Chapter 22

Cal rowed himself and Lisa out to the reef and taught her how to put her pole over the side. “I can’t believe you’ve lived here your whole life and have never been fishing,” he said, smiling at her.

“Oh, well, I mean, I’ve been.”

“You said you hadn’t.” He looked at her as he baited his hook.

“I meant in many years. Or as an adult. My dad took us when we were little.” She held her pole like she expected it to grow wings and fly away. “And I liked catching the fish, but I didn’t want to clean them. Dad said once that the next fish we caught, we’d have to gut it. I stopped going after that.” She shrugged one shoulder and smiled. “Not one for guts, I guess.”

“I guess not,” Cal said. “Cleaning the fish isn’t my favorite thing either. I don’t normally catch a whole lot anyway.” He set his pole and leaned back with a sigh. “It’s more about the experience. The time on the water. In the boat.”

“I love the boat,” she said.

“I made this one,” Cal said. “It’s father-approved.” A sense of pride filled Cal. These past several months had been so…cleansing for him. He loved working with his hands, and he’d decided he didn’t want his father’s legacy to fade into oblivion. So in addition to being there for Sierra, maintaining his construction business, and advancing his relationship with Lisa, he’d started learning how to build fishing boats from his father. The work had been rewarding in a way Cal hadn’t anticipated, and his father had just gotten another order for a boat that Cal would be building solo.

“Christmas with your mom,” he said next, because he had something else to ask Lisa and he couldn’t quite get the words in the right order.

“Yes,” she said. “The sisters. Everyone.” She looked at him, though it was hard to tell with the sun hat and sunglasses covering her eyes. “And we’re having a nice dinner at your house, with just Sierra on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes,” he said. “And we can go see my brothers and parents the day after.” He was tired just thinking about all the visiting. But Lisa and Sierra got along great, and they could carry a conversation if he didn’t feel like talking.

“And then on the twenty-seventh, we can come here and enjoy the silence.” She grinned at him, and Cal was grateful she knew him well enough to know he’d need a day of detoxing after all the holidays. “But you’re okay to come to Riley’s wedding with me, right?”

“Of course.” He cleared his throat. “And speaking of weddings…” He reached down and unzipped a pocket in his backpack. “How do you feel about starting to plan our wedding?” He pulled out a black box and cracked the lid, the sunlight glinting on the diamond ring inside.

“Oh, my word,” Lisa said, her voice mostly made of air.

“I love you, Lisa,” Cal said. “I want you to be able to come home to me and Sierra after a long day of wedding planning. I want to come home to you. Will you marry me?”

She laughed, quickly cutting off the sound as she covered her mouth with her hand. She nodded, and Cal smiled. “You gotta say it, sweetheart.”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He tipped forward and kissed her, a sloppy one because she was still giggling. “Oh, my goodness,” she kept saying as he slipped the ring onto her finger. “Cal, this is a beautiful ring.” She held her hand out and stared at it. “I love you.”

He kissed her again, holding her close to him. “Sierra helped me pick it out.”

“I love it.” She beamed at him. “I can’t believe this. I wasn’t expecting…” She laughed again. “When were you thinking?”

“That’s up to you,” he said. “I just need you to show up, but I’m guessing you have a file somewhere in your office with all the things you want for your dream wedding.”

“I do not,” she said, but she immediately shook her head. “Wait. I totally do.” She laughed again, and Cal joined in this time. “I want to get married in the summer. I’ve always wanted that. Maybe July or August? That gives me seven or eight months.”

“Perfect,” Cal said. “Whatever you want, sweetheart. Maybe not when school is on.”

“So before school,” Lisa said, looking out over the ocean. “I can do that.”

“Will you dance with me at our wedding?” he asked. Their eyes met, and Lisa nodded slowly.

“Yes,” she said. “Dancing should definitely be part of our wedding.”