Page 73 of The Unbound Bookshop
More than three weeks had passed since Sage announced her new business venture with Flynn—and their rekindled relationship. Abby had never seen her friend happier. Flynn had given up his promotion altogether, and they’d spent every waking moment transformingMira’s interior into a bookish wonderland. While the renovations weren’t yet completed, they’d managed to stock the shelves with enough books to open for business. A soft opening, at least. Abby knew it was only the beginning, and she couldn’t wait to see how their dream unfolded.
Tonight, Flynn stood at the wheel—or was it called the helm? He wore a white captain’s hat, skewed to one side as if he didn’t take himself too seriously. Sage leaned against him, tucked under his arm, her expression the epitome of blissful contentment.
A similar feeling of happiness—warm, airy, and light—spread through Abby, teasing her lips into a smile. And she felt something else, too, something deeper. A gratitude that extended into the very core of her being, grounding her in the present while her thoughts roamed free, daydreaming about the future.
A dog’s bark drew her attention toward the back of the boat where Max played tug-of-war with Cap and a scrap of old rope. Her heart swelled with motherly affection. He may not be hers forever, but she’d cherish however long they had together, praying and hoping it would last. And with Logan by her side, they’d give him all the love they possessed and the sense of family and belonging he needed.
Her thoughts shifted to Logan. Where was he? He was with Max a moment ago….
“Pretty incredible, isn’t it?” Logan appeared by her side, nodding toward the horizon. With the sun settled in for the night, twilight painted the sky in silvery shades of blue.
“Gorgeous,” she murmured, her voice soft and reverent as a seagull soared low above the water, graceful and serene.
“Granted, it doesn’t beat hitting Mach 2 at forty thousand feet, but I could get used to this sailing thing.” Standing at her back, Logan draped his arms around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. She leaned her head against his chest, snuggling deeper into his embrace, enveloped by his comforting scent.
Would there ever be a moment more perfect than this?
Maybe when Logan proposes.She felt a tiny twinge of disappointment at the thought, but immediately shoved it aside. The evening was far too wonderful to taint with her impatience.
Logan would propose when he wanted. She could wait.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about the sugar bowl. The more she thought about the moment he’d surprised her with the thoughtful gift, the more convinced she became that Logan had been about to propose that day.
At first, she wondered if he’d try again once Piper moved out. But it had been two weeks since she’d rented the old gray house at the end of State Street. And almost three since she’d started her new job at the Sawmill. Piper had turned the page to the next chapter in her life, and Abby was genuinely pleased for her.
But when would her next chapter begin?
Wind whipped salty spray over the bow asMirarounded a rocky headland, steering back toward town. The old lighthouse greeted them from the tip of the cape.
“Look!” Her heart soared as a familiar shape came into view. The inn sat high on the bluff, overlooking the bay. Soft light shone through the windows, warm and inviting, welcoming them home. “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”
“You haven’t even seen the best part yet,” Logan told her, his tone strangely husky.
As they drew closer, Abby could make out strands of white twinkle lights decorating the stone wall perimeter surrounding their backyard.
Her pulse fluttered in her throat.
Was that—?
She blinked, worried her eyes were playing tricks on her. Maybe in her eagerness, she’d conjured the whole thing in her mind?
Even after her double take, the glittering lights spelled the same unmistakable message.
Marry Me?
Stunned, she turned in Logan’s arms to face him.
He dropped to one knee, there on the deck, with all their friends watching.
“Abigail Preston.” Holding her gaze, he pulled a tiny velvet bag from his back pocket. “Before I met you, I went through life without a real purpose, nursing my wounds, resigned to an empty existence. But you helped me see that God doesn’t leave us in our brokenness. He can take even the rustiest, worn-down, battered parts of ourselves that we try to hide from the world and use them for something good.”
Logan’s voice cracked with emotion, and Abby clasped her hands tightly together to keep from throwing herself into his arms before he’d had a chance to finish.
“He also gives us good things, even when we don’t deserve them. Like how He gave me you. The greatest blessing I could ever ask for.” Logan tugged on the thin cord tying the velvet bag closed.
Her heart beat so quickly, it seemed to stop altogether, the way a hummingbird hovered in place.
Logan withdrew a square-cut diamond set in a white gold band—exquisite in its simplicity. “This was my mother’s. I never thought of myself as the kind of guy to give someone a hand-me-down ring. I guess it always seemed kinda cheesy. But I get it now.” His intense gaze glinted with the sheen of unshed tears. “My mother’s ring makes me think of home. Of happy memories. Of the love my parents shared. The love that made us a family. Now,you’remy family. And you’ve made our house a home.”
