Page 34 of Big Risks

I can't help but smile. Olivia had caught me looking at rings online last month and, rather than being upset, had appointed herself my "proposal consultant." She'd even made a PowerPoint presentation titled "Why Hailey Should Be My Stepmom," complete with pie charts and a pros/cons list that had exactly zero items in the cons column.

"That's the one," I confirm. "You've got the special delivery, right?"

She pats her overall pocket. "Safe and sound."

As she skips off with Zoe, I take a deep breath. Three more hours until the most important reading of my life.

By three forty-five, the crowd gathering around the gazebo is larger than I expected. It seems like half the town has shown up, plus tourists here for the festival. The wooden structure is decorated with autumn leaves and twinkling lights that will look even better once the sun starts to set.

Trying to calm my racing heart, I stand off to the side. Olivia is with me, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Stop fidgeting," she whispers. "You're going to give it away."

"I'm not fidgeting," I whisper back, immediately stopping my nervous foot-tapping.

"She's coming," Olivia hisses, and sure enough, I spot Hailey making her way through the crowd, Brooke at her side.

Hailey smiles when she sees us. "Front row seats for your biggest fans," she says, giving me a quick hug. "Though I still don't understand why you're reading at a fall festival."

"Noah asked me to give some inspiration to the guys here," I say, the lie sticking in my throat. "I couldn’t say no."

"Well, break a leg. Not literally, of course." She squeezes my hand and takes a seat in the front row.

Noah steps up to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Our very own Walker Ellison as a few things to say!"

The crowd applauds, and I step up to the microphone, notes in hand and nerves on high alert.

"Thank you all for coming," I begin, my voice steadier than I feel. "What I'm about to read is something a bit more personal."

I see confusion flicker across Hailey's face, quickly followed by curiosity.

"I spent years on deployments writing letters to someone who never wrote back," I continue. "I thought that meant love wasn't meant for me. It wasn’t until my Hailey started to read them that I thought…”

Understanding dawns in Hailey's eyes, and her hand flies to her mouth.

"That maybe..." I take a deep breath. "I was writing to you all along."

I step down from the gazebo, moving to stand directly in front of her. The crowd has gone completely silent.

"Hailey, you walked into my life with your heart wide open, carrying grace I didn't know how to ask for. You gave my daughter her laugh back."

Olivia appears at my side, grinning from ear to ear.

"You didn't just read my words—you lived them with me." My voice catches, and I have to pause for a moment. "So today, I don't have a letter. I just have one question."

I nod to Olivia, who solemnly reaches into her pocket and pulls out the small velvet box. She opens it, revealing the vintage sapphire ring that reminded me of Hailey's eyes the moment I saw it.

Dropping to one knee, I take the ring from the box. "Hailey Bennett, will you marry me?"

For one heart-stopping moment, she just stares at me, tears streaming down her face. Then she launches herself forward, nearly knocking me over.

"Yes," she says against my neck. "Yes, of course, yes."

The crowd erupts in cheers as I slide the ring onto her finger. Olivia throws her arms around both of us, and suddenly we're a tangle of limbs and laughter and tears.

"I can't believe you did this," Hailey says, looking at the ring in wonder.

"I had help," I admit, nodding toward Olivia, who's beaming with pride.

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