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I chuckle. “It is, but it’s going to be amazing.” I tug out my phone and show her photos of the costume inspiration.
“It reallyisamazing,” she says, giggling as she scrolls through the images I have saved. “How did I not know you’re into this stuff?”
Shrugging, I tuck my phone away then take her hand. “We still have plenty of stuff to learn about each other.”
At that, her smile softens. “Yeah, we do.” Her fingers twist in mine as we continue walking down the street. “I can’t wait.”
… one year later …
I take a long, deep breath when we finally reach the lookout, soaking in the view of the lake below, the sun bright in the cloudless sky.
It’s a perfect day for a quick hike up to Crestline Outlook, the autumn leaves at their most luscious and just on the verge of dropping, the air crisp and cool but not so cold that we need gloves or a heavy coat. It takes about an hour each way, just enough that it’s a workout, but not so much that Junie can’t come with or it overworks my body.
“I always love views like this of the entire town,” Busy says, crouching down to pet Sydney, her eyes fixed on the lake where it stretches out into the distance. “And there are so many of them. I feel like I’ve only done half of the hikes that show most of Cedar Point, you know?”
I nod, the nerves racing through me keeping me from saying anything.
“Do you think this is a good spot to sit down for lunch? Or should we keep going? I feel like there might be one more spot about ten minutes that way.”
I shake my head then pull off my backpack and begin pulling out supplies. “This one’s good.”
We take a few minutes to lay out the blanket and unpack the food—sandwiches and fruit and sparkling water, plus a juice box for Junie—before we’re stretching out and enjoying lunch with a view.
“This was a great idea,” Busy says, taking a bite of her sandwich. “I don’t know why I never think of these things.”
Junie tugs open her bag of chips and pops one in her mouth, crunching loudly before she looks at me.
“When are you going to ask to be my daddy?”
I freeze, my eyes flicking to Busy, whose face has flushed bright red as she chuckles.
“Junie, why would you ask something like that?” she says, glancing at me and shaking her head. “She doesn’t know what she’s asking.”
“No, Mr. Reid’s gonna be my daddy,” she insists, and I feel a pang for the days when she used to call me Misery. “He told me.”
Busy laughs awkwardly and looks my way. “I’m sorry, I don’t…”
She trails off, though, when she finds me holding a small wooden box.
“I originally planned to ask you after lunch,” I say, clearing my throat, realizing I need to go a off script a bit. “But when you ask a three-year-old if it’s okay if you marry her mommy, I think you take the risk that the surprise might get thrown slightly off course.”
Her hands come up to her mouth, covering it as she watches me. I shift my position so I’m no longer sitting on my ass but instead on both of my knees—both because I will worship her for the rest of my life, if she’ll let me.
“Busy Mitchell.”
Her hands drop to her chest, and her eyes connect with mine.
“Before you, I had no clue what love really looked like. The kind of love I knew was shallow in its depth, and selfish in its execution. I’ve been afraid to open myself up to anything else, believing that protecting my heart was the only way to keep from getting wounded again.”
Her eyes grow watery, and I resist the urge to reach out and pull her in to my chest.
“But, like I said…that was before you. Before I knew the truth. That love can reach depths I’ve never searched, be selfless and sacrificing even in the most difficult moments. The way I feel about you is more than I ever believed love could be, and when I think about ‘forever’, all I feel is joy and hope,” my voicechokes as I pause, “even in the face of what’s to come, because I know I’ll get to spend each of my days at your side.”
A single tear tracks down Busy’s face, and she bats it away, but not before Junie notices.
“Don’t cry, mommy,” she says, getting up and walking toward her mother, hugging her tightly.
Busy embraces her daughter, but her eyes never leave mine.
