"Well it's a good thing you can afford to pay for help" she nodded
"I think I need to get you off this mountain.. the altitude is messing with your brain," he said and she slightly shoved him with a laugh
"Four?" She asked
"Four sounds better than seven" he nodded "but how about we just get through the first one.. then we'll talk about more"
"Sounds like a deal" she nodded
Colby watched her walk around the grass field for a few more minutes, he thought back on the conversation he'd had earlier in the morning over coffee with Annette...
7 AM
"Can I ask you a serious question?" Colby asked and Annette took a sip of her coffee and nodded, encouraging him to go on "I'm sure you knew when Rebecca said we were coming back here for a few weeks and she wanted to introduce you to her boyfriend, you knew we were serious"
"I know my daughter" Annette nodded "and I know she doesn't just bring anyone home to meet me.. so I knew you were special"
"What you didn't know was I was the one that orchestrated this whole trip, I was the one that brought up the idea, the one that convinced her to come because I guess I had an ulterior motive with this trip," he said
"Which is?" Annette questioned curiously
"I was raised in a somewhat untraditional family, but I am nothing if not a gentleman... at least I'd like to believe that" he nodded "so I decided that while she was here to reconnect with you and go to places she's missed. I was coming here to ask you as a gentleman and someone who loves your daughter very much, if I have your permission to marry your daughter"
"Well.. seeing you two together the last week and a half, and watching how you are with her, how much you love her has never been in question for me. I can see it as soon as she walks in the room.. you look at her like she's the only thing important to you" she nodded "I would be honored to have you as a part of my family, and I would be happy if my daughter married someone like you" she nodded once more "So yes, you have my permission" she stood from her chair in the same moment he did and embraced him tightly
"There's just one issue.." He said, "I've got to figure out where to do it.." He said and Annette smiled
Colby watched as Rebecca walked to the edge of the mountain and looked over, his heart jumping in his throat as soon as she got too close.
"Easy there.." He said and she looked back at him "You two better get back over here before you fall off the cliff" he said and Rebecca poked out her lip
"Daddy's ruining our adventure," she said as she ran her hand over the small bump that was starting to show more these days
"I'm trying to keep you safe and in one piece," he said reaching for her hand to pull her into him "What do you say we make one more good memory up here before we go back down?" He asked as he pulled his phone out of his pocket
"Pictures?" She asked with a smile as he set his phone upon the rock
"I'll set it to video so you can grab whatever screen captures you want from it.. whatever ones look the best," he said as he walked over to her
Wrapping his arms around her, he felt his heart begin to race with the anticipation of what was about to happen.
They smiled for the camera, embraced one another, kissed a few times before Rebecca went to get the phone.
"Wait.. one more" Colby said
"We have enough," she said with a laugh
"We need one with your ring," he said
"What ring?" She asked with a laugh as she turned around to face him only to find him on one knee with a small velvet box in his hand "Oh my god" her hands went over her mouth as her eyes filled with tears
"I love you," he said "I love you more than I ever expected to.. you have changed my entire life, you have become my entire world and I can't imagine ever letting you go" he shook his head "You are my heart and soul, my everything and I hope I can get lucky enough to not only call you the mother of my children but to be able to call you my wife," he said
"Colby.." She whispered as she wiped the tears from her eyes before looking back at him "Yes" she said
"Let me ask first" he laughed "Rebecca.." He said, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes" she whispered, it was as if her body had forgotten how to speak correctly "Yes I will marry you" she nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up and she felt herself being lifted off the ground as his lips met hers
"You said yes," he said placing her back on her feet
"I said yes" she nodded with tears falling from her eyes as she watched him place the ring on her finger and she looked up at him "You're crying too," she said with a laugh as she wiped the tears from his cheeks
"I'm not crying" he shook his head "I don't cry," he said with a smile "It was an instant reaction to seeing you cry.. my eyes started to water," he said
"You're crying," she said as he grabbed her face with his hands
"Don't tell anybody" he shook his head as he kissed her lips "You'll ruin my reputation" he said kissing her once more
"It will be our little secret," she said with a nod as her lips met his yet again
