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Jack turned toward us immediately. Ivy took his arm. Around the room, conversations stopped.

I looked up at Grant.

He swallowed. “There’s something I want to ask you.”

My heart gave one hard thump.

He reached inside his jacket and brought out a small velvet box, then lowered himself onto one knee in front of me.

For a second, I couldn’t move.

The Christmas tree stood beside us. Behind Grant, the fire crackled in the big stone fireplace. Everyone had turned toward us, but he was looking only at me.

Grant still held my hand.

“I had something prepared,” he said.

I laughed, although tears were already running down my face.

“You did?”

“Quite a bit, actually.”

“Go ahead.”

He looked at me for another second, then shook his head.

“I can’t remember it.”

“That’s okay.”

“I’ve been practicing all week.”

“You can tell me later.”

That made him smile. His hand was trembling a little around mine.

He opened the box.

I knew the ring before I could see it clearly. The old gold setting. The little curves worked into the sides. A diamond catching the light from the tree.

I put my free hand over my mouth.

“Where did you get this?” I asked. “It’s perfect.”

“I found it in Bozeman.”

I stared at him. “I thought you were looking for fishing gear?”

A laugh went around the room.

“That was a little white lie,” Grant said.

“I forgive you.”

“I remembered the one you wanted and tried my best to find one as close as possible.”

“You did good,” I said. “Really good.”