Gabe
I snapped open the box and held it out for my childhood friend to examine.
“Whoa. You’re proposing?” Tate set his board onto the sand, then held his hand out to hold the velvet box.
“You think it’s too soon?”
“Only you can make that call.” He held the box out in the sunlight. “That’s an enormous rock. A blood diamond?”
I snapped the box shut and huffed. Only Tate. I tossed it in the drawstring bag I’d carried out on the beach and he stood openmouthed pointing at the tote.
“You’re gonna leave that giant rock out here? On the beach?”
“No one’s going to steal it.”
“Uh-huh. Won’t let you do it, man.”
“It’s in my tote.”
“Are you out of your mind? Leave it in your house.” He stepped forward toward my house, insistent. I caught up with him and gave him the side-eye. “That’s all you have to say? I’m proposing marriage. And you’re worried about the safekeeping of the ring?”
“What’s there to say? I’m happy for you. Luna and I, in my mind, I’m right there with you. Committed for life.”
“But you’re not doing the marriage thing?”
“We don’t need it. We commit to each other each day. Marriage is a religious institution I don’t trust.” I kicked the sand, sending it spraying out before us. “But that’s not to say it doesn’t work for some. I think it’s good. You guys are good together. Congratulations.”
“I get what you’re saying. But I think having a ring on her finger and becoming Mrs. Chesterton will build Poppy’s confidence. Sometimes I feel like she’s still waiting for us to not work out, and marriage is the ultimate symbol of commitment. It says that there may be bad days, but no matter how bad it gets, you plan on digging in and working on it, for the rest of your life.” He clapped me on my back. “And, to be honest, she’s brought out a bit of a possessive streak in me. I want that ring on her finger so every guy who approaches her and finds himself staring at her rack sees she’s taken.”
The one skinny guy, Tony, who seemed to show up all the time near the marina, was gonna find a fist in his face if he didn’t stop blatantly checking her out.
“Ah, and the truth comes out. Well, that ring’s large enough no one’s going to miss it.”
Exactly.
“How’d your parents take the news?”
“Well, she hasn’t said yes yet. But they’re happy for me, even though they wish I’d move back closer to them. Expecting me to call and let them know her answer.” We reached the steps that led up to our place, and I took the lead up the ramp. “What’re you doing this afternoon?”
“Well, I’d hoped to give Jasmine some swimming lessons, but she bailed on me to help Luna with a project.”
“Good. I need your help.”
“With what?”
“I’ve got some lights to hang.”
“There’s no one you can hire to do that?”
“Who would I hire? Everyone here knows Poppy. And I want this to be a surprise. Plus, she’s been pushing me to do a little less hiring. She says it’s not normal to hire someone to do everything.”
I led him downstairs and showed him the bags of lights I’d ordered from Amazon. He bent to examine the clips I’d also ordered.
“Whatever happened to that suit?” His question came out of nowhere.
“It’s over. SEC dropped its investigation. The Justice Department never brought any charges against me. They forced my old boss to return some art he’d been gifted, and Cyr’s girlfriend had to return jewelry he gave her. But the most he gave me was a pair of Gucci slippers, and I left those in the hotel room. Cyr’s still somewhere in the Caribbean on his yacht avoiding prosecution. But for me, it’s over. It’s another reason I can now ask her to marry me. There’s no fear of ending up in a jail cell.”
He handed me one bag and picked up the other.
“Well, let’s go do this.”
Tate and I spent the afternoon converting the expansive deck on the Shoals Club into a dizzying array of twinkling lights. Or, at least, that was my grand vision. Hard to see for certain if it would come true in broad daylight. The florist arrived, and I set them to work prepping inside the restaurant.
By the time we finished, any passersby would think a wedding reception was happening that night. As a matter of fact, more than one member stopped and asked if a wedding was taking place. Inquiring minds wanted to know.
“Whoa. Look at you. A suit. What’s going on tonight?” Poppy wiggled between me and the bathroom counter and fine-tuned my tie.
“I’m taking you out. Remember? Date night.”
“Where are we going?”
“A surprise.”
“But I need to shower. I’ve been outside all day. I’m nasty. After work, I helped Cali move. Do we have a reservation? I need to—”
I kissed her soft lips to quell the flow of words. “Take all the time you need. I got ready early so I wouldn’t be in your way.” And I also wanted to set her expectations for a big night. A night I hoped she’d remember for the rest of her life.
She cocked her head and studied me. Without a doubt, her brain synapses fired off a thousand different scenarios, but I’d bet she hadn’t allowed herself to consider the wildest scenario of all. We’d been living together for less than two months. She didn’t immediately agree to move in with me that fateful afternoon in Alice’s garage, but it didn’t take long for her to see reason.
I paced the den, waiting. I focused on the hypnotic roll of the waves, hoping to calm the rising anxiety.
I didn’t call her father to ask permission in accordance with southern tradition. But her father hadn’t really been a part of her life. And she hadn’t bonded with any of her stepfathers. Against my better judgement, I did call her mother.
“I’m sure you’re a good man. You promise to treat her right, and you have my blessing.” Her voice cracked, and then she blew her nose and proceeded to sniffle throughout the remainder of the call. No matter what had happened in the past, her mom loved her.
What if she doesn’t say yes?
I’d told every single person in our joint life of my plans. Tate’s distrust of marriage bore a similarity to Poppy’s view. After all, growing up, every marriage she’d seen had ended in divorce—her mom, but also her aunt and her grandparents. The national divorce statistic didn’t provide any data to support the institution. We’d only been living together for two months. She wasn’t expecting this.
