Bernard put the chocolate croissants in the backpack and screwed the lid on the thermos. He smiled, excited to take Opal back up to the knoll for the first time in weeks.

He picked up the black velvet box with the ring that had come in the mail from his mother—the engagement ring that her father had given her mother—and he opened it up, the diamond sparkling in the early morning light. He’d talked to his mother almost every day since the first night he’d answered, and while it had taken a lot of time for them to find their footing, they had. Things were easier now, and she even said she’d like to visit in the summer.

That had made him a little nervous, but Opal had promised she’d be by his side. He really didn’t know what he’d done before he’d met her. She encouraged him, talked to him, listened to him even when he didn’t make sense as he sorted through all of his childhood pain and confusion. And she never judged him. Not once.

He flipped the box closed and set it in the backpack, eager to get up to the knoll and get this part over with. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about what would happen if she said no. He took courage in what Allen had said when he’d gone to see him to ask for Opal’s hand in marriage. He’d thought it was the right thing to do if they were all going to be a family, and he was glad he had.

“You’re not serious, are you, son? As far as Opal is concerned, the sun rises and sets on your head. I’ve never seen her this happy, and you have my blessing. Can’t wait until you’re an official member of the family and I can torture you with more obscure sports on TV.”

They’d both laughed, but in the past couple of days before he could get Opal up to the knoll to propose, he’d hung onto those words of encouragement from his future father-in-law.

When he’d suggested they take breakfast up to the knoll on the next Sunday morning, Opal had been thrilled. They hadn’t been since they’d gotten the all clear from Belinda that the bears had traveled on and were no longer in danger. It had been a grand night, and they’d actually had a champagne toast, all while watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. The Olympics and bears—Bernard could never have imagined that that combination would have made him the happiest man alive.

He zipped up the backpack and grabbed his coat and gloves. He was almost out the door when he turned back and looked at his camera, wondering if he’d need it. For some reason, since he’d fallen in love with Opal he hadn’t had it slung around his shoulder all the time. He was much more interested in seeing the world through his own eyes, the way it really was.

Opal opened the door on his first knock, and smiled up at him, reaching on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. His heart soared and he gripped the backpack more tightly in his hand.

He looked past her, and Allen winked at him and nodded.

“Have fun, you two,” he said with a wave as he and Opal headed toward the trail.

“What a beautiful day,” Opal said as she looped her arm through Bernard’s. “I think spring finally has sprung.”

Bernard looked around at the wildflowers that had poked through the hard ground, and he bent over and picked one for her.

She laughed and put it behind her ear, the deep purple standing out against her shiny, black hair.

As they reached the knoll, he ran ahead, pulling her toward the flat boulder they’d spent so many hours sitting on.

“What’s gotten into you, Bernard? I’ve never seen you this full of energy,” Opal said with a laugh.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m just happy,” he said as he sat on the boulder and motioned for her to join him.

“So am I,” she said quietly as she kissed his cheek. “In fact, I never thought I’d be this happy.”

Bernard’s stomach flipped, hoping that in a few minutes she’d be even happier.

He set his backpack down and reached for her hand. She squeezed it and turned to look up at him.

He’d practiced several ways to do this, and frowned when none of the words came out.

“Opal, I...I...”

Opal laughed, her green eyes gleaming as she looked up at him.

“Oh, no, Bernard, not this again. Spit it out.”

He laughed and hugged her tightly. He pulled away and took a deep breath. He reached into the backpack and pulled out the black velvet box, and he quickly fell to one knee as he reached of her hand.

He looked down at the ground, and again the words wouldn’t come. He cleared his throat and looked up into her eyes and held them.

Her eyes searched his, and in them he found the courage he needed, the comfort they always gave him, and his hopes for the future.

Finally, he could say it.

“Opal, will you marry me?” He leaned forward, and her sweet, warm lips melted into his own.

Her eyes fluttered open as he pulled away, anxiously waiting for an answer so he could breathe again.