We walk to the community garden. There are rows of garden boxes for anyone to use to harvest. And behind that is a space full of beautiful flowers, with rocking chairs pointed to the mountain view. Pippa and her family were always talking about how much Linda loved to sit in a rocking chair and look at the mountains at night. We wanted to bring her love for that here, creating a space where anyone could gather and spend time together.
Pippa aims a hesitant glance my way when we round the corner, the crowd of people waiting outside coming into view.
“What is this?” Pippa asks, her eyes traveling over everyone smiling at us. I make eye contact with the people who have welcomed me with open arms in the last year. I never thought I’d be someone to form attachments with so many people, but as I look at them as we make our way to the end of the path, I think about how much happier my life is now that I have all of them in it.
“Keep walking,” I tell her, my eyes landing at the end, where Jasper, Cade, and Mare all stand in front of a large piece of cardboard as tall as Cade.
“What’s going on?” she presses, her hand tightening around mine. If she can feel my hands begin to shake, she doesn’t say anything.
“There’s one more surprise,” I say, stopping in front of her family and the piece of cardboard. I pull her back to my front, wrapping my arms around her middle. Leaning down, I line my mouth up next to her ear. “I’ve been keeping a bit of a secret from you, shortcake. And it’s time for me to come clean.”
She looks over her shoulder at me with a hesitant smile. “Camden…” she begins, looking at everyone surrounding us. “I don’t know what’s happening.”
I never thought I’d do this with so many eyes on us, but it didn’t feel right for us to be alone at this moment. So much of our story is tangled in the lives of the people around us it felt right to have them all here to share in the moment.
I press a kiss to her cheek before nodding to Cade. He looks at his dad, the both of them taking the hint and grabbing either side of the cardboard.
She must feel my rapid heartbeat against her back as I place my chin on her shoulder, cuddling her close as I take a deep breath. “I’ve learned so many wonderful, incredible things about your mother from countless people,” I begin, for the moment speaking to her and only her. “And I’ll always wish I could’ve met the woman who raised you. But even though I never got the chance to meet her, I love her. I love her for who she helped you become and who she was to every single person in this town. When planning this place of community in honor of her, one thing always seemed to be missing.”
I nod. Cade begins to walk backward, his dad following his lead as they pull the piece of cardboard to the side.
Pippa gasps, her hands going to her mouth as she bends over with a sob when her eyes land on what’s behind.
I follow her, crouching down with her and holding her as powerful sobs overtake her body. “I wanted to memorialize your mom forever. I know she did that herself in the hearts of everyone in Sutten—including my own through the stories people have told—but it felt right to create this, too.”
I give her a moment, looking at the real-life statue in front of us. I’d spent countless hours perfecting the frame and features of her mom in stone. I’d pored over image after image of her, wanting to make sure I made this tribute to her absolutely perfect.
“Oh my god,” Pippa weeps, one hand reaching out to the ground to steady herself. “I can’t believe you did this.” I let her soak it in, even allowing her to take a few steps closer and trace the features of her mother I replicated.
“How’d I do?” I ask anxiously.
All I can see is her back as she pays close attention to every detail of the statue. I use the opportunity to drop to one knee, pulling the velvet box from my suit jacket.
For a few moments, I’m stuck in the position as she doesn’t turn to face me. Everyone around us goes quiet until finally she turns around.
There are streaks of mascara on her cheeks. “What?” she gasps, letting out a loud sob.
Her legs seem to shake as she takes the two steps back to me.
“Pippa Jennings, I always thought I was a man who needed structure and order in my life,” I begin. She wraps her hands around my outstretched hand holding the ring box, stopping it from shaking with nerves. “But it turns out the structure I thought I craved was all kinds of wrong for me. You chaotically entered my life and threw me for a loop at every single turn of our story. Even when I thought I hated you, I was giving you pieces of myself. And it didn’t take long for me to realize the feeling in my heart I had for you was love.”