Nora stood at the entrance.
For a moment, she could barely move.
Daniel approached.
"Ready?"
She looked toward him.
Then smiled.
"Yes."
They crossed slowly.
Halfway across, Daniel stopped.
He looked toward the water.
Then toward Nora.
"Remember the raft?"
She laughed.
"The one that sank?"
He nodded.
"Finest boat ever built."
"It survived approximately eleven seconds."
Daniel grinned.
"An excellent eleven seconds."
She laughed harder.
They stood together at the railing.
Then Daniel reached into his coat.
Nora noticed.
"What are you doing?"
He looked nervous.
Very nervous.
She felt her heart begin beating faster.
He removed a small wooden box.
Then turned toward her.
"Nora."
Her breath caught.
He opened it.
Inside was a simple gold ring.
Beautifully made.
Not extravagant.
A narrow band with a tiny engraved star on the inside.
Nora pressed one hand against her mouth.
Daniel looked into her eyes.
"When we were fourteen, I promised I'd buy you a real ring someday."
Tears filled her eyes.
He smiled softly.
"Took me a little longer than expected."
She laughed through tears.
Then he continued.
"But I don't want to ask you to marry the boy who made that promise."
Her smile softened.
He took a breath.
"I'm asking you to marry the man I've become."
Nora's tears spilled.
Daniel lowered himself carefully onto one knee.
He looked up at her.
"I love the woman you are now. I love your stubbornness, your intelligence, your terrible cookies, and the way you laugh when Lucy tells a joke."
Nora covered her mouth.
He continued.
"I love that you built something important and still found the courage to admit when you were wrong."
His voice shook.
"I love coming home to you."
Nora began sobbing.
Daniel smiled through his own tears.
"And I'd like to keep doing that for as long as we're given."
He held out the ring.
"Nora Whitfield, will you marry me?"
For several seconds, she could not speak.
Then she nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel smiled.
She laughed through tears.
"Yes, Daniel Mercer."
He rose carefully.
Nora wrapped her arms around him.
They kissed on the bridge.
The same place where a fourteen-year-old boy had once offered her a four-dollar promise.
When they separated, Daniel slipped the new ring onto her finger.
Nora looked down.
Then reached beneath her blouse.
She wore the old brass ring on a thin chain around her neck.
She lifted it.
Daniel smiled.