Chapter 9 - The Promise on the Waterfront
Garrison drove them down to the Providence waterfront in the black Mercedes—the same car that had pulled up beside her on Broad Street six months ago.
The harbor was alive with summer activity. Sailboats glided across the blue water, gulls circled overhead, and the warm ocean breeze carried the salty scent of the bay.
Garrison helped Scarlet into her wheelchair and pushed her along the newly built wooden boardwalk at the edge of the pier. They stopped at the very tip of the dock, where the water stretched out toward the horizon.
“I bought this dock yesterday,” Garrison said smoothly, looking out at the bay.
Scarlet looked at him, smiling. “You bought a dock? Why?”
Garrison reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He didn't kneel—he stood directly before her, opening the box to reveal a stunning solitaire diamond ring set in platinum, glittering under the afternoon sun.
“Because six months ago, I found the most extraordinary woman in the world sitting in the cold on Broad Street,” Garrison said, his deep voice trembling slightly with emotion. “You saved my son, Scarlet. You brought light back into my life. You taught me how to be a father again.”
He took the ring from the box, holding her soft hazel eyes in his gaze.
“I don't offer you a smooth road, Scarlet. My world can be dangerous, and my past is heavy. But I offer you my absolute devotion, my protection, and my heart for the rest of my days.”
Tears gathered in Scarlet’s eyes—not tears of pain or sorrow, but tears of profound happiness. She reached out, taking his strong hands in hers.
“Garrison,” she whispered, her voice overflowing with love. “When you picked me up that night, I thought my life was over. I thought I was useless, broken, and alone. You didn't just give me a ride. You gave me a reason to live.”
She looked up into his handsome face.
May you like
“Yes,” she said firmly. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Garrison slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. He leaned down, cupping her face in his broad hands, and brought his lips to hers in a deep, passionate kiss that sealed their future forever beneath the warm summer sun.
