Serenity Falls(100)

After hearing those words, all I can do is hope he’s right, and have faith in us. “I love you, too.”

Hand in hand, we walk out of my room, down the stairs, out through the screen door, and head toward the barn. The soft, yellow lights from lightning bugs flicker against the orange, purple, and red hues of the setting sun. The sweet scent of honeysuckle blankets the air around us as Wes stops outside the closed barn doors. “Close your eyes.” He steps behind me and places his hands on my hips.

“You and your surprises,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

“I thought you liked my surprises,” he murmurs against my ear as he nips the lobe.

“Mmmhmm…” I shiver as tingles race down my spine.

He chuckles behind me. “All right. I’m going to open the doors and help you walk through. Don’t open your eyes ‘til I tell you to. Okay?”

“Okay.” Excitement makes my hands clammy. Anxiety causes my knees to wobble and sweat bead on the back of my neck. Wes likes to surprise me, but he’s never gone so far as to make me close my eyes. The creak of the wood as the door opens makes my heart beat in a faster rhythm. Slight pressure against my hips where Wes gently squeezes propels me to move forward. With cautious steps, I notice the normal crunch of pebbles and hay beneath my feet is no longer there. Instead, no sound resonates within the barn at all.

“You’re doing great. Just a couple more steps,” he encourages. “Okay, right here,” he whispers against my ear as he wraps his arms around my waist.

“Can I open my eyes now?” I ask excitedly.

He shakes his head in the crook of my neck, and I laugh. “Okayyyy.”

“My whole life, I’ve waited for someone like you. There’s something about you that makes a part of me come alive. I know that you wanted to discuss what will happen to us when the summer ends–”

“I have,” I interrupt.

“And I’ve evaded the topic all together. The truth is, Kenleigh, I don’t want the summer to end. I don’t what we have to end,” he whispers, kissing the shell of my ear. “Go ahead and open your eyes.”

My eyes spring open, and I’m left breathless at the sight that greets me. I turn my head in all directions, taking in the magnificent scene laid before me. Red and white rose petals lay delicately scattered along the breezeway floor. Candles ensconced in lanterns decorate the entire barn. Windows in each of the horse stalls are open. The sweet, light, airy smell of honeysuckle mixes with the scent of the rose petals. The soft glow from the candlelight bounces off the walls of the barn, creating the most romantic ambiance I’ve ever experienced. Wes has really outdone himself. His warm, gentle, tender, yet strong hands surround mine as he wraps his arms around me from behind. I lean my head back against his shoulder, and my gaze meets his. “What do you think?”

I clear my throat because I’m still at a loss for words. After a few seconds, I let him know what all this really means to me. What he really means to me. “This is amazing. You are amazing. I can’t believe you did all of this,” I answer breathlessly.

“You should know that I have never gone to extremes like this to catch a girl’s attention.”

“I can assure you that you caught my attention way before this.” I chuckle at his statement.

“I hope so,” he answers, his voice ringing with sincerity. “I wanted tonight to be special. I meant what I said, Kenleigh. I don’t want what we have to end. I love you, and those are words that I don’t throw around lightly. You’ve given me so much more than you think.”

“Like what?”

“The truth is… For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can finally breathe. You’re a breath of fresh air for me. We have fun together. It’s effortless and carefree. We’re effortless and carefree.” Stepping around me, his strong, warm hands cup my cheeks. “Kenleigh, I love you. When I came here this summer, I had no idea that not only would I fall in love, but that I’d find my best friend, too. You accept me, faults and all. I’ve told you about my past, and yet you still chose me. You chose to let me into your heart and make it my own. I have never had anyone put as much faith in me as you have.”

Speechless. That’s what his words have rendered me. No coherent thought comes to mind as he drops his hands from my face and envelops mine in his own. “Our love is what fairy tales are made of. Romance novels that have their happily ever after, that’s the kind of love we share. It’s something that most people dream of finding. We’re lucky we did. I once thought I had it all… I thought I was happy. Now, I realize I lived in the dark and not in the light. I was a shell of a man. I didn’t know what real happiness was until I heard your laugh. I didn’t know what true light was until I saw you smile. I didn’t know how to breathe until you told me you loved me, too.” He drops down on one knee, and I watch wide-eyed as Wes pulls a black velvet box out of his jeans pocket. My breath catches when he flips the top open. A large, princess cut diamond sits atop a platinum band encrusted in small tiny diamonds along the sides. “I don’t want this to be some summer love. I don’t want us to leave here and always wonder what might have been, what could have been. I know with everything in my soul, Kenleigh, that I will only ever love you. Please make me even happier than you already do, and marry me.”