Epilogue

The plane landed—it was perfect. Even Ruby’s instructor looked impressed.

As they stepped out of the plane, he said, “Looks like you haven’t lost your touch. You can officially fly again, with passengers.” He shook her hand.

Ruby felt like she was still flying, and she screamed with excitement, spinning in a circle. “Thank you,” she said, wrapping her instructor in a bear hug.

“Um…you’re welcome,” he said, patting her awkwardly on the back.

She stepped back and looked at her phone. Ruby and Parker had driven to northern New Mexico for another balloon festival, but she’d had her own flying to take care of on the other side of the big city before meeting him for lunch. It was still early, and she figured Parker wouldn’t be done for another hour or so. That would give her time to—

“What are those balloons doing over here?” Ruby’s instructor asked. “They aren’t allowed to be on this side of the city.”

Ruby looked up and saw two hot air balloons floating their way. “That is odd,” she said, especially because one of them looked suspiciously like Parker’s.

The sound of squealing tires distracted Ruby and she looked behind her. What looked like Andy’s truck sped toward them, squealing to a stop beside the plane. Andy jumped out and ran over to her. Without so much as a hello, he thrust his two-way radio into Ruby’s hands.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Is Parker okay?” Fear welled up, and her gaze shot up to the approaching balloons.

Except there was now a banner hanging between the two balloons. Ruby squinted, trying to make out the writing.

The radio crackled to life. “Andy, is Ruby there yet? I don’t know how long we’ll get away with hanging out here.”

“I’m here,” Ruby said into the radio. “Are you all right? Did a crosswind catch you off guard?” She was never going to get used to how different ballooning was from flying a plane. She didn’t think she’d be able to handle not having precise control over every movement up there.

What sounded like a laugh crackled over the radio. “Didn’t you read the sign?”

Ruby squinted. “The writing is really small. Maybe if I tilt my head and…no. Sorry.” She stopped cold and slapped a palm to her forehead. Duh. Parker was out here with a banner…there could only be one reason for that. Unless he had taken up advertising for local businesses in restricted air space. Butterflies erupted in Ruby’s stomach. A year ago, she wouldn’t have thought this moment would ever happen again for her. And now? The elation from her successful flight was replaced with pure giddiness.

“I told Rafael the font needed to be bigger,” Parker grumbled.

“How about if you just ask me,” Ruby said with a grin.

The radio crackled for a moment. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

“Kinda.”

“Are you imagining me on one knee?”

Ruby’s grin widened. “I am now.”

“Ruby, will you marry me?”

Ruby’s breath faltered and she struggled to find the one word that Parker was waiting to hear.

“Ruby?” Parker’s voice was tinged with panic.

“Yes,” Ruby whispered. And then she screamed “Yes!” into the radio. Joy flooded every part of her and she ran around in circles, waving her arms, yelling “Yes!” over and over again.

She heard a whoop and a holler over the radio, and then Parker said, “Make room, we’re coming in for a landing.”

That was one positive thing about hot air balloons—they could land anywhere. Ruby glanced at her instructor, suddenly realizing he was still there, and wondering what his reaction would be to all this.

It turned out Ruby didn’t need to worry about him. Her instructor dabbed at his eyes and tried to hide the glistening tears. “You two just made my day,” he said. “You’re welcome to land here anytime, no matter if you’re flying a plane or a hot air balloon.”

Ruby wrapped him in another bear hug before running out to meet the balloon that was just touching down. Rafael and Andy jumped on the basket, and Parker jumped out.

He ran over to Ruby, wrapped his arms around her, and lifted her into the air. “You sure you’re ready to become the future Ruby Loveland? I hear the man you’ll have to marry requires a lot of patience.”

“If you didn’t hear me the first hundred times,” Ruby said, “yes. A thousand times yes.” She took Parker’s face in her hands and planted a long, deep kiss on his lips. She didn’t break away until she heard the catcalls from Andy and Rafael, then laughed and buried her head in Parker’s shoulder.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” he said. He stepped away from Ruby and pulled a small box from his pocket.

Ruby’s eyes widened. She had been so caught up in the prospect of marrying Parker that she’d completely forgotten that a ring was usually associated with proposals of marriage.

Parker opened the box. It was exactly the type of ring Ruby would have picked out for herself. It wasn’t flashy or gaudy, just a simple white-gold band with a diamond slightly raised in the center.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered.

Parker smiled. “I hoped you’d say that.” He slipped the ring onto Ruby’s finger. “Here’s to two imperfect people who will live the next hundred years making each other very happy.”

“You sure we’re going to make it that long?” Ruby teased. “A hundred and thirty years is an awfully long time.”

“But not long enough for a life spent with you,” Parker said, then he kissed Ruby like he meant it.

And Ruby knew he did. Every word of it. And she felt the same toward him.