The One

🔨 Epilogue

🔨

2 months later

"Matty! What are you doing?!" She's so beautiful in her soft cream high necked fall sweater, knee high boots, and brown pants that show off the curve of her hips so well.

I chuckle at her squirming in my arms as I lead her out her front door. "No peeking!" 

"How could I possibly peek with this blindfold on?!" I grab her waist and lift her down the front steps to the driveway. Giving her a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek for good measure.

"Just a few more steps." I feel the nervousness in my stomach as I lead her to the tree.

These last couple of months have been a dream. I glance back at the now fully renovated house. It turned out better than either of us imagined. With her creativity and my carpentry skills we were able to do everything she wanted. Once we are at the tree, I let go of her hands and she sways just a bit in the fall breeze. It isn't cold enough for snow yet but the afternoons are getting crisp.

I get into position. "Alright, you can take off the blindfold."

She reaches up and removes the cloth and I watch her eyes as she takes it all in. Her eyes jump to the tire swing and the rest of the autumn scene. I've set out pumpkins and corn stalks. There is an old wagon wheel and a basket of red apples. The yellow, orange, and red Oak tree leaves are lying all around. I exhale in relief at the joy I see on her face. Fall is her favorite season because of all the beautiful colors.

"Oh! It's beautiful Matty, I want to paint it." I beam that she likes it as much as I hoped. Then she notices I'm on one knee. "Oh!"

I have butterflies in my stomache. I clear my throat and look up at her sweet face, and speak from the heart. "Prim, you have been the single most important person of my whole life. You are my best friend, my girlfriend, and my soulmate. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever met, both inside and out. I love you with my whole heart, my mind and my soul. What I want more than anything in the world is to spend the rest of my life with you." I pull the box from my pocket and open it in for her. "Primrose Anne Martin Spaulding, will you marry me? I will spend the rest of my life loving you and taking care of you and making sure you never regret it."

She giggles with joy and throws her arms around my neck, "Yes, of course, Matty! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I thought this would be her response but as a man you are never one hundred percent sure.

All the tension leaves my shoulders now that she accepted and I stand. I take her hand and put the ring on it. "No, thank you, Prim. I'm the happiest man in the world today." I look at the ring and back up at her. "Do you recognize it?"

She really looks at the ring for the first time and I see her surprise. She gasps, "Matty! It's the ring I drew in high school. How did you know that I wanted it to be my engagement ring?" 

I chuckle, "I found it when I was looking through your sketchbooks. The jeweler in Clayton loves your designs. He asked if you would sell some of them to him. So if you feel like designing some jewelry, I have his card."

I don't think she will have time, she's been pretty busy with her art lately. She's even done a few mosaics in some houses in Newberry after her house was featured in an article in the Clayton Gazette.

She smiles and nods, holding her ring out in front of her to look at it. "I adore it just as much now as I did back then."

"I'm glad." I pull her close and lower my lips onto hers. She's mine. Forever this time. I rub my hands up and down her soft sweater as I cuddle her close. I whisper in her ear, "I love you so much, Baby."