When he sang the lyrics speaking of sunrises and never giving up on their love, tears began streaming down her face. When the men behind him joined in on the chorus, some of their voices off-key, some singing beautifully, she was sobbing.
At the end of the song, he set the guitar down and walked to her, pulling a small box from his pocket as he knelt on the bed of rose petals.
“I won’t ever give up on our love again. You are my sun, moon, and stars. You’re everything to me. I don’t want to live a life without you beside me. Please, marry me, Sierra, take away my worst regret and let me show you what you mean to me every day for the rest of our lives and beyond.”
There was no doubt what her answer would be. She’d never imagined loving someone so greatly, never thought a man would love her so much. His hands trembled in front of her as he held out the opened velvet box with a simple solitaire surrounded by beautiful diamonds on either side.
“Yes, Damien, oh yes,” she whispered, and he slipped the ring on her finger, a perfect fit.
Sierra didn’t notice the applause from the crowd, or the tears in her new family’s eyes. She noticed nothing but the love in Damien’s beautiful face…and it was all for her.
Epilogue
One Year later
“You realize this wedding killed my uncle a little bit, don’t you?” Bree said as she stood next to Sierra.
“Yes, I know, but it’s what I wanted. I think it turned out perfectly. I did give him free reign on the reception, which I’m thinking wasn’t the wisest idea. I figured I’d be safe seeing as we’re on a secluded island. I should’ve known better.”
“Yes, you should have. He has zero qualms about flying five-hundred people here. You’re lucky it was only a hundred. I have to say I’m very happy they’re all gone and it gets to just be family now. Has Damien told you where you’re going for your honeymoon, yet?”
“Yes, he’s taking me back to where it all began. We fly out tomorrow for Australia.”
“Yea, now that you know, I can tell you that Chad and I are joining you there in a week, along with my brothers, and cousins. Trinity and her family are coming, too,” Bree said with enthusiasm.
“Bree, I don’t know how I ever got so lucky as to have met you, but thank you for being in my life. I will love you forever,” Sierra said, getting choked up for the hundredth time that day.
“I love you, too.”
“Girl time is over. I’ve got dibs on my wife,” Damien said as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Mmm, claim away,” she told him as she reached up and kissed him. Neither of them noticed Bree slipping away.
“Thank you for inviting Bree and the rest of the family to join us.”
“I knew it would make you happy. I promised you I would bring you nothing but joy the rest of our lives, and I intend to keep that promise,” he said before bending to kiss her again.
“How do you feel about children?”
“I’ve already told you I’ll have a dozen if you’ll let me get away with it,” he said before nuzzling her neck.
“Why don’t we start with just one for now,” she said with a laugh.
“Sounds good to me. Let’s get started right now,” he said as he scooped her into his arms and started heading toward their secluded cabin which Katherine and Esther had stocked up for them.
“I expect you to make love to me all night long, but there’s no need to create a child. I’m four weeks along,” she told him, waiting for it to sink in. When her words registered, Damien’s face grinned with pleasure as he looked into her eyes.
“I love you, Sierra Whitfield, and I will the rest of my life. Thank you for giving me a second chance, and not giving up on me. Thank you for carrying my child. Let’s go start our lives together,” he said quietly.
“Damien, my life started the day you walked into my father’s office.”
Damien carried her inside and showed her many times over how much he loved her. He kept his promise to make her happy and continued expressing his love for many years to come.