Page 49 of Break of Day

She looked beautiful in the patriotic sundress she’d changed into. Her hair was up with a few blonde tendrils touching her high cheekbones. She’d kicked off her shoes, and her nail polish matched her dress.

She peeked at the containers. “From the Suomi?”

“I talked them into cooking up some fried vendace and chunky fried potatoes. The Finnish version of fish and chips. We’ll have squeaky cheese with thimbleberry jam for dessert.”

“Perfect Independence Day food. We can see the fireworks from here later.” She nodded toward the house. “It looks nearly finished. What has to be done before you can move in? Or is your dad going to move in?”

“He and Martha are going to move in. I could live with them, but that feels awkward. I’ll need to find another place to live.”

Should they eat first, or should he end this torture of waiting to pop the question?

If he proposed now, the food would be cold. He grabbed the white containers and opened the fish. “I guess we’d better eat while it’s hot.”

He put generous servings on both plates, then set bottles of tartar sauce and ketchup closer to her chair as she moved around the end table to have a seat. She’d dropped into place before he had a chance to pull her chair out for her. He was already failing at the romantic gestures.

A fish splashed out in the lake, and the sounds of laughter mingled with blaring music from a passing boat drifted toward them on the gentle breeze. A few clouds floated across the blue sky above them and added to the perfection of the day.

Annie squeezed tartar sauce and ketchup onto her plate. “I’m starving.”

“Me too.” And the sooner they ate, the sooner he could get that ring on her finger. He took a bite of fish. “Wow, that’s good. Did you try it?”

“The Suomi makes the best fried fish ever. How are you eating it though?”

“I twisted a few arms and provided the gluten-free flour. They used fresh oil so it wasn’t contaminated. Molly pulled a few strings for me as soon as I started eating at the Suomi, and I promised her a free appointment for her knee problem.”

“Molly knows how to keep her customers happy.” Her gaze wandered to the container of squeaky cheese and the jar of thimbleberry jam from The Jampot in Eagle Harbor. “Would it be crass to have dessert before I’m done with the meal?”

“I won’t judge you. I’m eyeing it as well.”

He pushed the food closer to her, and she scooped a spoonful of jam onto her plate before dipping a piece of cheese in it. She closed her eyes and moaned. “Heavenly. It’s been ages since I’ve had it this way.”

They demolished lunch, and he had some squeaky cheese and jam himself. “You can have the last piece.”

She leaned back and shook her head. “I’m stuffed. It’s all yours.”

He ate the last of it just to get the food out of the way so he could proceed to the real reason they were out here. When Annie got a text, he pulled out his phone as well. His camera control app was already open, so he discreetly clicked on the video. Now for her to finish what she was doing, and it was go time.

She made a huffing sound. “Mason found the boat that boarded us the other night. It had been stolen and was foundthis morning. Someone set it afire and it sank. No prints off that thing.”

“These people mean business. Mason needs to up his manpower and find them.”

“He’s already hired a new deputy and is working hard at it.” She set her phone down. “There’s nothing we can do right now. I don’t want to go to the nursing home to see Mort today in case the staff is having special events. Let’s enjoy our day and hit it again tomorrow.”

He fingered the ring box in his pocket and rose to hold out his hand to her. Her brows lifted, but she took his hand to rise from her chair. “Are we going somewhere?”

The table and chairs were in the way of the camera, so he led her closer to shore and facing the camera slightly. This staging for pictures was getting old. Maybe he shouldn’t have monkeyed with it.

His mouth was dry, and he swallowed before dropping to one knee. Somehow the ring box was in his hand and open. He held it out wordlessly at first, then gathered the words he’d thought about saying. “Annie, when I first met you, I was mesmerized by your beauty. That same day, we were in town for ice cream, and you saw a little girl crying on the sidewalk. You ran over to see what was wrong, and she’d gotten lost. By the time we found her house, you’d given her your ice cream and asked me to give her the Snickers bar in my pocket. Remember that?”

She gave a wordless nod, so he was encouraged to continue.

He lifted the ring box a little higher. “I think you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Smart, determined, kind, and compassionate.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she put her hand to her mouth, but she still hadn’t said a word. “You’re awonderful mother and the best companion on life’s adventures I could ever hope to have. I threw away a chance with you once, and I don’t ever want to live without you. I know I don’t deserve you, but I love you with everything in me. Will you marry me, Annie?”

She slipped the ring on her finger, then swiped the moisture from her cheeks and threw herself toward him. He was on his way to his feet to catch her when she barreled into his chest. The force of her impact pushed him back, and he clutched her to keep her from falling, but they were too close to the edge of the dock.

He teetered on the edge for a few heart-stopping seconds before they both tumbled into the cold water. The shock of the frigid waves drove everything else he wanted to say out of his head.

He pushed toward the surface with one foot and came up to see her laughing and flinging her wet hair out of her face.

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