Chapter 12: Seeing is Believing

Sam calls me early on the morning of New Year's Eve. He asks me to do one final shift on the trolley so that he can give me a proper send-off, whatever that means. I guess I have been his right-hand man – or woman – for the past four years. It only seems right that I give him this one last shift.

Besides, my New Year's Eve will stink without Harry. Fiona and I are planning to meet some friends after we're both done on the trolley. It will keep me distracted, hopefully.

Fiona and I agree to ride the trolley together. I will do the first two tours and she will do the last two. It will be the official "passing of the baton." Sam agrees that it's a great idea. In the back of my mind, I kind of think whatever, but since they seem excited about it, I decide to put my whole heart into it as well.

I bundle up in my wool socks and warmest gloves. I smile when I think about the night I first met Harry and how he teased me about my freezing hands. And how he warmed them for me.

I decide to dress up, fix my hair, and put on makeup for the evening, even though I'd rather just go in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. After all, I am going out after work, and I don't have to look like I feel, which is miserable.

My last two shifts on the trolley are flawless. I get a little choked up near the end, but I distract myself to think of how much fun it will be to watch Fiona take over. I'm certain she will be fabulous, and I'm right. Fiona has a knack for this tour guide thing. She has a wonderful way of connecting with the passengers. I feel confident that this is the right timing for her, for me. I wonder what my life will look like at this time next year. Hopefully Harry and I will be together, wherever we are.

After the last tour ends and all the passengers have gotten off, Fiona sits down in one of the front seats and waves me over. "Come here, sis. Sit down with me."

Sam has gotten off as well, but he is puttering around just outside, probably making preparations to put the trolley in storage now that the season is over.

She must be getting nostalgic about me leaving after this school year. I oblige her by sitting down and putting my arm around her. "There's a song I want to play for you," she says. She pushes play on the tiny CD player that I hadn't even noticed on the seat next to her.

I close my eyes. I can't believe she chose this song to create a special "sisters" moment. Any other song would have been fine, but in my heart, this song is for Harry and me.

Fighting tears, I absorb the lyrics of "Strong" by One Direction.

However, when I hear the middle doors opening and the wheelchair ramp lowering to the ground I open my eyes and look behind me to see what's happening.

I see Harry.

Harry.

How can he be here? He's in Madison, in the hospital.

But he's right here.

When he steps onto the main deck of the trolley, I notice that he is wearing a crisp white dress shirt under a black suit jacket. His hair is perfect and his smile is spread wider than I've ever seen it. He stops to pick up a single rose from the seat nearest the back door before he heads to me, again, something I hadn't noticed was there.

 All of a sudden, I know what's happening. My chest begins to heave with a mixture of laughter and tears. I stand and turn to face him. The love of my life is standing right there, in front of me.

He leans in and kisses me ever so gently. "Hi Katie," he whispers. He places the rose in my hands and I catch sight of Gemma and Mike quietly climbing on board behind him and take a seat near the back.

"Katie," he begins. "Ever since I met you, right in this very place, you have changed my life. You have accepted me, encouraged me, and loved me more than I ever thought possible. I fell in love with you so fast, but what I truly can't believe is that you fell in love with me." He reaches into the pocket of his jacket while I desperately try to control my happy sobs.

"The truth is, you are the one who makes me strong. I have no doubt that God gave you to me. I can't imagine my life without you. Forgive me that I can't get down on one knee, Katie." He opens the box that he has pulled from his pocket. "Will you marry me?" He takes the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen and places it on my finger as I'm nodding wildly. Somehow I also manage a sobbing, "Yes!"

I throw my arms around Harry's neck and kiss every inch of his face as our siblings clap and cheer wildly. "You're here, I can't believe you're here!" I whisper into his ear. "I love you so much! I can't believe you're here!"

I don't want to let him go, but I sense the others waiting to congratulate us. Fiona squeezes next to me, grabs my finger and starts squealing with delight at my perfect engagement ring.

"You were in on this?" I laugh.

"Well, yes, we all were." She gestures to Gemma and Mike. They move in as well to shower us with hugs and kisses.

"Sam was in on it, too," Fiona informs me.

Sam squeezes in to hug me and says, "Congratulations, honey!"

Once the craziness dies down, I get a moment to interrogate Harry: "How did you get here? Why aren't you at the hospital?"

"Mike and Gemma's taxi service," he laughs. "I begged and pleaded with Dr. Carbondale. I told him that I had to do this tonight." He sneaks a quick peck on my lips. "He finally agreed, but on the condition that I head straight back in the morning. Well, that, and we have to invite him to our wedding," he laughs.

It turns out that Fiona has indeed arranged an outing with friends, but it turns out to be a small engagement party at the Westchester. There are a few friends of mine from high school along with a few of Fiona's long-time pals.

"Dani's sorry that she couldn't make it," Fiona tells me. There wasn't enough notice for her to take off of work. Harry only called me to work this out yesterday!" Still, I'm happy that Dani knows. I will be sure to fill her in on the details as soon as I can.

Harry informs me that our parents don't know about his proposal, and that he asked Fiona not to say anything. "I hope you're not mad, Katie, but I only had one chance to do this the way I wanted to. I didn't want anyone to try to talk me out of it. I wanted this to be our night."

I agree with him wholeheartedly, and I don't think that anything can dampen my mood until I have to say good-bye to Harry again in the wee hours of the morning, for the second time in a week.

But this time, I have a ring.

And I will see him in a few days.

And I'm going to be Mrs. Harry Styles.

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Short but sweet! What do you think? <3

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