Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
We’re front and center facing the stage, and I chuckle to myself, realizing all these people are friends and family of the other people getting awarded. Not just for bravery, either.
A couple of kids get something for community service, but it’s mostly emergency service workers being thanked for all their hard work and heroics.
Why Ash doesn’t get a medal is beyond me. But he always makes a face anytime someone mentions awards for anything he’s done, even though I’ve found a box full of them. I’m planning to have a cabinet made to display them properly someday.
“And for our final presentation…,” the Mayor announces. “We have a very special award for bravery. To be presented by someone who knows more about it than me… Assistant Fire Chief, Ash Masters.”
There’s loud applause, and I can hear Ash’s entire battalion whooping and hollering like a bunch of frat boys as he gets up, squeezing my hand before taking the stage.
“See you up there, Mrs. Masters,” he murmurs, mouthing the words ‘I love you,’ to me before he starts his own little speech, outlining my so-called ‘heroics’ on the day of the fire.
Even though we all know it was Ash who saved the day. He always does.
It’s only when he motions me up, letting me know it’s time for me to get my award, that it hits me.
Mrs. Masters?
Did he just call me Mrs. Masters…?
The whole hall stands and applauds. The Mayor hands Ash the ribbon with a shining silver medallion on it, which he lovingly puts over my head, straightening it, so it’s sitting right between my boobs.
“I’m so proud of you, Bridget…I love you,” he whispers, kissing me on the cheek, and the crowd erupts with more applause.
Ash takes my hand in his and poses for some photos with me. Completing the ceremony
Well. That wasn’t so….
“And there’s something else, Bridget. Ladies and gentleman,” the Mayor announces, gripping the podium as he looks to Ash who gives a little nod.
Reaching into his breast pocket as the whole hall falls suddenly silent.
Oh…
Ash…Are you. Is this…
Ash pulls out two identical ribbons to the one my medallion’s hanging on.
Except his two have rings threaded on them.
A brilliant, shining diamond ring sprays a glitter of light into my eyes and around the stage as the few people (including me) who aren’t in on this gasp loudly.
And on the other ribbon, one large solid gold, plain band, and one clinking silently next to it, barely a third of its size.
“Bridget?” Ash says, taking a knee in front of me, still tall enough to be at my eye level as I feel them filling up with tears.
My lower lip is quivering as he gets down to the real reason he’s brought us here today.
Ash has never been a big talker. Never makes a show with words.
So when he asks me point blank and in a loud voice if I’ll do him the honor of being his wife after he tells everyone present that I saved more than those people in the office the day of the fire.
He tells the whole world how much he loves me, and he can’t live a day without telling me so. Can’t live another day without these rings on our fingers. I can only feel my head nodding.
The answer will always be yes, no matter where or how he asks me.
Running my hand over my belly, I feel our little baby kicking for the first time too. And Ash presses his hand over mine.
“Marry me, Bridget. Marry me today. The Mayor’s already got the certificate for you to sign…if you’ll have me,” he adds humbly.
The old me would feel tricked or cheated somehow.
But suddenly, I realize that all these beautiful people have turned out to see the real hero of our city propose to the woman he loves so much only makes me love him even more.
How on earth did he do it? I’ll never know.
But I remember the words of old Rose from the general store, right about the same time I spot her a few rows back, sitting next to my parents as they each wipe a tear from their eye what she told me that day.
I’d put a ring on his finger. Man like that is a once in a lifetime deal if what you know in your heart is love when you think of Ash. Then that’s all the two of you will ever need.
Looking from Rose to my parents and finally to Ash, it feels like those words will be etched in my memory forever.
And I only have one word for my man, Ash.
My hero. My best friend…My husband and father to our child.
“Yes…Yes, yes, yes!”
Yes, Ash. I’ll have you.
Today and forever after that, and I promise you one thing. The same promise you made me the day we met, right before I fell for my fireman.