Page 62 of Secrets at Seaside
The muscles in his jaw bunched and his biceps flexed as he lifted the lantern higher.
“I love you, Dad, and I hope you’re looking down at me and you’re as proud to be my father as I am to be your son.” He released the lantern, and it floated up toward the stars. The wind carried it out over the water.
Amy wrapped her arms around him again. “I’m sure he is very proud of you.”
“Yeah. I think he is.”
Tony kissed the top of her head, then retrieved the other lantern.
“Time to leave the past behind and focus on our future.” She meant every word.
“Our past will always be a part of us. Who knows? Maybe if we hadn’t gone through such a hard time, we wouldn’t be together right now. The world works in strange ways.”
“Can I light this one?” Amy wanted to take an active part in letting the past go and freeing herself from the guilt and pain that came with it. Yes, it would always be a part of them, but it didn’t have to outweigh who they were now or the future they were meant to have.
“Of course.” He handed her the lighter and held the pale green lantern up. When it was lit, he waited for her to hold it with him, and together they waited for the wind to catch it and carry it away. When they felt the pull of gravity, they released their hold, and Tony folded her against his side as they watched it float into the night.
“I’ll never forget what we went through,” Amy said quietly. “But I’ll never hide it or fear it again. I want to honor all the feelings we ever feel from now on.”
Tony nodded. His eyes were damp as he slid a hand in his pocket, then sank to one knee.
Amy glanced down at him, wondering what he was doing. He took her hands in his and smiled up at her.
“Tony?” Her pulse sped up. “What are you doing?”Holy cow…Are you…?
“Exactly what you probably think I’m doing. What I wish I would have had the chance to do that summer. Amy Maples, kitten, my sweet girl.” He kissed the back of her hands. “Will you marry me?”
Marry you? Marry you! Yes! Yes! Ohmygosh!She lost the ability to speak, could barely remember to breathe.
“We’ll have the family we were always meant to have. We’ll spend summers here with our kids.”
She fell to her knees beside him, unable to stand, for her legs had turned to jelly.Yes, I want to marry you!She opened her mouth, but what came out wasn’t what she expected. “What about the job, and…?”
His eyes darkened, full of love and hope so palpable it practically reached out and embraced her.
“You can take the job with Duke. I’ll go with you. We’ll make it work.”
“Take the…You…I…” She blinked away tears of happiness. “We’ve only been together a short while and you’d change your life that much for me?”
“We’ve only been together a short while, but we’ve loved each other for a lifetime. Yes, I’ll change everything for you.” He kissed the corners of her mouth, then pressed a soft kiss to the center of her lips, while she sat there, numb, trembling, and elated.
“I don’t want you to put your life on hold for me, babe. You’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime. It’s your turn to follow your dreams, and I’ll support whatever they are. I know we can make this work, even if you work in Australia.” He kissed her knuckles. “Just say yes, and I promise you that we’ll figure everything else out. I’ll make sure your life is amazing.”
“Yes. Yes. Oh, Tony. Yes!” She launched herself into his lap, bowling them both over as she covered his face in kisses. “Yes.” She kissed him again. “Yes.” And again. “Yes.” And again.
He laughed against her lips and sat up with her in his arms. He took her trembling hand in his and opened his fist, which she hadn’t even noticed he’d clenched. She felt her eyes widen at the sight of the rose-gold square-cut diamond ring in his hand.
“Tony, is that…?”
He nodded and slid it on her finger. It was a perfect fit. “I bought it before I went to see you at your dorm, intending to ask you to marry me.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.You were going to ask me to marry you?“Oh, Tony…” She looked at the ring again. They’d seen it in a little jewelry shop in Provincetown that summer, and she’d said that she hoped when she got married her husband would know to buy her that ring. She couldn’t believe he’d bought it. She could barely breathe past the lump in her throat.
“When my mother gave me the cottage, I put it in the safe. It’s been here ever since, waiting for you.”
She wept openly, unable to speak but wanting to say so much. His mother had given him the cottage the year after his father died. She’d said the memories were too much for her.It’s been here for all these years?
“Amy, you’ve made me the happiest man on earth, and I meant what I said. Whatever you decide about work, I’ll be there to support you every step of the way.”
