A BOOKISH PROPOSAL

Rosie

“Of course I’ll be there. We have it all planned out.” I smiled into the phone and hung up, rolling over to poke my finger into Alexander’s ribs. He rolled away.

“Mmmfunnnludfffddf yourself.”

I laughed, knowing what his muffled words really meant. Turns out, my incredibly sweet and nurturing computer geek was an absolute bear on wake up. Never had he insulted me as much as he did when I would take the place of his alarm, trying to rouse him from slumber. He claimed I couldn’t hold that against him, as sleepy Alexander was not the same person.

“Big day ahead, Alexander. We can’t screw this up. Let’s get the puffins fed.”

Alexander rolled, hooking an arm around my waist and kissing my shoulder. It had become a running joke between us—the shoulder kiss—and I snuggled in for a moment, blissfully happy.

It had been a few months since I’d hurt my ankle, and I still had moments where pain twinged, but I was doing my best to rehab it smartly, but not entirely baby it. This had resulted in early morning strength training sessions a few days a week with Alexander, as well as long leisurely walks while we tried to up my ranking on BirdFindr. I even had my own harness, yes, a harness, for my own set of binoculars now. Consider me well and truly converted to the world of birdwatching.

Rolling away from Alexander, taking the covers with me, I laughed at his moan of pain as the cold air hit his legs.

“I’ll get the shower going.”

A half hour later we were clutching our cups of coffee as we loaded the food trays for Neeps and Tattie. After their first meeting, the two had been inseparable, and yes, I understood they lived in an enclosure together and all, but trust me when I say you could be in the same space as someone and not be connected. Much like working with my ex at the discount store.

Neeps did her cute hop toward the door as we approached, and then flew when she wasn’t getting there as fast as she wanted. Once the vet had determined neither puffin was returning to the wild, Alexander had made sure to check with the local government about keeping them. They’d sent someone out to examine the enclosure, discuss their needs, and then he’d been given the official go ahead to keep the puffins protected. Since that time, we weren’t as cautious about keeping ourselves separate from them and had allowed the puffins to warm to us in their own time.

Curious creatures, and endlessly watchable, they’d now taken to clambering all over us, pecking at our shoelaces, burrowing their beaks into our pockets for treats, and basically, adopting us into their little family. Honestly, it was hard to leave them each morning to go to the shop, that was how much I enjoyed their antics.

Neeps hopped to her puzzle tray, leaning back for a moment and giving that long low chuckle call that I loved, while Tattie danced behind her, letting her go first.

“Tattie, you get your own too. You know that.” Alexander clucked softly to the other puffin and put the tray down. He hopped over, his head tilting back and forth as he looked at both of us, seeming to give us thanks, before dipping his beak in to dig around for food.

“I can’t wait for them to explore their new spot.” Waiting as Alexander locked the door, I threaded my arm through his as we walked over to the extension he’d added to the enclosure. It had taken some time, since he’d insisted on doing the work himself as he didn’t want to bring in large equipment to dig—knowing it would scare the puffins—but he’d managed to create a much larger swimming pool for them. While they loved the natural beach and shallow water they had now, they could still be swimming more. Alexander had created a long pool, deep enough for a dive, but not too deep that either of them would land in trouble with their respective disabilities. Once finished, we’d monitor their use until we were certain they could safely enjoy the water park. I couldn’t wait to spend summer afternoons watching them splash about.

“Time to go. You’ve got everything you need?” I asked Alexander and he nodded.

“All packed up. Think this will go down well?” A grin quirked at his lips.

“It’s impossible to say. God, I hope so.”

Alexander stopped at the house, collecting his backpack, and then came out to take my hand as we walked to the bookshop like we did most days. If he wasn’t driving into St. Andrews for classes, he’d walk me to the shop first and I cherished these quiet morning moments that were so different than my commute back home. Turns out, a little life was exactly what I’d craved all along. Routine, a quiet village, a welcoming community, and being surrounded by breathtaking nature rounded out that “little life” perfectly. And, Alexander, of course. We’d fallen into an easy routine of birding and board games, reading books by the fire, and taking care of the puffins. My heart was full, and now I hoped that I could help make someone else’s full as well.

The Book Bitches were already at the shop, minus one that is.

“More candles,” Meredith ordered, turning to wave at me as I came through the door. “She’s going to hate this.”

“And tons of twinkle lights,” Cherise agreed.

“Flower petals everywhere,” Shannon added.

