Chapter 16 - The Second Proposal
Aaron proposed three months later.
Privately.
At my apartment.
No restaurant.
No photographers.
No family waiting nearby.
He cooked dinner badly.
Very badly.
“You burned pasta,” I said.
“I didn't know pasta could burn.”
“Neither did I.”
Then he reached into his pocket.
The ring was not enormous.
That surprised me.
The first ring Aaron had given me had been a Prescott-family diamond designed to impress rooms full of strangers.
This one was simple.
Elegant.
New.
“No family history?” I asked.
“None.”
“Good.”
He took my hand.
“I loved you the first time like something I thought belonged to me.”
His voice shook.
“I love you now knowing you never will.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“That sounded almost romantic.”
“Almost?”
“You burned dinner.”
He laughed.
Then became serious.
“Claire Hale, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
Our families reacted exactly as expected.
Nathan demanded a new prenup.
I agreed.
Aaron agreed faster.
Richard cried.
Margaret sent champagne.
Jasmine sent flowers with a card:
PLEASE DO NOT ANNOUNCE THIS ON SLACK.
I laughed for ten minutes.
We planned a small wedding.
Thirty people.
No press.
No business associates unless they were genuine friends.
For once, our relationship would not be a Prescott event.
It would simply be ours.
Then Aaron surprised me again.
He suggested Briar Hill.
“My grandparents' house?”
“Your family's house.”
I looked at him.
“The place where everything came out.”
“Maybe it should also be where something begins.”
I said yes.
And on a warm Saturday in June, the house that had held decades of secrets filled with flowers, music and people we loved.
But before I walked down the aisle, Nathan knocked on my door.
He held an envelope.
“You're going to hate the timing.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing bad.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
He handed it to me.
The return address belonged to the federal evidence division.
Inside was one final item recovered from Thomas Cole's possessions.
A photograph.
My grandmother.
My grandfather.
And me as a baby.
On the back, Edward had written:
FOR THE DAY CLAIRE FINALLY CHOOSES HER OWN LIFE.
May you like
I cried before I ever reached the aisle.
And for once, every tear was welcome.
