“What the . . .” Behind Erin, Grace noticed Dameon’s mom and a man she didn’t recognize standing beside her.

What’s going on?

“You’re the only eligible woman here,” Erin said with a laugh.

“Ha, ha . . . very funny. Dameon, don’t let them—” She turned to find Dameon down on one knee.

Grace’s hands fell to her sides, the flowers loose in her hand.

“Grace . . .”

“Oh my God.” She couldn’t breathe.

Dameon smiled with a cat that ate the canary grin and reached to take her hand.

“You are the single best thing that has ever happened in my life.”

“Oh my God.”

“I think about you every day when I wake up, and every night when I close my eyes. I envision a half a dozen little Graces running around a twelve-foot Christmas tree and a huge fireplace. I think about you when I toss a pebble in a lake and see the ripples change the texture of the water. Because that’s what you did when you came into my life. You changed everything. And I want you to keep changing everything for as long as we have on this earth.”

Grace sniffed and brushed away her tears with the flowers in her hand.

Out of what seemed to be nowhere, Dameon held a tiny white box. Inside was a diamond ring.

“Grace Marie Hudson. Will you marry me?”

She dropped to her knees and kissed him like he was water and she was a fish flopping on the shore.

“I love you.”

“Is that a yes?”

He was crying.

“Yes, that’s a yes . . . Oh my God.”

Their families behind them were clapping.

Dameon slid the ring on her finger and kissed her again. “I’m the happiest man in the world right now. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He brought her to her feet and slowly walked back to their families. She couldn’t believe this was really happening.

Grace studied all of them. “You all knew about this?”

There were lots of shrugs and maybes.

Mrs. Locke pulled her into a hug.

“Where did you come from?”

“I’ve been hiding in the trees like a pervert.”

Grace couldn’t stop smiling. “So glad you’re here.”

Dameon motioned to the man beside Lois. “Grace, this is my brother, Tristan.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” She reached out a hand but Tristan opened both arms for a hug.

“I always wanted a little sister.”

Grace was pretty sure she was slightly older than Tristan. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Dameon’s arm wrapped around Grace’s shoulders the second Tristan stopped hugging her.

“Maybe you can help my big bro relax a little,” Tristan said.

Grace laughed and Lois giggled.

And giggled.

And giggled.

Dameon and Grace exchanged glances.

“You guys haven’t been eating Maui cookies, have you?”

Tristan stared at his mom. “Oops.”