dropped. After his arrest, letters from all the country poured in demanding his swift release and punishment for the Cranburys.
Yesterday was the first day of golden peace we’ve had in a long time. Just when we can breathe, this comes in the mail. Shit.
Not that I’m particularly afraid of them anymore. Evelyn was fired from the Cranbury Resorts board with a statement, “As leaders in the hotel industry, we need the absolute confidence that our Vice President of Acquisitions represents the core values of the Cranbury Resorts brand. Evelyn Cranbury is no longer that person.”
It was very public. Humiliating. I’m sure she’s regretting ever setting foot in Fair Oaks. It’s hard to believe she’d come after me now after everything that’s happened. So why this anxiety?
What if it’s not his?
I tuck the envelope in my purse, getting up to meet Gage at the garage. He told me be there at five. Heart hammering in my chest, I begin the short walk to the re-opened auto shop. There’s a whiteboard sitting outside the office with a crudely drawn Pikachu and a fifteen percent off sale. I smile to myself, heading up the parking lot.
It’s another stifling day, the sun beating down on my neck. Hard to believe it’s still summer with everything that happened.
“Gage?”
I hear his voice inside the garage. “Here.”
It’s oddly quiet, but I guess everybody’s home. No one works past five here, which is another grand blessing. I never knew there was a place where people actually stopped work at reasonable hours.
He’s still nowhere to be found. I glance into the garage.
There’s Sharon. My car. She’s been sanded and repainted. The hood gleams just as brightly as it did when it first rolled into my garage. Standing right next to the car is Gage, dressed in a tux.
A gust of air catches in my chest as he strolls into the bright patch of sunlight. A smirk tugs at his mouth. He gives the car a gentle pat before walking out to me.
“She’s all fixed.”
I gape at him. “When did you have time to do that? And why are you dressed in a tux?”
I can’t stop ogling him. He’s swept his hair back just like he did at the wedding, revealing hollow cheeks that are smooth-shaven. “Consider it my wedding gift to you.”
Oh my God. I know what he’s going to do.
He takes my hands. “Olivia—”
“Wait,” the word tears out of my throat before I can stop myself. “I have to show you something first. I’m sorry.” Cheeks burning, I dig my hand into my purse and produce the letter.
His finely shaped eyebrows narrow at me. “What’s this?” He takes the envelope from me, eyes widening when he glances at the address.
“The paternity results are in. I—you should look at them before you—”
My last word ends in a gasp as Gage rips it in half. “What are you doing?”
He tears it into fourths and eighths, until they’re nothing but square pieces of paper. They glitter in the sunlight as he throws them over his shoulder. Then he takes my hands and bends to his knee. My throat chokes with emotion, tears blinding my vision.
“I don’t care whose it is. I loved you ever since you stepped out of that car wearing those ridiculous heels. And I want you in my life forever, no matter what.”
I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times. When Mark proposed, I saw it coming. He booked the restaurant we both loved, and he told me to wear something nice. When the ring came, I knew I had to say yes. But I’ve never felt it in my bones.
He slides the box out of his jacket pocket and pops open the lid. It’s a beautiful princess cut ring, the diamond’s many facets winking in the sun.
“I know what I want, and it’s you. Forever.”
I choke out a cry. “Gage, I love you. Yes, of course! Yes!”
He stands, throwing his arms around me as I cry into his jacket. His hand digs into my hair, pulling my head to seal a kiss against my lips. I kiss him back, half-crying, half-laughing as the most incredible warmth floods my chest.
Then he pries the ring from the box and slides it onto my left hand. I look at him curiously.
A feline smirk tugs at his lips. “I figure we should probably do our wedding again. For our parents’ sake.”
“I guess we’ll be the first couple to get two weddings.” I admire my ring, turning my hand around to gaze