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E mily sat beside Wade. Hours passed as she listened to the clock tick and watched the monitors attached to the man she loved.

His eyes fluttered open, and she smiled. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“What am I doing in a hospital bed?”

“You took a couple of bad blows to the head. Trooper Cunningham said you lost consciousness before he could get you to the ambulance.” She poured a cup of water and held it out to him.

He took a long sip through the straw. “It’s nice to wake up to your beautiful face.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I was afraid I’d lose you.”

“You didn’t.”

“I broke protocol. I may find myself unemployed.” He gave her a tight smile. “Will you still love me if I lose my job?”

“What makes you think I love you now?”

“You’re sitting here beside me, aren’t you?” he asked.

“I am.”

“I’ve always loved you, and I always will, Em.”

“The doctor didn’t know if you’d wake up. She said head injuries were unpredictable. When they took you for the CT scan, she came back with news that there was swelling on your brain.”

“They shared my private medical information with you?”

“I may have allowed them to believe I was your wife.”

He grinned. “What else did they say?”

The doctor appeared in the doorway. “Here’s the doctor now, you can ask her.”

Wednesday morning, Emily went back to work. Her boss suggested she take some time off, but she didn’t want to sit at home. She was afraid she would replay the events again and again in her mind. She couldn’t help wondering what she could’ve done differently. Was there something she could’ve done to prevent Sandra’s death? Her patrol brought her past Boulder Field Road, and thoughts of what might’ve happened had she not escaped the root cellar bombarded her.

Wade was supposed to be released from the hospital later that day, and she’d be there for him, but until the call came through saying he was free to go, she would work and attempt to keep her mind occupied.

At lunch time, she sat at a picnic table devouring her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Austin strolled over to join her.

“I owe you an apology. I never should’ve left the park,” Austin said.

“We didn’t know Pete was the killer, Austin.” She reached for his hand. “How could we have known?”

“I should’ve known.”

“Second guessing yourself won’t help anyone now. We all did the best we could to find out who killed those women. It betrays logic for us to consider our friend and co-worker a suspect.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“My security detail gave me a false sense of safety. I believed I was well-guarded.”

“Is anyone ever truly safe?”

“That is a question for another day.” She glanced at her cell phone. “Wade’s being discharged. I’m going to head to the hospital.”

“Tell him thanks for rescuing my pap, and I’m glad he’s okay.”

She stood and kissed her friend on the cheek. “I will.”

Emily stared out over the lake and scratched behind Ruger’s ears with one hand while twisting a yellow leaf in the other. She could feel a change in the air. Autumn would arrive in a few days, but the peak colors that brought out the leaf peepers wouldn’t emerge until mid-October.

She looked toward Wade’s house. He’d said he’d meet her outside, so she’d waited. Patiently. Well, maybe a tad impatiently. They were going out to dinner at the Sunset Inn, the fancy restaurant on the lake where he’d taken her on their first date after they’d become reacquainted.

Wade appeared in the doorway, freshly shaven, with his dress shirt open at the collar. “Are you ready?”

“I’ve been waiting on you.”

“Sorry. The meetings at work took longer than expected.”

“Did they make a decision?”

“It’s looking like I’ll receive a suspension. Considering you and Mr. Crawley were both found on the property, they’re not going to fire me for not getting a warrant. If you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have a job.”

“I understand protecting privacy and all, but if you hadn’t come, we would’ve both been killed.”

“My boss wanted to see the proof you were being held there first. Not merely my suspicions. With Senator Martin owning the property, it was a sticky situation for him.”

“I hate politics.”

He smiled. “Shall we go?” After putting Ruger back in the house, they walked hand in hand to the restaurant.

She devoured her meal, and they split a piece of death-by-chocolate cake. The cake was layered with ganache and whipped cream between the cake layers. She licked her lips and set aside her fork. “I can’t eat another bite, but it was scrumptious.”

He paid the check, and they strolled along the lake. When they reached the private beach area near his house, he kissed her. “You taste like chocolate.”

When he dropped to one knee, her heart nearly slammed to a stop before picking up speed.

“I’ve loved you as long as I can remember. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Em?” He held out the sparkling ring he’d shown her by the campfire. “I’ll take you to pick out a better engagement ring, but I didn’t want to wait to ask.”

“It’s the perfect ring. It has more meaning and history to it than a new one would.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes. I’ll marry you!” She felt like jumping up and down, but she settled for holding out her hand while he slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. Her heart swelled with love for the man beside her. “I love you, Wade Brunner.”

“And I love you.”

The End