The First Time I Married

# Chapter 1: The Proposal

The ring caught the candlelight, sending prisms dancing across the white tablecloth. It was beautiful—a vintage oval diamond set in platinum with tiny sapphires flanking it. Exactly what I would have chosen for myself, which shouldn't have surprised me. Cameron had always been attentive to details, especially when it came to what I liked.

"Eliza Morgan," he said, his voice steady despite the slight tremor I could see in his hands, "will you marry me?"

Around us, the restaurant had gone quiet. I was vaguely aware of other diners watching, of a server paused mid-stride with a bottle of wine, of the soft music playing in the background. But mostly I was aware of Cameron—his hopeful blue eyes, the nervous smile playing at the corners of his mouth, the way he knelt beside our table with such earnest formality.

Cameron Reed. The man I'd been dating for nearly two years. The man who'd supported me through the tumultuous early days of my journalism career, who'd celebrated every small victory and comforted me through every setback. The man who knew exactly how I took my coffee and what songs would lift my mood on bad days. The man who was now offering me a future together, a promise of forever.

"Yes," I said, the word coming easily, naturally. "Yes, I'll marry you."