Page 131 of Healed Heart

Angie’s brother Henry is back in town, along with her other brother, Dave, and his wife, Maddie.Henry was shaken up after he shot Ralph.He had practiced with firearms before—all the Steels have to learn how to shoot a gun, according to Angie—but had never fired a gun outside of a shooting range, certainly not into a fellow human being.

But Ralph deserved it.And now he’s six feet under, and the world is better for it.

One day Henry will realize that he did what he had to do.And the woman I love owes her life to him.

The man with gray eyes—we later found out his name is Robert Templeton—was arrested for conspiracy to murder along with several other charges.He’ll be behind bars for the rest of his life.

Boulder in the summer is golden, but today it seems to shine brighter than usual.The sunlight spills over red rock and mountain peaks, the air warm but dry, wrapped in the scent of pine and something faintly sweet, like blooming wildflowers you can’t quite see.The streets hum with hikers and cyclists, dogs trotting alongside them, coffee cups in hand, like no one’s in a rush to be anywhere but here.There’s music on Pearl Street, barefoot kids playing in fountains, and that endless, open-sky feeling that anything could happen—and probably will, once the sun dips low and the mountains start to glow.

Tonight I will propose to Angie.

Nearly four years ago, I thought my life had ended.

Now?

A new day has dawned.

Since my surgery five months ago, I’ve had my own mountains to climb.Not only rehabilitation and physical therapy but also dealing with the fallout of Ralph Normandy’s death.When the cops showed up, we had to tell them the whole story of what had gone down.Henry especially had to go in for lots of questioning, since he was the one who shot Ralph, but Blake Haywood and his team convinced the authorities that Henry had shot Ralph in defense of his sister, and no charges were brought.

Now, it’s all in the past.

I think less and less about Ralph each day.

He won’t ruin my happiness again.

No one will.

With Tabitha’s help, I planned a private dinner at Flagstaff House tonight.Angie thinks we’re going to celebrate my first surgery.

And we are.

But in my pocket is a two-carat sparkler that I plan to slide onto her finger this evening, and tomorrow, she and I, along with Tabitha, will drive to the Western Slope to spend a few weeks with the Steel family.

I’m the last one to arrive at Flagstaff House.The host leads me to the private dining room, where Angie runs to me.

“I’m so happy for you!”She kisses my lips.“I knew your surgery would be a success.”

“Thank you, baby.”

Peter wasn’t sure I should begin with something as complicated as a liver transplant, but I fought hard to come back with a bang.

And it went perfectly.

I greet Tabitha and Henry, Dave and Maddie, and then I wave to the hostess of the party.

She brings in a bottle of Dom Perignon.

Angie shakes her head.“I ordered Cristal to toast your surgery.”

I smile at her, cup her cheek.“I ordered the Dom.And it’s not to toast my surgery.”

“What’s it for, then?”she asks.

I drop to one knee.

She drops her mouth into an O and gasps.

“Angie, will you make me the happiest man in the world?”I hold up the open velvet box.

She drops down beside me.“Oh my God, yes, Jason!A thousand times yes!”

I slide the ring on her finger while the others congratulate us.The hostess fills champagne flutes, and I grab one, holding it up.

“To my lovely future wife, Angela Daphne Simpson,” I say.“You healed my heart, Angie, and I love you.”