the fire between us

chapter 34

The next day arrived, and the sun had begun its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. The beach, dotted with palm trees swaying in the breeze, felt alive with the anticipation of what was about to unfold. The soft, rhythmic sound of the waves provided a peaceful backdrop as I crouched behind a large bush with Martinus by my side.

I could barely contain my excitement, and though I tried to stay still, I kept shifting in place, peeking over the leaves every few seconds.

"Shhh," Martinus whispered with a chuckle, gently placing a hand on my arm. "You'll give us away."

"I can't help it!" I whispered back, my voice filled with barely contained glee. "This is going to be perfect."

From our hiding spot, we had a clear view of the beach, where Marcus was walking with Nora, his hand casually resting on her back as they strolled along the shore. Nora seemed completely unaware of the significance of this moment, happily chatting as she admired the colors of the sunset. She had no idea that within a few minutes, her life was about to change.

"Do you think she's going to cry?" I whispered to Martinus, my heart racing with anticipation.

"She might," he replied softly, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched the couple from our spot. "Marcus has really put his heart into this. I think she'll be blown away."

I nodded, watching as Marcus subtly slowed their pace, bringing them closer to the spot we had chosen for the proposal. He had everything planned—the perfect moment, the perfect setting. The waves lapping at their feet and the glowing sunset would serve as the backdrop for what would be one of the most beautiful memories of their lives.

Suddenly, Marcus stopped walking, turning to face Nora. From our vantage point, we could see him reaching into his pocket, pulling out the small velvet box. I gasped softly, grabbing Martinus's hand as excitement bubbled up inside me.

"Here it comes," Martinus whispered, squeezing my hand in return, his eyes never leaving the scene before us.

Nora's face lit up with surprise as Marcus began to speak, his expression full of love and vulnerability. Although we couldn't hear the exact words, the emotion was clear, and I felt my eyes begin to well up as I watched Nora's hand fly to her mouth in shock.

Martinus leaned closer, his voice barely audible. "Look at her... she's stunned."

As Marcus knelt down in the sand, presenting the ring, the moment seemed to stretch into eternity. The soft glow of the sunset bathed them in golden light, making the scene even more breathtaking. And then, with a nod and tears in her eyes, Nora said yes.

"She said yes!" I whispered excitedly, practically bouncing in place again as I watched Marcus slip the ring onto her finger. The two of them embraced, their silhouettes framed by the fiery colors of the setting sun.

Martinus grinned, his arm wrapping around my shoulders as we watched them share their first kiss as an engaged couple. "It went perfectly," he whispered in my ear.

I turned to him, my heart swelling with happiness for our friends. "We helped make this happen," I said, my voice filled with pride.

"We did," Martinus agreed, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead. "And it was worth every second."

Nora's voice, soft but brimming with joy, cut through the sound of the waves. "I wish the others were here to see this," she said, her fingers brushing over the ring on her hand as she glanced at Marcus with a tearful smile.

I shot Martinus a quick look, my heart racing with anticipation. This was our cue.

Grinning like kids with a secret, we quietly stood up from our hiding spot behind the bush. Sand clung to my knees as I tried not to giggle, the adrenaline buzzing through me. We emerged from the shadows, our smiles wide, and as soon as Nora caught sight of us, her reaction was immediate and priceless.