ROBERT “Oh, my God!” Renee's eyes widened first, then her jaw dropped. She stared at my kneeling form, a hand covering her mouth, and the tears that'd gathered in her eyes from before trickled down her cheeks. “Oh, my God!” she exclaimed again, and her expression changed from shock, to happiness, to disbelief. “Y-you’re proposing,” she whispered, her eyes darting from me to the ring and back to me again. “Yes, baby girl.” I half chuckled. “I’m proposing.” “I ... I thought we were ... I didn't even guess this. I …” “I know.” “Robert …” “Yes, my love,” I replied and when she didn't speak, I continued, “Marry me, Renee. I want—no, I need—you to marry me. I need you in my life forever.” Her breath hitched. “There’s no life without you. No me without you. There’s a lot I want to say, but I feel like words aren't enough to show how much I love you. To show how much you changed my life from the moment I saw you that night at the beach. But maybe if I give you everything—my heart, my soul, my last name, it might suffice. And if it doesn't, I'll spend every day striving to make it so.” “This is …” she chuckled, shaking her head. “I don't even know what to say.” My heart did a cartwheel, my stomach flipping. I tried so darned hard to keep my composure. I wanted to beg her to say yes and end my torment. If she didn't say it, I was certain I’d lose my mind. Hell, I'd probably jump off this yacht and let myself drown. Because, honestly, I couldn’t imagine living in a world where Renee wasn’t with me, as my wife. Wife. God.How I loved that word. I'd waited months to call her that. “And you would call her that forever, Robert. No matter how long she takes, she will say yes. You know this,” my subconscious chimed and deep down, I knew it was true. Renee would say yes. I'd imagined she would. In fact, I'd imagined her reaction to my proposal a thousand times over the past month. How she’d gasp and clap a hand over her mouth, how she’d cry … I could go on and on about it, and it was fair to say I'd imagined her response correctly. I remembered the first day I started planning this special moment. It was the day she woke up from her semi-coma. I’d never forget it. Initially, I had thought of doing something extravagant—something grand that'd speak in volumes how much I loved and cherished her. I'd invite her family, my family, and everyone we loved would be there to witness me asking her to be mine forever. But I ditched that. Then I'd thought again of something spontaneous and wild. Maybe an out of the blue trip to a secluded locale, and voilà. But once again, I ditched it. All those options weren't what I wanted. What I wanted was for the proposal to feel intimate, heartfelt, full of promise and meaning. I wanted it to feel exactly like the first day we met—magical and unforgettable. And what better way than to replicate our first date, in the same place we had it, in the city where our paths first crossed? It was the best way. So, here we were—on the deck of the yacht where we spent so many happy, and not so happy, days together. I was on a bent knee, holding out the custom-cut solitaire diamond ring I had designed just for her. Blinking back the tears filling my eyes, I snapped my attention back to Renee—who, by the way, still hadn't said yes. “Renee?”“I …” she started but suddenly stopped as her hands flew to her belly. “Ow!” My entire body tensed. “Renee?” “They kicked!” she gasped. I blinked. “What?” “The babies …” she clarified, a broken giggle escaping her lips, “they just kicked.” “Kicked?” My left hand instinctively reached for her belly. “Like moving in your belly for the first time, kick?” “Yes, Robert!” she squealed. “Like moving inside me kick. They’re saying yes. They want Mommy to marry Daddy.” “You mean ...?” “Yes, you perfect man, yes!” She swiped her eyes, trying but failing to get rid of the tears. “Of course I will marry you. I want to be yours forever and ever.” My face broke into a goofy grin, and I pressed a kiss to her belly. “You hear that, little ones? Mommy's going to marry Daddy.” “Yes, she is.” “Fucking finally!” I punched the air in my mind before gently sliding the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly, almost as though it were already a part of her. I was proud my sneaky finger measurements had paid off. I pressed another kiss on her belly before standing. Cupping her face, I pressed a last kiss to her lips. “Gosh, I thought you wouldn't say yes.” “Thought?” she scoffed. “Why would you think that? I've always wanted to be your wife, Robert. I've dreamt of it.” “I don't think you know how happy you’ve made me, baby. I’ve dreamed of this moment, too. I love you Mrs. Clarke.” “Mrs. Clarke, huh?” A small hum left her throat. “I love the sound of that. And I love you too, Mr. Clarke,” she said back. “A thousand times over, I will love and cherish you,” I vowed to her and myself. Fireworks were going off in the sky above us. Twirling her around, she saw them. “Wow!” I spun her under the glow of the lights. “They're beautiful.”“Yeah, they are,” I agreed, pulling her to my side, and she rested her head on my shoulder. For a while, we swayed slowly, dancing and watching the fireworks until they ended. Then I heard her softly ask, “So what now?” “Now? We continue dancing, or we eat dinner. Which do you want, my love?” “Hmm.” A finger drummed on my chest. “Dinner. I chose dinner.” “Okay. The chef will set the table soon.” “Chef?” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought we were alone?” “We are,” I said, brushing a stray curl from her face. “Except for Mr. George and a couple of crew members. You remember Mr. George, don't you?” “Yeah, the yacht manager. I remember meeting him the first day you brought me here as your … girlfriend.” “Your memory serves you right.” “Will he be around tomorrow?” “I don't know. I suppose he’ll be by the dock.” “Alright. I can't wait to see him.” She couldn't wait to see him? I didn't get the meaning behind her words immediately, but when she proudly wiggled her fingers at me it clicked. “And re-introduce myself as your fiancée,” she finished, and I laughed. “Why wait till tomorrow, then? We could tell him tonight.” “No, not tonight.” She pouted. “We’re about to have dinner and …” “And?” I cocked my head to the side. The sparks of mischief dancing in her eyes told me she was up to something. “I don't want that dinner.” She smiled coyly. “I want something else.” “Oh! And what would that be, Mrs. Clarke?” She bit her lips before whispering, “Something only you can give me.” Apparently, I wasn't the only one trying to replicate our first time together because I recalled saying similar words that hot afternoon on the beach. Only at that time, I was referring to myself. “Is that so?” I smirked. “Mmhmm.” “Well, I did promise to reward you tonight if you kept this good girl facade up, and you’ve done just that, Mrs. Clarke.” “Have I now?” “Oh, yes,” I said and immediately scooped her in my arms. “What was it you said you wanted again?” “Dinner,” she said, giggling. She looped her arms around my neck and threaded her fingers through my hair. As I began moving, she added, “And dessert.” “Lots of dessert?” “Exactly! Lots and lots and lots of dessert.” She giggled. “You know me too well, Mr. Clarke.” “Oh yes, my queen, I do. And whatever you wish is my command. Let's go make our own special dinner.” She giggled again, and the sound bounced off the yacht's steel walls like tiny peals of crystal bells. It was a sound I wanted to hear every day for the rest of my life—a sound that made every single difficult moment leading to this night worth it. It was everything.