It’s magic.

That’s my first thought when Charlie opens the door.

It’s sheer magic.

What was probably a meeting room has been utterly transformed into a ballroom to rival the decorations from the countless weddings I’ve sat through, nursing cocktails and waiting until the pleasant buzz turned into a swooning haze that would erase the evening.

It’s a riot of lights, a golden glow everywhere I look. At the edges of the room are tables gleaming with glasses and silverware, and at the center of each table is an oversized glass vase that seems to be filled with sections of the beach from Emerald Shores, honest to god. The man standing behind the DJ station at the far end of the room looks familiar. Really familiar. So familiar that I might have seen him at Emerald Shores, playing at one of the bars, a little over a month ago.

And that’s not all.

The room is filled with people. Did Charlie hire actors to pretend to be people at the resort? I didn’t think anything of the other resort guests, but maybe that’s the vibe he’s going for.

Then, with a shock, I recognize my parents.

They’re dancing in the center of the crowd, dressed to the nines. My mom tries to keep up with the beat of the song and gives up, resorting to her classic moves, and my dad throws his head back and laughs.

I stand there and stare until I feel Charlie’s eyes on me. He hasn’t been looking at the party. He’s been waiting for me to say something, and his expression is all hope.

“Charlie.” The word comes out as a whisper.

He slips his hand around my waist and pulls me close, bending down to speak into my ear. “Josie, this is a party.” He takes a slow look with me around the room. Now that my eyes have adjusted to the glow of the lights, it’s easier to see what’s happening. Mostly, there is dancing. Lots of dancing. But there are uniformed waiters with trays circulating everywhere, offering desserts and other foods. On one wall is a buffet, all the foods underneath gleaming silver covers.

The more I look, the more people I recognize.

Hailey DuPont, from my class at school, is the first to see me, and she rushes over with a screech. “Josie!” she cries. “This is better than a reunion!” She throws her arms around my neck while I stand there with my mouth hanging open. “Wait,” she says, stepping back to see my face. “Is this a surprise?” She puts a hand on a hip and tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Charlie, you should have warned us. We would have shouted surprise.” Then her face breaks into her classic huge smile. “But it’s a great party. How’d you get everyone here? Never mind. I’ll ask you about it later. It’s great to see you, Josie!” Then she darts back to her friends, who were my friends back in high school.

They aren’t the only ones. There’s a good sampling of my college friends here, too.

“How did you do this?” I gape at Charlie. “This is impossible. I only saw you two days ago. Half these people don’t even live in the city.”

“You know,” he says, “if you offer to charter a plane, lots of people will manage to be somewhere on a Friday night.”

“You chartered a plane to get my friends here?”

“Well,” he shrugs one shoulder. “More than one. But that’s not the point.” He turns to face me and my entire body swoons at his touch. It’s a miracle I’m still standing. Then he bends to kiss me. It’s gentle and tender and absolutely singing with love. “The point is this.” He clears his throat, and for a split second there’s a flash of nervousness in his eyes. “And you can tell me if I’m wrong. But I think that you were always chasing the good times so that you could escape from your life.” He shakes his head a little. “The point of all of this—all the drinking and dancing and merriment—is to be together. This is what parties are about. Or at least this is what they should be about.”

I’m speechless.

“Oh, and your mother is beside herself with pride,” he says, glancing out over the dance floor. “She couldn’t shut up about what an amazing daughter you’ve been.”

My heart aches with joy, so powerful and bright that it squeezes out all the hurt that I’ve been carrying with me since Beatrice died. I miss her, powerfully, right now. I wish she could be here. But seeing all these people enjoying each other is a balm.

It’s all we have, really.

I twine my fingers through Charlie’s and squeeze his hand, swallowing back happy tears. “I guess I should go talk to everybody.” The thought is exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. By the looks of it, Charlie has managed to hunt down most of the important people in my life. I’m dying to know how he did it, but it’s a story for another time.

“There’s one more thing.”

My heart flutters. “What more could there possibly be?”

He takes a deep breath. Oh, my god, he’s going to propose. How can he propose? We got back together all of five minutes ago. That would be insane. That would be— “I want this to be every weekend with you. Well—” He laughs. “Not exactly this. I think that would be a little much for people. But I want to spend my weekends with you, being out in the world. Dancing. Dining. Going wherever you want to go in the world. I want that for you. For us.”

There are no words to do this feeling justice, so I don’t say anything. I rise up on my tiptoes, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him like nobody else is watching.

They’re watching, of course, and as the kiss deepens a cheer goes up from the people around us.

We have one more moment before they descend. One more moment before this happiness expands and covers all of us. What do I say, when I only have this tiny fraction of time?

“I love you,” I breathe into his ear.

“I thought you’d never—” Charlie leans down and kisses me again, one more time. “I’m only kidding. I love you, too.”

Then, like a wave, all the guests that he summoned as if by magic crash over us in a brilliant swell of pure joy.