Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Finally Chose Herself
A year passed.
Nora's nonprofit restored its first landmark.
A small Victorian library had been scheduled for demolition.
Instead, it reopened as a community center.
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony.
Among them was Lincoln.
He stood quietly in the back.
Nora noticed him.
Afterward, he approached.
“You did it.”
“We did.”
He smiled.
“No. You did.”
Nora smiled back.
“You look better.”
“So do you.”
He hesitated.
“I've heard you're leaving Seattle.”
Nora glanced toward Ethan.
“Next year.”
“For where?”
“New York.”
“Another restoration project?”
“Several.”
Lincoln smiled.
“That's good.”
Nora realized something.
There was no anger left.
Only history.
“I forgive you,” she said.
Lincoln's eyes glistened.
“Thank you.”
He nodded and walked away.
Ethan joined her.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
They walked through the renovated building.
Ethan stopped beneath a carved wooden arch.
“Your father would be proud.”
Nora smiled.
“I think he'd like you.”
“That's a terrifying thought.”
She laughed.
Months later, Ethan proposed.
Not with a diamond.
Not with a dramatic restaurant.
He took Nora back to Alder House.
The property had been restored and preserved as a historical landmark.
In the north wall, where her father's evidence had once been hidden, Ethan had placed a small brass plaque.
Thomas Whitmore.
David Cole.
Two men who believed truth was worth protecting.
Nora read it.
Then turned.
Ethan was standing behind her.
“I don't have a speech.”
“You'd better.”
He smiled.
“I love you.”
She laughed.
“That's the whole speech?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I don't want to rescue you.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Good.”
“I don't want you to rescue me.”
“Also good.”
“I just want to build something with you.”
He opened a small box.
Inside was a simple ring.
Old-fashioned.
Beautiful.
Nora's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Ethan laughed.
“You didn't even let me finish.”
“Yes.”
“You're supposed to pretend to think.”
“I spent five years thinking.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
May you like
She kissed him.
And somewhere in the distance, church bells began to ring.
