by KA Sterritt
The seaplane landing on the choppy waters snapped me back to the present.
“What were you thinking about?” Ryan asked, as we motored towards the Hummingbird jetty.
“I was just thinking about the last six months. Well, the last year really. A lot has happened since the last time we were here.”
He leaned over and kissed me. “Some good, some bad and some just plain ugly. But we’re here now, and we face it all together from here on in. Deal?”
“Deal.” I kissed him again, then let Gary help me down.
Gemma came rushing over and hugged us both. “Welcome back. I’ve missed you guys.”
“Hey, Gem,” I said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m great.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me down the jetty. I glanced back at Ryan, picking up our bags. He smiled at me.
I did a double take as the private beach came into view. I could have sworn I recognised a few people. Looking more closely, I was shocked to see Audrey, Zara, Jason and Aspen. They held up a banner.
“Happy birthday Holly!”
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, holding my hands over my mouth.
I turned back to see Ryan’s reaction. He was right behind me, looking smug.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” I poked him in the chest, laughing.
I stopped laughing when Ryan dropped down on one knee, a small blue Tiffany & Co. box in the palm of his hand. My hands went back to my mouth as my brain went into shock. Ryan gently took hold of them.
“Holly,” he choked out, then cleared his throat. “This has been a really big year for both of us in many ways. The most important moment of my life came exactly one year ago when I saw this stunningly gorgeous woman in a café, staring out the window. I knew immediately there was something special about her. It was love at first sight for me. We’ve had our ups and downs, but for me, you’re it. You are the love of my life. You are my everything.”
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I was nodding like a crazy person.
“I have to ask you first,” Ryan laughed.
“Sorry,” I choked.
“Holly. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
I nodded again, smiling like a Cheshire cat. “I will. Of course I will. I love you so much.”
Ryan stood up and managed to slip the ring on my finger before I leapt into his arms. “I love you too. Obviously.”
With the sound of squealing and clapping in the background, we kissed. I wanted to stay like that forever. Enveloped in his arms, warmth spread throughout my body. He was my forever. He was my same page person.
Happy birthday to me.
THE END
Acknowledgements
To my dad. Thank you for loving Mum with an unwavering fierceness that inspired this story, for always picking me up on my grammar and for teaching me the joy of finding spelling mistakes in restaurant menus.
To my husband and our three sons. My heart grows bigger every day because of you.
To my sisters and friends, here and around the world. Thank you for your love, support and encouragement. Many of you became a very special part of my writing journey. I am blessed to have you in my life.
Thank you also to Lucy Fenton and Kristin Albright, my two author friends who were always willing to share their own writing and publishing experiences. I really appreciated it.
And finally, a special mention to my friend, GJ Walker-Smith. Your writing inspires me. Your guidance and friendship has changed my life. Thank you for all your help and for giving me the confidence to pursue this dream.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Epilogue
Acknowledgements