Nick and Charlie 6 years into the future

finding the perfect ring

Charlies pov:

A few days had passed since Lily and Oakley’s first birthday party, and the house had finally settled back into its usual rhythm. Nick and I decided to take the twins to his mum’s place for a visit, giving us a chance to catch our breath and spend some quality time with family.

We arrived at Sarah’s house in the late morning, the sun shining brightly in a cloudless sky. The twins were bubbling with excitement as we carried them to the front door. Sarah greeted us with open arms, her face lighting up at the sight of her grandchildren.

"Come in, come in!" she exclaimed, ushering us inside. "I’ve been looking forward to this all week."

We settled into the living room, Sarah doting on Lily and Oakley as they explored their new surroundings. It was heartwarming to see how much she adored them, her love evident in every gesture and smile.

Nick glanced at me, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Why don’t you take a break, love? I’ll stay here with Mum and the kids."

I raised an eyebrow, curious about his suggestion. "Are you sure? I was planning to stick around and help out."

He nodded, his smile reassuring. "Absolutely. You’ve been working so hard. Take some time for yourself. Go out, do something nice."

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to take him up on his offer. "Alright, but only if you’re sure."

"Positive," he replied, giving me a quick kiss. "Have fun."

With a final wave to Sarah and the twins, I headed out the door, a mix of anticipation and nerves swirling in my stomach. Today, I had a special mission in mind—finding the perfect engagement ring for Nick.

I drove into town, the thought of proposing to Nick filling my heart with excitement and a touch of anxiety. We had built such a beautiful life together, and I wanted to make our commitment even more official.

My first stop was a small jewellery shop I had passed many times but never ventured into. The bell above the door chimed as I entered, and a friendly-looking saleswoman greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good morning! How can I help you today?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"I’m looking for an engagement ring," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Something special for my partner."

She nodded, her smile widening. "Of course! Do you have anything specific in mind?"

I thought for a moment, picturing Nick in my mind. "Something elegant but not too flashy. Classic, maybe with a bit of a vintage feel."

"Perfect," she said, leading me to a display case. "Let’s see what we have."

She showed me a variety of rings, each beautiful in its own right. I carefully examined each one, trying to imagine which would suit Nick best. As I browsed, I thought about our journey together—the highs and lows, the love and support we had given each other. This ring needed to represent all of that.

After a while, I spotted a ring that caught my eye. It was a simple yet elegant band set in a delicate, vintage-inspired setting. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the one.

"This one," I said, pointing to the ring. "It’s perfect."

The saleswoman smiled, clearly pleased with my choice. "It’s a beautiful ring. I’m sure your partner will love it."

I nodded, feeling a sense of certainty and excitement. "I think he will."

As she rang up the purchase and carefully packaged the ring, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of emotions. This was a significant step, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

With the ring safely tucked away in its box, I thanked the saleswoman and left the shop, my heart racing with anticipation. The drive back to Sarah’s house felt like an eternity, my mind buzzing with thoughts of the proposal and our future together.

When I arrived, I found Nick and Sarah in the garden with the twins. They were playing on a blanket, the warm afternoon sun casting a golden glow over everything. Lily was giggling as she crawled after a toy, while Oakley watched intently, his eyes following Nick’s hands as he signed to him.

"Welcome back!" Nick called, looking up and waving. "How was your break?"

"Productive," I replied, smiling as I joined them on the blanket. "How are our little explorers doing?"

"Great," Sarah said, her eyes twinkling. "They’ve been having a wonderful time."

I sat down next to Nick, my heart swelling with love for our family. The ring in my pocket felt like a promise, a symbol of our commitment and the beautiful life we were building together. And as I looked at Nick, his face alight with joy and love, I knew that this was exactly where I was meant to be.