Page 32 of Feels Like Home

Finn was looking at his girlfriend, Raya. “You said last time we were here that you’ve fallen in love with Montana, but the choice is totally yours.”

“Are you two engaged?!” Rowe asked.

They ignored the question. They ignored everything, in fact, completely immersed in each other. Wide-eyed looks pinballed around the table because what was happening?

“I don’t really care where we get married, Finn,” Raya said, a smile bursting onto her face.

Finn scooted out of his chair and dropped down on a knee in front of Raya.

“Oh glory be, Jesus and his angels, prayers do work,” Momma whispered.

Everyone around the table went quiet, each of us seeming to ask the same question—Did you know he was going to do this?

Truth be told, I’m not even sure Finn knew he was going to do this. But my heart swelled that we got to be a part of it. Rowe took out her phone and started recording, and I did my best to get a few photos, but none of us was prepared for a Fourth of July proposal.

“Raya,” Finn said. “You know I’m in this. Long haul and everything. And I don’t know what life’s going to throw at us, but I know that if we stick together we can figure it out. I’m better because of you. My life is better because of you. I don’t want to live a single day without you, so what do you say? You wanna get hitched?”

“Gee,” Boone said, voice low. “How romantic.”

Quent shook his head slowly, unimpressed. Not that he should talk. That man is the least romantic of all of us—but I suppose his own disaster of a marriage had something to do with that.

“He should at least have a ring,” West said quietly.

As if on cue, Finn reached into his pocket, eyes still fixed on Raya, the way they always seemed to be when they were in the same room. “I almost forgot.” He laughed nervously, then pulled out a small box. “I’ve been carrying it around for weeks, just waiting for the right time.”

“And here, at the dinner table with your entire family and pie still on your face, seemed like the right time?” Boone chuckled, and Momma smacked him across the arm, hissing a loud “Shh!”

“Wait, do I have . . .” Finn started to wipe his face with his shirt, then realized Boone was pranking him. He shot our brother a look, and Boone picked up a piece of pie and bit into it like it was a slice of pizza.

Finn turned back to Raya—who was still beaming—and reached for her hand, slid the ring on, and smiled up at her. “Raya?” he said. “Will you make me the happiest guy in the world and marry me?”

“Be awkward if she said ‘no,’” Boone quipped.

“Probably why he’s doing it in front of everyone,” West said. “Raya, we won’t hold it against you if you take off runnin’.”

Raya laughed, holding out her hand to admire the ring. I didn’t have a great view of her face, but Rowena told me later that she was tearing up when she nodded and whispered a quiet “Yes.” She looked at me. “And yes to the lodge too—if you’ll have us. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather get married than right here.”

“What about your family?” Momma asked.

“I can’t wait to bring them here,” Raya said. “They’ll love it. Especially Eloise. It’s on her bucket list to see a moose in the wild.”

We all chuckle, but I put it on my mental checklist, determined to make that happen.

Finn reached for her, pulled her into a hug which turned into a PG-13 kiss, and my entire family cheered and clapped.

I know Finn didn’t intend to, but I had to wonder if he’d just sealed the deal where the lodge plan was concerned. Dad would be pretty heartless to say no now.

Right?

“Sorry, Hats,” Finn said when the commotion died down. “Didn’t mean to steal your lightning there.”

“Are you kidding?” I said. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

And I was, even if it did sting a tiny bit that my youngest brother was engaged and I hadn’t dated anyone seriously since college.

Finn held onto Raya’s hand and slid back into his chair, effectively returning everyone’s attention back to our dad.

“So?” I said, tone cautious. “What do you all think? Can we do it?”