All three wore T-shirts with a Highland coo on it and the words: In the Moo-d for Love.

I cackled.

“We’re on the window,” I said.

“Make it good. We’re going to make the inside as ridiculously romantic as we can, to the point that she’s annoyed about it. But she’ll secretly love it—even when she tells you she hates it,” Meredith told me.

“I don’t doubt it.” Esther was cantankerous on a good day, so I could only imagine how she was going to react when her emotions and vulnerability were put on full display for all of us. Nothing to be done about it now, though. Daniel had enlisted our help for his proposal and we’d all agreed the bookshop was the perfect spot.

Alexander and I got to work in the window. He was building stacks of books to form the words: Marry Me? While I was fitting the window frame with tulle and twinkle lights and garlands of white flowers.

The radio flicked on and began to play Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.

“Moira approves,” Meredith crowed and we cheered. Stepping back, we all admired our handiwork. Alexander had timed the twinkle lights to flash along to the song Marry You by Bruno Mars, and the bookshop looked more like a romantic flower shop than a store. Even the disco unicorn was draped in flowers. The shelves had been rolled to the side and a table pulled to the middle of the room. On it sat a congratulations cake, fixings for mimosas, and vases of roses.

Walking over, I ran my finger softly over a petal of a perfectly opened blush pink rose. I used to think roses were the most boring flower in the world, but now I could revel in their intricate beauty. Much like myself, I used to think that I was the most boring person in the world too, but now I understood that I’d just needed the right environment to bloom.

“She’s coming,” Cherise hissed and we all scattered to the side of the room, where we could watch the outside from the far window.

Esther approached, looking particularly fetching in a red spring coat and colorful scarf. I’d noticed she’d started dressing more colorfully after meeting Daniel and had even shocked me one day when she’d shown up in a dress to the bookshop. Daniel also looked particularly handsome in a waxed canvas coat and newsboy cap, and something he said made Esther throw her head back and laugh.

Daniel tugged her toward the window, and Esther tilted her head.

“Go, go, go,” I urged Alexander and he hit the play button on the music. The song cued up, the lights started twinkling, and we all held our breath as two stuffed Highland coos, one with a wedding veil and one in a bow tie and top hat, floated above the books, hung by thin filaments.

Esther’s mouth dropped open and she turned in surprise to find Daniel down on one knee, an open ring box in his hand.

“Please say yes, please say yes,” I murmured, clutching Alexander’s hand.

When a smile bloomed on Esther’s face, and Daniel stood to give her a kiss and slip the ring on her finger, we all cheered.

At the noise, Esther drew back and craned her head, looking sharply around.

“Oops,” Cherise hissed, pushing us back. “Hide!”

We all ducked into the back room and waited until Daniel opened the door, ushering Esther inside.

“I could have sworn I heard those old bats around somewhere,” Esther grumbled, and Meredith snickered.

“She’s playing it cool, but she really wants to show off her ring,” Shannon promised us. “Let’s go.”

“Congratulations!” We all popped out of the back room and Esther clutched her heart.

“Trying to give me a heart attack?” Esther grumbled.

“Nothing scares you,” Cherise said, nodding to the hand Esther held at her chest. “You’re right-handed, Esther. Any particular reason you’re holding up your left?”

“Not in the slightest.” Esther sniffed and put her nose in the air.

“Liar,” Shannon said, pushing forward. “Damn it, stop holding back. Show us the ring then.”

Esther dropped the act and the Book Bitches squealed, all hugging each other, while Esther held out her hand for everyone to examine the thick gold band with a deep-set ruby surrounded by sparkling diamonds.

“A ruby!” I exclaimed, giving Daniel a nod of approval. “It’s so pretty.”

“A ruby because she made me believe in love again. I thought I was done for. That I had been given all the love that I could get in my life, but now I realize that closing myself off to love had never been the answer. Not even in the slightest. I’m just lucky to have found Esther. Isn’t she sweet?” Daniel beamed at Esther, who arched a brow at us, a knowing look in her eye.

“Erm, sweet might not be the adjective I’d land on,” Cherise began and Esther narrowed her eyes at her friend.

“Careful or I’ll boot you out of the wedding.”

“A bridezilla already.” I grinned when Esther bared her teeth at me.

The song on the speaker switched to Celebrate by Kool and the Gang, and we all grabbed glasses of mimosas and held them in the air.

“To Highland Hearts,” I said, beaming at my friends and my own love, Alexander. “Where books are just the start of a truly magickal journey.”