“Okay,” Harper said as she lit the last candle on the cake and smiled at her sister. “Blow out all the candles and make a wish.”
The birthday party went on the rest of the afternoon, with them laughing and talking. When the sun began to set, people started saying their good-byes. Harper stayed behind to help clean up. Still, she walked out to the end of the dock, watching Gemma and their friends float back to the mainland in Bernie’s old boat.
When she came back to the house, Daniel was already pulling down some of the streamers. She grabbed a stepladder to help him, but he stopped her.
“That can wait,” he said, taking her hand.
“Why?” Harper asked, giving him an odd look. “You were already cleaning up.”
“I was just getting a jump-start while you were busy. But it’ll still be here when we come back in.” Still holding her hand, Daniel took a step back, pulling her toward the door.
“Where are we going?” she asked with a laugh.
“Just out back.”
The small island was covered in tall cypress and loblolly pines, so the setting sun left slivers of orange all over the ground. Wind rustled lightly through the trees, causing the branches to sway and dance, and other than the trees, the only sound was that of the ocean waves lapping against the shore.
It felt so quiet and secluded, and almost magical. When she was a kid, and Bernie McAllister had babysat her, he’d told her stories about fairies, and even as logical as Harper had been, she’d secretly believed some of his fantastical tales. The island made it so easy to imagine.
The pathway around the cabin was partially covered in Creeping Charlie, and as she stepped, it crunched beneath her feet, filling the air with the minty scent. But, very quickly, it was overpowered by the large roses behind the cabin. The sweet perfume of the flowers overpowered nearly everything on the island, and even though it was early April, they were already in full bloom.
Bernie’s late wife, Thalia, had planted the bush, and after meeting with Diana/Demeter last summer, Harper had come to believe that the rosebush was supernatural.
The roses were the most vibrant shade of purple Harper had ever seen. It was so early in the season, and they were already the size of her fist, but soon they’d be even twice that.
Daniel had made a bench, and it was posed right behind the cabin, facing the rosebush, which loomed over the rest of the garden. He motioned for Harper to sit down first, and once he joined her, she curled up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Thank you,” Harper said as the last rays of sunlight broke through the trees, dancing on the bright flowers of the bush, and the sky darkened above them.
“For what?” Daniel asked.
“For suggesting we come out here. It’s really beautiful.”
He turned his head slightly, so he could look down at her. “You’re really beautiful.”
Harper laughed. “Stop.”
“No, I mean it.” He pulled away from her so he could turn to face her, and his lips twitched into an anxious smile as he took her hands in his. His hazel eyes met hers, but there was something in them she couldn’t read. “You’re so beautiful, and I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Harper said hesitantly, afraid of what he might be getting at, and she sat up straighter.
He lowered his eyes and swallowed. “This last year, we went through so much, and there were some really terrible things that happened. But it’s honestly been the best year in my life because I’ve been with you.” He cleared his throat. “I can’t really envision the rest of my life without you.”
“Daniel, what’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong.” He smiled at her, but it looked forced. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want to imagine my life without you.”
When he let go of her hands, he laughed nervously and dug in his pocket. Then he dropped to his knee, and Harper realized what was happening. Her hands started trembling, and her jaw dropped as he produced a small ring box and opened it for her.
She couldn’t even see the ring, though. Tears were blurring her vision as she stared down at him, and her heart raced in her chest.
“What I’m saying is…” He paused, swallowing uneasily. “Harper Fisher, will you marry me?”
She took a deep breath, terrified she might sob or scream, and when she finally spoke, her answer came out weak and shaky. “Yes.”
“I mean, we don’t have to get married right away,” Daniel hurried on, apparently not having heard her whisper of a reply. “We can wait until you’re done with college or whenever you want. But I wanted to make it official—”
“
“Really?” He laughed in relief, and with his own slightly tremulous hands, he slid a small diamond ring on her finger. “I was so afraid you’d say no.”
“How could I say no?” she asked. “I can’t imagine my life without you, either.”
He stood so he could kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Under the starlit twilight, Harper kissed him deeply, knowing that she’d never love anyone as much as him, and when he held her in his arms, she breathed in deeply, savoring the magic that was all around them.
Also by Amanda Hocking
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AMANDA HOCKING is the author of the
