16. Ethan

Chapter 16

Ethan

It's been one week since the virtual St. James family meeting and we just drove into Star Mountain. Clara is nervous about being back, but there's no reason for her to be. She's been dying to see her niece and catch up with her family in person.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone too. I've talked to her brother Wilder twice since the video call and we have a lot in common. He's invited us over for dinner once we are settled back in.

"You know we have to go to my mom's for dinner on Sunday since we will be here," Clara says as we pull up in her driveway.

"You've told me several times. Everything is going to be okay, Clara. I'm excited to be here and you don't need to entertain me or try to make this fun. I grew up in a very similar town, I know what to expect."

"I know, I'm just worried that we've had such an exotic and secluded beginning to our relationship that the real-world intruding is going to make everything fall apart." I can feel the tension radiating off her and I hate that she's worried.

"Are you going to love me less in this real world you're envisioning?" I ask.

"Absolutely not."

"I'm not going to love you less either. If anything, this neurotic side is making me love you more. I was afraid you were too perfect and now I know you're a little crazy."

Clara laughs, but as we open her door and she finds her whole family waiting in her living room, she screams and turns to me.

"Did you do this?"

"Maybe?"

She rushes into my arms and kisses me passionately before her brothers complain and make her stop. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Go enjoy some time with your family."

She runs off to grab her niece and hug each member of her family. I stand back and watch her float around the room.

Each person comes over and says a few words to me, but my eyes never leave my beautiful Clara. She's radiant and I can't believe that after all the second guessing she's mine. Now, I just need to find the right time to pop that all-important question. I already have the ring in my pocket, and I ask for her father's blessing when I get a chance to speak to him alone.

I had planned to ask her in some exotic location, or maybe on the boat where we fell in love, but after she says goodnight to her family and falls to her couch in happy exhaustion, I realize I can't wait another moment.

"Clara, I need to ask you something."

"Sure, what's up?"

I get down on my knee in front of her and she sits straight up on the couch.

"Ethan?"

"I love you so much. You light up my whole life. I was existing before I met you and felt so lost. I had no idea where I was going next, both literally and metaphorically. You give me purpose. With you in my life, I want to be a better man. You are the center of my universe and I want to spend the rest of my life making you exceptionally happy. Will you do me the greatest honor and say yes to becoming my wife?"

She nods and throws her body against mine. Whispered yeses come from her, but they are barely audible. I place the diamond solitaire on her finger. She looks down at it and says, "It's beautiful."

"You're the beautiful one, angel."

We may plan to set off on exciting adventures, but our biggest one will always have started in the small town of Star Mountain.