And she really needed to get him over there.
When they were in the car, she said, “Cam, I really want to see the samples in the natural light. Let me just run them in, okay?”
“Oh, okay, sure,” he said as he pulled into the old Crab Shack parking lot. “If it’s important to you, we’ll do it.”
Yes. She did an internal fist-pump.
The old asphalt parking lot was gone, and in the Crab Shack’s place stood a wooden frame covered with sheets of Tyvek. Stone that would soon give the outside its aged look sat in stacks around the perimeter. The scent of freshy cut plywood greeted them on the way up to the building.
Cam halted as he saw the sign that Hadley had draped over the top of the open framed doorway. In big black letters, it read CAM’S PLACE.
A puzzled frown furrowed his brow as he looked from the sign to her. “What’s this about?”
Her heart skipped a little beat, hoping that surprising him had been the right thing to do. “Well, it’s our four-month anniversary and I thought it might be nice to go out to dinner.”
“Nice.” His mouth quirked up in a little smile. “But…there won’t be any food here for quite a while.”
“That’s not a problem.” Hadley walked him through the rectangular opening and gestured for him to follow her.
“What have you done?” he asked, taking the hand she held out to him. “This may lead to some repercussions later.”
“Rewards,” she corrected. “Definitely rewards. You’re going to love it.” She hoped.
As soon as Cam walked through the doorway, a chorus of all their family and friends yelled “Surprise!” All standing in the openly framed room, in what would one day be the restaurant proper, and spilling out onto what would eventually become the back deck. In the middle of all the people they loved was a long folding table, filled with a sea of enticing-looking food.
Nick came forward with a champagne bottle. “I’d tell you to break it against the doorway or something like that but we want to drink it instead. Okay to open it?”
“Of course,” Cam said, greeting and hugging everyone.
“Tony, will you help me carry the coolers out?” Hadley asked, gesturing him into what would soon become the kitchen.
“I didn’t tell them about our four-month milestone,” she said in a low voice. “But I thought it would be fun to celebrate that the place is finally framed.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I love it.”
“You didn’t mind the surprise?” she asked. Because he was awfully quiet. He usually loved a crowd but maybe this was too much.
“I always love a reason to celebrate.”
“Okay, well, I just wanted you to know,” she said. “Shall we go back and join everyone?”
He tugged her back. “Not just yet. Now I have a surprise for you.”
One look in his eyes showed her that he’d somehow turned the tables on her. His expression was a mix of gravity and…nerves. A cold sweat broke out over her skin despite the afternoon heat.
Then suddenly he went down on one knee—his good knee—and pulled out a little box. “Open it,” he whispered.
With trembling fingers, she pried the little velvet box open to find a yellow sticky note in his handwriting. Which she had to blink back happy tears to read.
And underneath…a beautiful emerald-cut diamond with two baguettes on either side, sparkling in the late afternoon light.
“Take a chance on me,” he said, “even though I still don’t have my life all figured out. Come live in a house that overlooks the bluff where we first made love all those years ago. So that every day we can look out the window and be reminded of where we began. Will you marry me, Hadley?”
“Yes,” she said, jumping into his arms. Easiest answer of her life.
Suddenly a big crowd of people—their people—began to cheer. But she was too busy kissing him to notice.
When a flash went off, her first thought was paparazzi, but it was only her dad, taking some photos.
“Congratulations, honey.” Her dad hugged her first and then shook Cam’s hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”
“Thank you, sir,” Cam said as Hadley’s dad hugged him too.
“We couldn’t be more pleased,” her mom said. “We’re going to start line-dancing lessons now so we can get good for the wedding. Maybe we can all sign up together!”
“Oh, that sounds like so much fun.” Mayellen clapped her hands. “Doesn’t it, Angelo?”
Cam’s dad blanched. “I haven’t danced in thirty years.”
“Well, then”—May took his hand—“it’s high time someone got you out there, don’t you think?”
Cam’s dad laughed, shaking his head and flashing May a smile. “So what’s the name of the restaurant?” he asked Cam.
Cam looked up at the banner, then lovingly at Hadley. “Cam’s Place sounds perfect to me.”
“Perfect,” Hadley said, meeting his gaze and getting a little teary again. Yes, the name suited him just right.
Nick popped the cork, and Kit and Darla handed out glasses of champagne all around.
“To Hadley and Tony,” Angelo toasted. “May they have a wonderful, loving life together.”
“Hear hear,” everyone cheered as Cam took her in his arms.
* * *
Later, Hadley sat down with Darla and Kit while Ollie finished a piece of cake. Hadley, on the other hand, was still sampling the spread of hors d’oeuvres, which included crab and avocado toast, bruschetta with olive tapenade, and grilled shrimp. She fully believed it was going to be a treat to belong to a family who loved feeding people.
“We’re so happy for you,” Kit said, swiping at her eyes. “Let us see the ring.”
Hadley held out her sparkler for them to exclaim over. “Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, twisting off Darla’s ring from her other hand. “Darla and I talked about this. I’ve had my summer of adventure.” She pushed the ring across the table. “Now it’s your turn, Kit.”
Kit looked up in surprise. “I don’t believe in superstition.”
“But you believe in love,” Darla said. “You’re the most romantic of all of us. Put it on.”
“It really is a beautiful ring.” She slipped it onto her finger.
As Cam walked over, Darla rose and gave him a hug. “Congratulations,” she said.
“Thanks, Darla,” Cam said. “I appreciate your vote of confidence.”
“But if you hurt her,” she warned, “I’ll come after you. And I can cover my tracks really well.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Cam said warily. “But thanks.”
Nick whizzed by with two pieces of cake. “There was only one piece left that was half chocolate, half white, so I snagged it for you, Dar,” he said. “And I brought one for you, too, Kit.”
“Thanks,” Kit said.
“You remembered that?” Darla asked, clearly pleased. Hmm. Hadley was getting the same vibes with these two as she had with Angelo and May.
“Of course.” He turned to Cam. “The place is looking great, if I do say so myself.”