Page 94 of Summer Escape
It was a map of the island with larger pictures of various highlights: the lighthouse, the community center, and the nature preserve.
“This is absolutely perfect,” Saylor said to her.
“I thought it would be a good time to start work on it. I’m going to be living here, and you said you’d help me scale this.”
Saylor nodded. “I’d love to.”
I was pleased that my girls were working together, and I couldn’t be happier. I had the perfect beach house, my girls living with me, and my family close by.
“I have something I want to show you as well.” I handed Hayden a leather-bound book. “I wanted to put our letters somewhere you could read them at any time. They got me through my deployments and allowed me to know you even when I couldn’t see you.”
Hayden opened the cover where I’d signed the margin: With Love, Dad. Her hand touched the raised writing. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
I waited while she thumbed through the pages of letters that I’d scanned and added to the book. I’d arranged them in chronological order, so they started out with more illustrations and then morphed into letters and emails as she got older.
A tear ran down her cheek. “I can’t believe you saved all of these.”
“I reread them more times than I could count.” I’d added the handwritten letters along with the emails we’d exchanged.
Saylor interlaced her fingers with mine, a show of support because my throat was tight.
Hayden set the book aside on the cushion and threw her arms around my neck. “This is perfect, Dad. Thank you.”
I cleared my throat, patting her back.
When Hayden pulled back, her eyes were shiny. She picked up the book and held it against her chest. “I’m going to get ready for bed and read a few letters.”
“Good night,” we said as Hayden went up the stairs to her room.
I wasn’t ready for the night to be over. I hadn’t planned on tonight being anything out of the ordinary, but it had become an evening to remember. “You want to go for a walk on the beach?”
Saylor smiled. “I’d love to.”
We left our shoes on the patio and walked the sandy path to the beach. It was a full moon, illuminating the sand so we could see where we were walking.
I held Saylor’s hand, patting the box in my pocket I’d put there after my talk with Blaire.
“I still can’t believe Grandma gave us the house.”
The sand was cool under our feet. “She wants it to go to someone she loves and trusts.”
Saylor glanced up at me. “It feels like everything worked out the way we wanted it to.”
I turned and faced her. “There’s one more thing.”
She tipped her head to the side. “And what’s that?”
I dropped to my knee, one hand still holding onto hers. I dug awkwardly in my pocket to pull out the box, and Saylor gasped.
“This evening, Blaire gave this to me. I’ve been wanting to ask you to be my wife, but something was holding me back.”
Saylor’s eyes searched my face.
“I didn’t have the perfect ring, but now I do.” I opened the box so that the diamond caught the light of the moon.
Saylor blinked. “Is that my grandmother’s ring?”
I nodded. “It’s hers. You’re my second chance at life, and I don’t want to squander it. Will you marry me?”
Her hand went to her mouth. “Yes. I will.”
I slid the ring onto her finger and stood, bringing her into my arms. It was the perfect ending to the perfect night.
