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“My god, Alex. You don’t have much time left. What took you so long?” Mrs. Steele paused when I showed up from behind him, her arms extending to me.
“Hello, Mrs. Steele,” I said, hugging her tightly.
“Are you okay, darling?” she asked, her voice so genuine that I knew I might cry if she continued to look at me that way.
“I’m fine, ma’am,” I said and turned to see Samantha suddenly holding her phone to my face and recording me. Confused, I looked around to find Alex.
My hands flew to my mouth when I saw him on one knee right in front of me, holding a ring box open.
“Alex . . .” I started to say, but the words wouldn’t come.
“Olivia Sanders, I had known I wanted you to be part of my life when I met you for the first time at the airport. It’s crazy how you were running away from another man, but I wanted to be your next and last man.”
“You’re an amazing woman, Liv, and there’s really no one else I’d rather spend the rest of my life loving, cherishing, and adoring. You’ve been perfect from day one, and I’m sorry it took me this long to realize this.”
The tears were trickling down my face, and I was aware we had an audience, but I didn’t care. All I had my eyes on was Alex.
“I know this isn’t the best circumstance for a proposal, given that I was about to be across the world from you for the next six months. I had given up my career a while ago and only picked back on it several months ago because I missed performing on stage. I had no idea you would come along and turn my entire life around. I promise to come back for you, and this ring is my vow to do that. So please, would you be my wife?” he finally asked, and I said yes immediately. He slipped the diamond ring onto my finger, and I pulled him up for a kiss.
“Yes, Alex, I will marry you. I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you,” I said, and everyone around us was suddenly cheering.
It still hurt as I watched him leave, but I had an assurance he’d be back, and I was ready to wait for him.