Once I had it opened, he reached in and pulled out a tiny light blue box.
I tried to fight the tears once again, and just barely.
The moment he had the lid opened, the stunning ring that was nestled in a silk fabric.
I looked from the ring to him and asked, “Carter, how long have you had this?”
He winked, “Can’t tell you the feeling I had. The instant drive to go and look. And when I found that one, I don’t know. But I’m sure as fucking glad I listened to whatever it was about, bought it.”
And there, in Parkwood Memorial Hospital, I smiled as he slid the beautiful ring on my finger.
I stared at it and whispered, “I’m going to love saying that my name is Mrs. Carter Griggs.”
He winked, “Always referred to you in my head as Harlee Belle Griggs. That okay with you?”
I nodded.
And then sobered.
Not wanting to ruin any of this, but he needed to know.
He knew me.
He asked in a worried tone, “What is it?”
I sat down in my chair, and wrapped my hands around his, bringing his hand to my mouth, I pressed a kiss on one of his knuckles, then I whispered, “How much do you remember?”
I hadn’t found this out until Caulson came and told me.
“Mostly all of it. Why?” he asked.
“Do you remember being thrown off Solace and into the ocean?” I asked.
His brows furrowed, and then I watched as his eyes widened, “No.”
Sadly, I nodded my head, tears I had held back came down my cheeks once again, “Yeah. He didn’t get off the rig in time.”
And then I sat there, trying to absorb the pain Carter was in emotionally as I watched a few tears trail down his cheeks.
Softly, he whispered, “Remember. Granger told me if it was his time, he wouldn’t mind going, only so he could make sure I made it back to you.”
I leaned my head down and pressed it into our grasped hands.
Frank, Misty, Garrick, Ethan, Melanie, Alec, Talia, Dominik, Bronson, and Tatum walked into the room.
At the sight of my ring finger, I watched as everyone slowly had smiles forming on their faces.
It was Garrick who asked, “Finally asked her, huh?”
“According to everyone else, they were already married,” Tatum said with a soft chuckle.
At the sight of her, Carter looked at me and asked me without words.
I winked at him and nodded, “Come on, let’s give Tatum and Carter a few minutes alone.”
“Being someone’s first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect.”
– Unknown.
