Chapter 26

Two months later…

Owen pacedthe length of his cottage, his footsteps muffled by the rustic wooden floor. With his nerves bundled up inside him, the small space closed in on him.

Steve sat on the edge of the couch, holding a piece of paper that outlined the plan for the day. "Okay, so you'll casually mention it's a good day for a walk and head down to the lake, despite how cold it is. I"ll be ahead of you with the bottle, ready to place it in the water a few minutes before you get there." Steve glanced at Owen to catch his reaction.

Owen stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair. "What if the wind picks up and it just sails off before she can read what's inside? Or worse, what if it sinks?"

Steve chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "It's a message in a bottle, not the Titanic. You sealed it tight and it's weighted just enough to float. Plus, I won't be too far away. If it drifts down the lake, I'll grab it when it reaches me. It's all about timing."

Owen nodded, though his stomach churned with anxiety. "And what if she says no?" he asked, the words hanging heavily in the air.

"Come on, Owen. You guys are great together. Harper loves you. She won't say no," Steve reassured him, clapping him on the back. "Just speak from your heart. Tell her what she means to you."

Taking a deep breath, Owen tried to absorb his friend's confidence. "I just want it to be perfect."

"You've planned everything down to the last minute, Owen. It's going to be special. Just focus on the moment and on her," Steve told him, glancing over the instructions again.

Owen looked through the window at the gray sky. The wind rustled the bare branches of the trees, sending a chill down his spine. He pictured himself and Harper walking along the water, the cold making their breaths visible in the air, the perfect backdrop for a moment he hoped they'd remember forever.

"All right, let's go over this one more time," Owen said, his voice steadier. "You're sure about the spot?"

"Absolutely," Steve confirmed. "It's sheltered enough from the wind and gives you a great backdrop for the proposal. Plus, it's not too far from The Lakeside Inn."

Owen took a deep breath. "And you're sure no one's said anything to Harper?"

"Positive," Steve confirmed. "Daniella promised me that everyone's lips are sealed. They're having coffee and cake at the inn, waiting for your signal to join you at the lake." He checked his watch. "Maybe you should text Harper to make sure she's left the clinic."

Owen took his phone out of his pocket. He was so nervous, he nearly dropped it. With trembling hands, he sent her a quick message and waited for her reply.

When his phone pinged, he read the text. "She's on her way. Let's go." Grabbing his jacket, he headed out of the living room.

Steve cleared his throat. "You're forgetting the first thing on your list." And with a smile, he took a small velvet ring box off the coffee table and handed it to Owen. "Everything will be fine. Just remember to breathe."

Harper parkedher bicycle beside the children's playground and took off her helmet. She looked at the choppy water of Flathead Lake and wondered why Owen wanted to go for a walk. She enjoyed spending time outside, especially when the air was crisp and refreshing, but this was a little cold, even for her.

While she waited for Owen, she thought about the last two months. So much had happened that sometimes it was hard to remember her life before she came back to Sapphire Bay.

This was almost the exact spot where she'd met her dad. The next day, her mom had joined them for lunch and, the following weekend, they'd gone to see her granddad.

Benjamin wasn't happy to see her dad but, he hadn't ignored him, either. When Eric apologized, her granddad was ready to at least listen to why he'd stayed away from them.

It was a bittersweet reunion for all of them, but something Harper was glad they'd done.

She checked her watch and looked around for Owen. He was late, which was unusual for him. The chilly wind didn"t help to ease the growing knot of anxiety in her stomach. She adjusted her jacket and paced near the shore, her gaze scanning the path that led down from the street.

Finally, Owen appeared, walking briskly toward her. As he came closer, Harper saw the lines of strain around his eyes deepening with each step.

"Hi," he said, forcing a smile as he approached. "Sorry I"m late. I got held up at the studio."

Harper smiled back, although she was concerned. "It"s all right. I was enjoying the view." She gestured toward the lake, trying to lighten the mood. "It's beautiful today, isn"t it?"

Owen nodded and held her hand. "Are you warm enough?"

She squeezed his fingers. "If I get too cold, we might have to break into a run."

For a moment, a panicked look crossed Owen's face. Then he took a deep breath and sent her another strained smile. "Or I could hold you close and never let you go?"

"That sounds much better." As they began walking along the path, the gravel crunched under their feet. Harper told him about her day at the clinic. A month ago, she'd started working as a nurse. Taking some of the routine tasks off Zac's workload was helping everyone. Their patients didn't have to wait as long, and Zac was able to spend more time with people who had more complex issues.

Owen made the right noises at the right times, but his responses were mechanical, as if he had something else on his mind.

"Is everything okay with you, Owen?" She stopped walking and faced him, hoping she could help with whatever was worrying him.

Owen hesitated, his eyes scanning the shoreline as if looking for something. "I... Uh. I just have a lot going on," he muttered.

She looked at him closely. "Are you looking for more gemstones for your bowls?"

He frowned, as if confused by her question. "No, I…" He looked across the water and groaned.

Curious, Harper followed his gaze. Farther away from the shore she spotted a faint glimmer in the water. Holding her hand above her eyes, she tried to figure out what it was. "It's probably an old bottle off a fishing boat."

"I'll be back in a minute." Owen didn't wait for her response. He threw off his shoes and socks, rolled up his jeans, and waded into the cold water.

