AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I frowned. “Okay.”
“Now I’m going to blindfold you.” Macie pulled one out of her bra and dangled it in front of my face.
“Why do you want to blindfold me?”
“I can’t tell you.”
I looked over at my momma, Rachel, Janice, her mom, and Rob’s mom. Every one of them was grinning.
“So I take it that y’all are in on whatever this is about,” I said.
They nodded yes, and then Macie blindfolded me and started leading me out of the kitchen. When I heard a door open and smelled fresh air, I realized she was taking me outside. Then I heard Brett Young’s song “Change Your Name” start playing.
Macie stopped me from walking and took off my blindfold. The moment I saw Rhys, I covered my mouth with my hands. He was standing in the center of his parents’ backyard pergola with white tea lights surrounding him on the floor. They were in the shape of two linked hearts.
I kept staring at Rhys, and he motioned for me to come to him. Trembling all over, I walked toward him. Then he took my hands and smiled at me with tears in his eyes that matched mine.
We stood face-to-face and continued listening to the remainder of the song. As it ended, Rhys reached into his jeans pocket, pulled out a little black velvet box, and got down on one knee. When he opened the box, I gasped. The engagement ring was stunning. It had a large oval sapphire surrounded by large diamonds that also lined the white-gold band.
I knew the ring was the one Rhys had shown to my parents last year after receiving their blessing to ask for my hand in marriage. Before I left Cypress Hills to return to Fort Worth after my leave of absence, I asked my daddy what the ring looked like. I’d been curious ever since he’d first mentioned having seen it, but at that time, I didn’t feel I could handle hearing its description. Its beauty was shocking, just like Rhys keeping the ring.
“Mia bella…” he began, looking up at me, his blue eyes sparkling. “You’ve owned my heart since we were juniors in high school. I love you with all of my being, and I always will. While we were apart this past year, I never stopped wanting you, and then God brought you back to me. I know we belong together, so please do me the greatest honor of my life by letting me change your last name. Will you marry me?”
I started crying and nodded yes. Then Rhys slipped the ring on my finger, stood up, pulled me into his arms, and kissed me as our families and friends clapped their hands and cheered.
Afterward, Macie took several pictures. They all turned out great, especially the one of Rhys and me looking at each other and grinning while he kissed my left hand. It would soon be going in the Cypress Hills Gazette to announce our engagement.
CH 38 - #generations
Riley
I WAS AT my duplex, eating a late supper of tomato soup and a grilled cheese, when I received a text message from my sister.
Rachel:Guess what?
Me:???
There was a lull. Then, a picture of a positive pregnancy test came through.
Me:I’m calling you now!
“Sisterrrr!” I said when she answered.
“Can you believe it happened this quickly?”
“No. But isn’t it wonderful?”
“So very wonderful.”
“Did you just now find out?”
“Yes. Jackson and I both did. He’s right here with me.”
“And I’ll bet he can’t stop smiling.”
Rachel chuckled. “He can’t.”
“Besides you, Jackson, and me, who knows you’re pregnant?”
