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Her hands fly over her nose and mouth. “I dreamed of this day.” She descends to her knees with grace akin to a falling petal.
The world around me blurs into insignificance—she is my world.
“I have one more secret. The night I walked away, this ring was in my pocket.” I flip the top upright, showing her the ring. “In my opinion, everything happens for a reason. I was breaking our vow to ask you to marry me after I finished basic training. The universe stepped in and made sure it was the wrong time for us because we were supposed to be here when I gave you this ring.”
Filling my lungs with air, I gather my thoughts and make sure I execute the words I planned.
“Outside this box, time marched on. We lived, lost, and learned more about ourselves while our love was locked away on this bridge. Inside the box, time stood still waiting for this very moment for me to declare my undying love. Driven by a vision of hope that one day I would kneel in front of you, asking you to be mine, I put the ring in here that night. I didn’t know if this tiny lock box would ever be opened, or if our childhood promises would remain inside. But we’re here, fourteen years from the time you agreed to be my girlfriend. Vanessa Barron, I will love you forever.”
She lunges on top of me, knocking me flat on my back, pecking me with not-so-tender kisses. “Yes. Yes.”
“I haven’t asked you yet.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Ask me so I can kiss the hell out of you.”
She’s an oxymoron. Everything about her is soft—her soft hair, smooth skin, and kind heart. Yet she’s a bold and feisty risk taker, not to mention…her lips can do wicked things.
“Nessa, will you be my wife and partner? In love. In parenting. In business. In everything.”
My hand traces up the back of her neck, under her hair, and the world falls silent around us. Nothing else matters but her answer. And even though I know the answer will be yes, my heart thumps against my chest like I’ve just run a marathon.
Pressed against me, her chest gently rises against mine as she delves into the depths of my eyes. Her fingers gracefully glided over my face, leaving me lost in her touch.
“I will love you forever. Not once did I stop loving you. Yes, I’ll marry you…on one condition.”
I’m sure I look shocked. Never did I expect there to be a condition on marrying me. “And what’s that?”
“That you will love me like the boy that smiled at me during that sixth grade assembly. And that you love our baby as much as you love me. That you’ll never walk away like my mom did.”
“Are you…are we…having a baby?” I ask with a hoarse voice.
She looks into my watery eyes. “Maybe. I’m two days late for my cycle.”
The thought of baby Nessa’s walking around fills every crevice of heart. “I promise you. I’ll be here for our kids—every game, recital, competition. I will be home every night to tuck them into bed. And I vow to love you, and your body, every night after they fall asleep. I love you wholeheartedly, unconditionally.”
Our lips part, overlapping and making wet popping sounds.
She pulls back with her eyes reflecting the lights. “Beau, you’re all I’ve ever needed to make me happy. Everything I ever dreamed of is underneath me right now—you.”
Epilogue
VANESSA – 1 YEAR LATER
“Congratulations to Vanessa Barron Landry on being named CEO of the Year byLiquormagazine. The youngest owner and the first woman owner and CEO of a liquor company to win the prestigious award.”
So much has happened in one year. Last year, in September, my dad didn’t give me a choice about coming home to work at the distillery. I was completely lost in Nashville. Now I’m accepting an award for my leadership and leading the bourbon business into an age of new ideas and a top-shelf product.
“Thank you to the employees at Barron’s. They stood by me when Dad left me in charge. Nobody likes change, but they never questioned me when I wanted to sail a batch to go around the world and stop at sixty-nine ports over the course of a three year voyage. Barron’s 69 has two years left of feeling the dips and valleys of the ocean’s movement, aging the bourbon to perfection.
But if I’m honest, I’m being given this award because of Hayes Dieslich, Maverick Bourne, and my husband, Beau Landry. They didn’t hesitate when I asked them to jump on board Barron’s 12 with me. The commercials with Hayes flying on a private plane, pouring himself our bourbon then swooning country love songs and then ending his night sitting around a backyard with friends having another one sent this brand to new heights. They made my vision come to fruition. So, thank you.”
I look out into the audience and see my favorite people nodding. Beau stands up, clapping, and soon everyone is giving me a standing ovation.
“Stop. Stop. I didn’t cure cancer or do anything earth-shattering. That’s on my agenda for next year after I change two diapers.”
I exit the stage to a room full of happy liquored up friends and colleagues.
“You’re rocking that dress,” Wynter says. “It’s crazy you had twins two months ago.”
