Kira zoomed in on a brightly colored Easter egg as Harper led a cluster of toddlers toward a hidden egg. Holding tight to one hand was Phillip, Maddie and Bear’s nephew. Dressed in a white shirt and bowtie, a chocolate smear over his lip, he was the perfect match for the toddler gripping on to Harper’s right hand: Benny & Darcie’s little girl. Sure, the dainty one had on a frilly dress with lace gloves and a matching hat to go with it, but that little lady wasn’t messing around. Her small face scrunched as they neared, her eyes fixed on whatever part of the egg she could see.

Kira twisted the lens, bringing the tiny blonde into focus, and snapped a few shots. She zoomed out enough to capture a colorful egg in soft focus at the forefront, the small treasure tucked into a gnarled bend of a bark-covered tree. She captured more shots as the child rested the egg in her grass-heaped basket, only to have it tumble right out and onto the ground. Little Phillip came to the rescue, though, swooping it up with messy fingers and pressing it back into her basket where it belonged.

Marissa, who’d attempted to watch from the sidelines, had been dragged into the action by a curly-haired Callie, a little gal related to a woman who helped run the B&B. Kira’s mom and dad had come into town with her sister this time, which made the holiday even more special. Her parents had surprised her by helping the bunch color eggs at Tony’s Diner the day before. They also agreed to meet with the volunteers early that morning to hide them all at Lakeview Park. Of course, not all of them were actual eggs. Many were plastic eggs stuffed with goodies and stickers, press-on tattoos of baby chicks and fluffy bunnies. That was part of the magic of Cobble Creek: empty nesters, single adults, newly marrieds, or someplace in between, there was a place for everyone.

It took Kira a moment, among the excitement, to locate Anthony, but at last she did. Perhaps it was due to the growing number of kids surrounding him. Or rather, the giant bunny Anthony was guiding through the park. Seth, bless him, had volunteered to be Cobble Creek’s Easter Bunny. Trouble was, the limited visibility caused him to stumble. A lot. Anthony caught her attention across the way and reached up to give her a wave. “Hello over there.”

“How’s it going?” she asked. He held her gaze, the heat it always brought zooming through her chest.

“Oh no!” one kid hollered.

“The Easter Bunny’s clumsy,” another called out.

Kira glanced down to see Seth stumbling over a diaper bag. She could hardly hold back a laugh.

Anthony shot into action. “The Easter Bunny isn’t seeing very well today. I think he forgot to eat his carrots.”

“The Easter Bunny’s a girl,” little Callie hollered.

Anthony shot Kira a questioning glance.

“Okay,” Kira said with a laugh. Good thing Seth was such a good sport. “Lead her to the pond, will you, Anthony? It’s time for pictures.”

Kira’s parents waited on a bench beside Maria, who busily tucked tulips into a watering can she’d found at Frank & Signs. The woman had an artistic eye, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. In the eight-plus months she’d been there, Anthony’s mom had become Kira’s assistant. She was talented, hardworking, and kind. And most of all, she seemed to savor each day like a precious gift. Kira was challenging herself to do the same.

“Hop, hop, hop,” Kira heard as she headed toward the water’s edge. She stopped, spun to see what the hollering was about, and grinned wide at the sight. What had once been clusters of kids making their way to the pond was now a line of bunny impersonators, happily hopping as they followed the leaders—Anthony and Seth, that is. Tiny giggles drifted from the trail. Several parents joined in on the action, and Kira paused to shoot a few pictures of the sight. Judy, the gal who ran the police station, would probably pin a few on the community board at the rec center.

Once they made their way to the prepared spot for the photo shoot, Kira guided Seth to the special Easter Bunny chair. The kids lined up, and Kira got straight to business. Seth was great with the kids. Anthony was, too, distracting the little ones who’d been scared to tears at the sight of the giant bunny. It was a side of him she hadn’t seen a whole lot. Harper helped out, too, pulling a special egg from the Easter Bunny’s basket and handing it to each child before they shuffled back to the crowd gathered by a nearby tree. Once they were through, Harper pulled a gold-colored egg from the basket. It was smaller than the others, and stood out next to the pastel ones she’d handed out.

