SHAPES UNSPOKEN

-40-

Absolutely! Here’s a fully rewritten chapter in present tense, emphasizing that Annabelle has no idea, deepening Sean’s perspective, and including the planning and anticipation with his brother and then picking her up from the hotel:

Sean Britto

December 28th. Today is Annabelle’s birthday, and I’ve been planning this day for weeks, making sure every detail is perfect. She has absolutely no idea what’s waiting for her. Spa day with her sisters, Ariel and Jinette, dinner with the entire family at the Grand Hotel. I booked the private dining hall, decorated it with her favorite flowers, and arranged a giant screen to play a video I’ve been secretly compiling.

Every clip captures her—the little, private moments she doesn’t even realize I notice. Her laughter, her morning routine, the way she hums while cooking, Steph asking her questions about the twins, even the ultrasound images of our daughters. I even filmed Steph sending her a message from Italy, telling her how much he appreciates her and wants her in his life.

I stand in my room, adjusting my grey plaid blazer over a crisp white shirt, matching pants, white loafers glinting in the light. The jewelry box is tucked in my pocket, a silent promise waiting for the perfect moment. My brother steps in, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Sean, man, your fit’s on point. You ready for this? Are you sure you’re not rushing? Is she ready?”

I laugh softly, tightening my cuffs. “I’ve been ready for months. I know how I feel. And she shows me every day what she feels for me. I want her to be my wife. Not just my partner… my soul mate. The woman I want to spend every day with, the peace she always comes back to.”

He shakes his head, grinning. “Man… the last time you said something like this, it was Cindy. And now?”

“Then Cindy was the one. But Annabelle… she’s different. When she reached out after everything that happened… when she cried in my arms… I knew exactly what I wanted. I want to be her rock, the person she turns to. The one who protects her, keeps her safe, and makes her smile every single day.”

“You’ve got my support,” he says. “I can’t wait to see her face when this goes down.”

I check the time. Everything is set. Mom, Dad, my brother and his wife—they’re all going ahead in my car to the hotel and the dining hall. I take another car to pick up Annabelle from the spa. The anticipation is almost unbearable. I can’t wait to see her, to take her hand, to show her how much thought I’ve poured into this day.

Brian is waiting outside, grinning like he knows a secret.

“You ready, man?” he asks.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, slipping him the jewelry box. I can’t have her noticing it yet.

He smirks. “You nervous?”

“Terrified,” I admit, laughing. “But this is her day, not mine. I just want it perfect. I want her to feel loved, to feel seen… to feel like the queen she is.”

We walk into the hotel lobby together, smooth and confident, but my heart is pounding. Elevator doors open, and I feel my chest tighten. Soon, I’ll see her. Soon, I’ll see the woman I want to spend my life with, standing there unaware of everything I’ve prepared.

Brian pats my shoulder. “Remember, it’s a surprise. Don’t let her see anything coming.”

“I know,” I say, glancing at my reflection in the polished wall. “She deserves to be completely caught off guard. I want her to feel… everything.”

We make our way to the suite where the spa day is winding down. I hear laughter inside, muffled but enough to make my pulse quicken. Ariel and Jinette are inside, chatting with Annabelle, completely unaware that I’m here, completely unaware that today is the day her life changes.