Page 89 of The Inn Dilemma

I can barely make out the words she mumbles into my chest. “This is more than a dream come true. This is absolutely amazing.”

Titan and Tootsie come in and sit dutifully by the door. I close it behind us.

Nova turns and slowly walks around, taking in the space designed specifically for her. In the far corner is a personal library with six floor-to-ceiling bookshelves full of her favorite books, the place made complete with a rolling ladder she can move around to reach the top shelves. A fireplace separates the otherside of the room where all her paint supplies are neatly organized. It looks like Kent gave her a larger easel. Her original easel is also there, but it’s covered in paint, and the new one is twice the size and has a big bow on top. Nova walks over and opens the note propped there.

Her eyes quickly scan the lines and tears leak down her cheeks. I had no idea Kent was doing this, and even though they’ve come a long way in their relationship, it’s hard for me to fully believe he’s changed.But this donation definitely pushes me to believe in his transformation even more.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

She turns around and nods, clutching the note to her chest. “He told me he’s proud of me and that he wants me to paint a mural in their house.”

That’s one of the biggest compliments her dad could give her. I wrap her in my arms and hold her tight, feeling her tremble with happiness.

“Do you think you have it in you for one more surprise?” I whisper huskily.

She pulls back and peeks up at me. “I honestly don’t know. Today has already been amazing.”

I motion to the space around us. “If you can’t tell, I really want you around a lot more. I don’t expect you to hang around with me while I teach the boys through the day, so I thought this would be the perfect place for you to escape to while I’m busy if you don’t have anywhere else you want to go.”

She does another slow spin. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want to be anywhere else. This place is absolutely…a dream come true.” She faces the library.

I drop to my knee. “And you’re my dream come true.”

She spins to face me, a smile on her face before her gaze drops to me. She covers her mouth with her hands and a gasp escapes her lips.

I blow out a slow breath. “Nova, if the last year has taught me anything, it’s this—I need you in my life. I am so stupidly in love with you. I’d love it if you spent your days here or wherever you want to be. But at night, I want you in my home, sleeping next to me.”

Her expression falls.

I rush to finish when I realize what she must be thinking. “What I’m clumsily trying to ask here is will you be my wife?” Any of her confusion or uncertainty disappears. “Soon?” I add for good measure.

I have a few more points I’d like to make, but Nova doesn’t give me the chance. She tackles me to the floor, and I have only a second to brace myself and take the brunt of our fall. She doesn’t hesitate; the moment we’re down, she’s kissing every inch of my face until her soft lips press to mine. I wrap my arms around her and she melts into me. It takes every ounce of willpower I have, but I lift her off me so we can both sit up.

“Listen, baby, I think you showed me the answer, but I’d really like to hear it verbally from those pretty lips. Will you be my wife?”

“I love you so much, Holt. More than I thought I could love anyone. You’ve shown me love countless times over our lives in so many different ways. You know I’ll marry you!” she answers.

“I love you, Nova Price.”

Titan and Tootsie both bark in warning, and I know we only have mere seconds before we’re tackled by the duo. Nova scrambles off my lap, and we help each otherstand before the pups have a chance to knock us back down.

“She said yes, pups,” I say to them. That’s when it dawns on me. “You didn’t even see the ring.” I tuck my hand into my pocket to pull out the vintage box I completely forgot about when I dropped to one knee.

“You could make me a ring out of a dandelion stem and I’d still say yes.”

I flip open the box and stare down at the vintage ring my great-great grandfather gave to the love of his life.

Nova gasps. “I mean, I’d say yes of course, but you went to all the trouble of picking it out, figuring out my size…”

The circular diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds on a plain golden band looks like a flower made of diamonds. I originally planned on buying an engagement ring, but when a rock fell out of the stone fireplace and I shined a light into the darkness to figure out where to put it back, the gold trim on the ring box caught my eye. I pulled it out and discovered the ring and what I believe is the final journal entry Frederick Graves ever wrote folded and tucked behind it.

If you are finding this letter, two things are true: I am most certainly dead and you have discovered the hidden treasure of Rocosa. My beautiful wife wore this ring every single day of our married lives until I had to put her underground. In truth, Ella Mae was my treasure, but she loved this ring and I want to honor her bygiving it to who I hope is one of my future grandchildren. It may sound odd to you, but hiding this ring here felt like a quest from God. Hopefully, you have a strong faith in Jesus. He is the cornerstone of my life, and this fireplace is a sort of cornerstone of this home. So its placement here felt fitting.

The rest of the treasure is buried behind the pine tree marked with our initials, F.D.G. and E.M.G., at the trunk. Use it wisely. Wealth isn’t about money, but I’m not naive enough to think money can’t help those in need. So if you find it, please use it to do just that.

Sincerely,

Frederick Graves

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