“No change,” Robert’s voice dropped. “She’s still in a coma after her last episode.”
“I’m sorry, Robert,” Caroline said with compassion.
“It’s going to be okay,” Robert said positively. “Let Jules and Connor know I’m here for the weekend, and I hope they pop around.”
“Will do,” Caroline promised and hung up.
Her mind shifted to Robert. He’d moved to Newbury Port from New York after Tanya had been committed. Two months later, Tanya had her first seizure, and they’d snowballed after that until her last seizure episode had put her in a coma. Robert had stuck by Tanya and visited her every day as she was in a mental health facility close to Newbury Port.
Jules had repaired her relationship with her father, and Robert had embraced Connor like a son. Jules and Connor had often visited Robert when he’d first moved to Newbury Port. They’d even taught him to surf and babysat for him.
Caroline sighed happily as she pulled into her driveway and parked the car. She was greeted by her pets as she climbed out of the vehicle. Blue Beard’s wing had mended nicely, and Brad was his new hero. Sandy also doted on Brad and Connor. Even Melton had warmed up to them.
Caroline couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips as she walked into her house. Her heart did a few flips at the thought there was only another hour to go until she saw Brad. Caroline had missed him so much, and today, she didn’t think she could be happier.
“Jules, I’m home,” Caroline called, hooking her keys on the key rack.
Caroline frowned and listened, but there was no sound.
“Jules,” Caroline called again as she stopped in the living room.
Her frown deepened when she saw what appeared to be bunny footprints etched in flour leading from the living room through the open front door and into the lighthouse. Caroline’s frown deepened as she noticed the prints went up the winding staircase. She felt like Alice following the bunny into the rabbit hole. She even had an urge to start chanting. She didn’t have time for this; she was going to be late for a very important date.But she was intrigued to find out where floury bunny prints were leading up the winding staircase into the glass dome tower of the lighthouse.
As she got to the top and stepped inside, she nearly had a heart attack when Jules and Connor jumped out at her.
“Surprise!” Jules and Connor chorused.
“Good grief! Are you trying to kill me?” Caroline stared at the two of them before it dawned on her that she was looking at Connor in person. “Hello!” She grabbed the teens and pulled them in for a hug.
“Did you two do the bunny prints?” Caroline looked at them sideways with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes.” They nodded with goofy grins, making Caroline suspicious. “What are you two up to?”
“It’s a surprise,” Connor told her, his grin widening.
“Wait, where is your father?” Caroline asked him.
Connor and Jules said nothing, just pointed behind her. Caroline turned, and her eyes widened as she found Brad on one knee with a blue velvet box in his hand.
“Caroline Shaw, I’m not the writer in what I hope will officially become mine and Connor’s family,” Brad told her. “I wish I had the words to describe how I feel about you and that I never want to spend another minute apart from you. I felt like I couldn’t breathe until I saw you again.” He opened the box. “Will you marry me and accept Connor and me as part of your and Jules’s family?”
Caroline felt like her heart would explode as she stared into the loving eyes of the man that made her world feel so much brighter. “Yes!” Caroline said as tears of joy sparkled in her eyes.
Brad stood and slid the ring onto her finger, pulling her into his arms for a kiss she longed for for three months while Connor and Jules cheered behind them.