“Mind if I shoot a few candid photos of the group, since we’re done with the posed ones?” Maria asked.

“Not at all.” Kira shrugged out of the camera strap and handed it over, glad Maria was interested in learning to shoot. It would help out a whole lot if Kira had an assistant who could take photos on her own if needed.

“Anthony,” Harper called out. “It looks like this egg is for you.”

“It does?” Anthony asked with a lifted brow. “Are you sure?”

Harper handed it over to Seth, who held it with white, furry paws. “Oh yeah, this one’s his, all right.”

Anthony laughed. “That doesn’t make any sense, but … okay.” He rolled his eyes and leaned into Kira. “Seth’s probably pulling some sort of prank. May as well play along.”

Kira watched as he headed over.

“What’s going on?” Maria asked.

“He said something about the egg being for him,” Kira’s dad mumbled in reply. Kira hadn’t even realized her parents had broken away from the shaded area to join her.

“The Easter Bunny has a special egg for Anthony,” Phillip hollered.

By the time Anthony had the small egg in his hands, the crowd had gathered in. A hush fell over the group as he held it up, inspecting it with tight lips and narrowed eyes.

“What is it?” Callie asked.

“I’m not sure,” he mumbled. “But I think Kira might.”

Kira tilted her head. “Huh?”

“Come here,” he said, motioning her to join him at the center of the group.

“Go on,” Marissa urged with a nudge.

Kira broke away from the spectators and walked along the small, pebbled trail leading to Anthony. Green grass swayed at either side as a breeze blew in. A breeze that lent her a dose of anticipation. She tried to dissect the odd situation, feeling as if she were missing something. But it wasn’t until Anthony lowered himself onto one knee that she realized what that something might be.

He palmed the small egg before prying it back, the open face in her direction.

Kira’s heartbeat kicked up, thumping like a rabbit’s as she peeked inside. There, tucked in a black velvet fold, shone a gorgeous diamond ring. Several audible gasps broke out over the crowd, but none were as loud as Kira’s. “Anthony?” His name practically fell off her lips.

His brown eyes were set on her, that warm smile of his causing the bunny thumps to drop to her tummy. He glanced toward the pond, where the cattails bounced and swayed beside the glistening water.

“When I was a little boy, a girl from out of town came and dragged me to this very pond. She was a lot of fun, a little mischievous, and one of the cutest girls I’d ever seen. And now that she’s grown …” He cleared his throat as moisture welled up in his eyes. “I can say that she’s brilliant and fascinating, and of course, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And if she’ll let me, I’d love to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Kira’s chest swelled, her body barely able to contain the bliss that pulsed through her.

“My Kira Kira, will you marry me?”

It was in that moment that Kira realized everyone had stepped in closer. A few whispers sounded among the kids.

“What’s she gonna say?”

“I hope she says yes.”

Kira grinned. “Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!” She barely gave Anthony a chance to stand before she pulled him in for a kiss.

Whistles, claps, and cheers rose in celebration as they spun in place.

“Put the ring on her,” Seth hollered.

Anthony nodded. “Oh, yeah.” All eyes moved back to the egg-shaped case as Anthony pinned the shimmering ring between his finger and thumb. He closed the case before sliding the ring onto her finger with a jittery hand. Turned out she wasn’t the only one shaking. More cheers sounded as Kira held up her hand.

“Right here,” Maria hollered, camera aimed and ready. Which explained why she’d asked for the camera when she had. Kira was grateful Anthony’s sweet mom was there to not only witness the special moment, but to capture it, too.

Anthony nuzzled into her, running the tip of his nose along her cheek. “I can’t wait for you to be my wife,” he crooned.

“I mean, I can’t wait either!” And as she caught sight of the cattails swaying in the distance, Kira had the distinct impression that—though Gramps couldn’t be there to celebrate with them—he’d helped send Maria to take his place. What an unexpected gift it was. Mysterious ways indeed, but Kira wouldn’t change it for the world.