"What are you doing?" she yelled after him. "The water's still cold. You'll get hypothermia if you're in there for too long."

"It's not too bad," Owen yelled back.

The man was crazy. Even from here, she could see him shivering. She stepped closer to the water, watching him make his way toward the shiny object.

Moments later, he returned, clutching a glass bottle in his hand. His teeth chattered as he handed it to her. "Open it, please," he urged in a shaky voice.

Harper took the bottle but didn't pay too much attention to it. "We need to get you inside. What on earth made you wade into the lake at this time of the year?"

Owen rubbed his hands along his arms. "Open the bottle, Harper. It's important."

She looked at the stubborn tilt of his jaw and knew he wouldn't budge unless she did as he asked. "Are you sure your PTSD isn't making you do crazy things?"

When he didn't reply, she studied the bottle. "This looks like the bottles you make in your studio." She frowned when she saw the wax seal around the top. "It is. What's it doing in the lake?"

Owen walked on the spot. "I'm slowly freezing to death, Harper. Don't worry about why it's here. Just open it."

She muttered something about stubborn men who should know better before prying open the seal. Inside the bottle was one of the rolled-up pieces of paper she'd always wanted to open.

Tipping the top of the bottle toward her hand, she tapped it against her palm so she could slide out the paper. "If you're testing how watertight the bottle is, it's perfect. The paper's nice and dry, and the ink on the note isn't smudged at all."

Her smile disappeared when she read the message. It was only eight words long, but it brought tears to her eyes.

Owen took the bottle out of her hand and dropped to his knee. "I meant ever word. I love you, Harper. Will you marry me?"

Her heart leaped in her chest. Owen was watching her anxiously. She tried to think of something intelligent to say, but the words got mixed up in her brain. "I don't… I mean…" she stammered.

"It's okay," he managed through chattering teeth. "I understand if you think it's too soon. I had a list of things I was going to tell you about why we're perfect for each other, but I've forgotten what they were."

Harper took off her jacket and wrapped it around his shoulders. "That's because your brain cells are freezing. Why was the bottle floating in the lake?"

"It was supposed to be romantic. The bottle should have been close to the shore," he whispered through lips that were turning blue. "I had it all planned out, right down to what you'd say after I asked you to marry me. If the bottle went off course, Steve was supposed to catch it and bring it back, but this is a total disaster."

Harper took off her woolly hat and yanked it over his head. "It's not a total disaster. I got to open one of your bottles and you asked me to marry you."

"But you don't want to marry me."

She grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him away from the edge of the water. "I didn't say that. I was shocked, that's all." Owen stopped walking, and she yanked harder. "Come on. We need to get you inside."

"Do you want to marry me?" Given how cold he must be, the hopeful look in his eyes was oddly endearing.

Instead of answering him, she sighed. "What was I supposed to say after you asked me to marry you?"

"You'd say yes and kiss me senseless."

Harper smiled. "Well, then. I wouldn't want to upset your plans." And before he could reply, she pulled him close and gave him the biggest, love-packed kiss she could manage. "How was that?"

Owen closed his eyes and swayed on his feet. "Wow. I should give you a message in a bottle every day."

Harper laughed. "You wouldn't get much work done."

As they broke apart, the sound of applause and cheers erupted from a short distance away.

Harper frowned as she turned to see a small crowd approaching from the direction of The Lakeside Inn. It was their family and friends, bundled up in winter clothes, their faces beaming with happiness.

Owen groaned. "Oh, no."

"Was this part of the plan, too?" Harper asked.

He nodded before picking up his shoes and socks. "They think we're getting married."

Harper's frown deepened. "We are, aren't we?"

Owen's mouth dropped open. "Are we?"

She was confused. "I didn't want to upset your plans." In case Owen had forgotten, she held up her hand and ticked the most important bullet points off on her fingers. "Say yes and kiss the frozen husband-to-be senseless."

Tears filled Owen's eyes. "You'll marry me?"

"Yes, yes, and triple yes." Just for good measure, Harper kissed him and smiled. "I love you, Owen. But if you ever go into the water at this time of the year again, I won't be kissing anything better."

"No winter swimming allowed," he said with a grin. "I have something else for you." With hands that were far from steady, he pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket. "Last weekend, I asked your dad and granddad if I could marry you. Your granddad wanted you to have this."

Owen opened the lid and held it toward Harper. "It's your nana's engagement ring."

Harper's eyes widened when she saw the beautiful, old-fashioned ring. Her fingers trembled as they touched the solitaire diamond. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Owen took her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made for her.

Leaning closer, he said, "I promise to make you as happy as I can, every day."

Tears brimmed in Harper's eyes as she looked at Owen. Not only did she see the man she adored, but a future filled with love and laughter. "I know you will. And I promise the same to you."

They held each other close as everyone gathered around, congratulating them on the commitment they'd made to each other.

Harper looked at her granddad and smiled. He was sitting in his wheelchair, his eyes misty with emotion as he witnessed this special moment.

Silently, she thanked him for the beautiful ring. She knew how much it meant to him. How much being married to her nana had changed his life. If she was half as happy as they were, her marriage would be amazing.

When Owen sneezed, Harper wrapped her arm through his and led him across the grass. "Let's go start our happy ever after," she whispered.

"We already have." Owen said with a tender smile. "I love you, Harper."

"I love you, too."

THE END