, we’re back to that.I let out a sigh. “You’re changing the subject.”
“Am I?” He leans in and kisses my neck. “And you’re distracting me.”