Sure, I’d dropped references with increasing frequency to where we’d live in the future. When we’d argued over the height of a picture I hung downstairs in her office, I’d sarcastically quipped, “Whatever the future Mrs. Chesterton wants.” She’d laughed, but it was a funny moment. I moved that damn nail up and down the wall six times before the frame hung at a height she liked.
I patted my coat pocket and triple-checked my faint reflection in the glass for any tell-tale bulge. My palms grew clammy. I washed my hands under cold water in the kitchen sink. Then I returned to my place overlooking the ocean. I paced. Then gazed. On repeat.
If she says no, it’s not the end. It’s no for today. I need to eliminate any doubt about how I see her and what I want for us.
“Gabe?” Her large blue eyes gazed up at me, a question in them. Concern radiated through her soft touch. She sensed I hovered near a precipice.
“Hey.” I reached out to touch her soft golden curls. These were the curls she obtained by blowing out her hair and using a wand and curlers. I’d played the role of observer long enough to know. She wore a flowing aqua dress that enhanced the cerulean hues in her irises.
“You look beautiful.” She spun around for me, sending the light, silky material into a floating whirl. “It’s good for tonight?”
“Perfect.” I held out my arm for her, and she giggled.
“What?”
“You’re being so formal. I like this side of you.”
If tonight goes well, you won’t see these nerves again.
“I invited Cali over for tomorrow night. Her new place is three doors down.”
“Wait. You mean Jasmine’s tutor? She moved in on our street?”
“Yes, I told you. I helped her move.”
“How can she afford—”
“I don’t know. She’s divorced. There’s more to her story. I like her.” She searched a large tote bag and pulled out what looked like lip gloss and tissues to put in her small clutch, then paused, studying me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’d rather you hang out with happily married women. Not disgruntled divorcees.”
“Would you shush?” She kissed me in a tease, and I let it drop. I’d worry about this Cali another day.
When we pulled up at the Shoals Club, her girly giggle returned as I came around the side of the golf cart to escort her into the restaurant.
“None of tonight is supposed to be amusing,” I reprimanded with a teasing tone.
“It’s not my birthday. Like, if this is a surprise birthday party, you got the wrong day.”
“I am aware.” I hadn’t thought about it, but her birth date fell exactly one month ahead, so her assumption I’d gotten the month wrong bore logic.
I tapped my phone as we ventured up the sidewalk, and a million twinkling lights lit the expansive deck and every available railing. She gasped, and I took her hand in mine.
“My lady?”
“I’ve never seen this before. It’s gorgeous. When did they…” She paused on the second step up to the deck. “Did you do this?”
“I did.”
She let my hand go and wandered onto the deck, her mouth slightly open. She twirled beneath the lights with the amazement and wonder of a small child at Christmas.
“Where is everyone?”
“I rented out the restaurant tonight. When we enter those doors, the staff will escort us to a candlelit table with an ocean view. The chef is a Michelin five-star chef I flew down from Manhattan.”
“Jason is a good chef. Why would you kick him out of his kitchen?”
“Trust me. He appreciated the paid night off.”
“It’s a Saturday night. The amount of revenue—”
“Trust me. I made it worth their while.”
“But, what? Why?” Her hands clasped over her chest as her confusion increased.
“He’s an amazing chef. And he’s willing to talk to you about your restaurant. And I figured--”
“Gabe, that is insane.”
I dropped to one knee, and her manicured hands covered her mouth.
“The last time I dropped to one knee, I asked you to give us a chance without an end date in sight. These last few months have been some of the happiest in my life. I hadn’t realized it, but before I met you, I was floating, adrift, without a purpose. You’ve changed my life for the better.” I reached into my pocket as her first tear escaped. I opened the velvet lid, and she gasped. “Penelope Star Smith, will you do me the honor of committing to be with me for the rest of your life? Will you marry me?”
“Me?” She glanced behind her, as if anyone else could possibly be standing there. “Me?” she repeated, but this time, her gaze locked with mine.
“Yes. You.”
“Yes. Oh, my god, yes!”
All the worry I’d been carrying dissipated, and the two-ton weight on my chest lifted. I slipped the ring onto her finger, and she threw herself into my arms, knocking me back a foot or two.
“You know, this means we’re partners now. We lean on each other. No matter what happens, we have each other.”
“For life.” She kissed me, and I wiped away her happy tears. I didn’t doubt her happiness, because my Poppy glowed.
The End
Would you like a glimpse into the future?
Sign up for my newsletter and get a FREE bonus epilogue… Visit http://bit.ly/adriftbonus to get Gabe & Poppy Five Years Later emailed to you.
Logan and Cali’s story is up next in First Light…
He could be my savior…or my downfall…
I was living a lie.
No one knew who I really was. Letting someone in could’ve been devastating for my family.
For the most part, isolation wasn’t a hardship. It’s not like I was looking for love or any kind of serious relationship.
But then I met Logan.
I tried to keep my distance. He wouldn’t let me.
Logan is gentle, kind, and loving. Everything I never knew I needed in my life.
He’s also a cop—exactly the kind of man who’d never understand my truth.
So, while he shared his deepest, darkest secrets, I kept mine hidden.
Too bad I couldn’t keep my heart locked away, too.
Because now, I’m falling for a man who can never be mine. Not truly, anyway.
How can I ask him to be my future when I can’t even let him help me survive the rough waters of my present?