“Okay, sweetheart,” I said, reaching my hand up behind me to rub the back of his head. I browsed for a while before buying a new window sticker for my car, and then my brothers and I grabbed a coffee from Starbucks. “It’s over this way,” I said, leading my brothers down the pretty path as I sipped my latte. “There they are,” I said, pointing at Axel and our daughter sitting on a little bench underneath a tree.

They stood as we approached, and I looked around, realizing they were underneath the Century Tree. My steps faltered. The Century Tree. That was the traditional hot spot for guys to propose here on campus.

No. It couldn’t be.

I glanced over at Beau, and he was grinning at me. “What?” I asked, but he just smiled bigger and patted me on the shoulder, urging me to walk ahead of them.

OhmyGod. OhmyGod. OhmyGod. Carrie and Axel stood, both grinning ear to ear, and indicated that I should sit on the little bench. Ax nodded at our daughter, and I realized that she was holding something in her hand… a Care Bear. “Mommy, this is Wish Bear because I wish you would marry my daddy.” She handed it to me, and I held it on my lap.

She grinned up at Axel, and he mouthed, “Good job, baby girl,” before sinking to one knee in front of me. OhmyGod. This was really happening.

“There’s a ring,” Carrie whispered loudly to me, pointing to a worn, pink ribbon around the bear’s neck, making our little party, plus the small crowd that had gathered, laugh. Everyone knew what happened underneath this tree, and several people had stopped to witness it.

Axel kissed Carrie’s cheek and said, “I think I’ve got it from here.” She hopped up on the seat beside me as Axel turned his focus to me. “Blaire, I bought this bear and this ring,” he said, starting to untie the ribbon, “many years ago, intending to make you mine right in this exact spot.” He slid the ring off and took my left hand. “I may be a little late to the game, but here we are together.”

“Axel…” I breathed.

“You and this little rugrat are my family,” he said, indicating Carrie.

“Hey!” she said, but they beamed at each other.

Ax continued, “But I want to make it official. Blaire, I love you so much. Would you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”

I was unable to speak for a moment until Carrie loud-whispered, “This is where you’re supposed to say yes, Mommy.” A burst of giggles escaped my lips as I looked at the hot, sweet, handsome man kneeling in front of me.

“Laughter wasn’t exactly the response I was going for,” Axel said under his breath to me with one cocked eyebrow.