Chapter 8 - The Proposal on the Terrace
Six months later. Autumn had arrived in the Hamptons.
The trees surrounding the estate had turned into a breathtaking canopy of crimson, gold, and deep orange. Cold, crisp air swept off the ocean, making the fires in the mansion’s stone fireplaces crackle with cozy warmth.
It was a quiet Sunday evening. Grace and June had just been tucked into bed after reading two bedtime stories with Emma.
The twins slept soundly in their soft, warm room, their silicone night-lights glowing softly, completely undisturbed by the dark world outside.
Emma walked down to the terrace, wearing an oversized cashmere sweater, holding a mug of hot cider.
The stone terrace had been decorated with hundreds of tiny, glowing fairy lights tucked into the ivy crawling up the brick pillars. A warm outdoor fire roared in the stone pit, casting a dancing golden glow across the patio.
Declan stood by the railing, looking out over the dark ocean waves.
"They're asleep," Emma said softly, stepping up beside him, leaning her shoulder gently against his arm.
Declan smiled, wrapping his broad arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his side, burying his face in her sweet-scented hair. "No nightmares?"
"Not a single one," she smiled.
Declan took a slow, deep breath. He turned to face her fully, taking both of her small hands in his.
"Emma," Declan began, his voice raspy with an emotion so deep it made his hands shake slightly. "One year ago, my life was a nightmare. I thought I was doomed to live in cold silence, watching my family crumble."
He pulled a small velvet box from his coat pocket.
Emma’s breath hitched in her throat, her eyes widening as she looked at the box.
Declan slowly dropped to one knee on the flagstone terrace, looking up at her with fierce, absolute devotion.
"You walked into my home as a maid," Declan said, opening the box to reveal a magnificent, ethically sourced oval-cut diamond set in a delicate platinum band. "And you became the heart of my world. You fought for my daughters when I was too blind to see. You protected them with your life. And you gave me a reason to love again."
Tears gathered in Emma’s eyes, sparkling under the golden fairy lights.
"Emma Reed," Declan asked softly, "will you marry me and make this family complete?"
Emma dropped to her knees right in front of him, throwing her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Yes!" she sobbed happily. "Yes, Declan! A thousand times yes!"
Declan let out a breathless, joyful laugh, pulling her tight into his arms, sliding the flawless diamond ring onto her finger before kissing her deeply under the starry night sky.
From the second-floor window overlooking the terrace, two tiny faces peeked out from behind the velvet curtains.
May you like
"She said yes!" Grace whispered wildly to her sister.
"I told you!" June giggled softly, clapping her hands. "Emma is our new mommy!"
