The clerk did it without so much as a blink because everyone at the resort had gossiped about how the boy was courting the American woman as much as his father. She was about to bag them up when Harry stopped her he took the pareau folded it into a large square he place the box with the orchid lei in the center and pulled the corners up and tied them loosely. Then he asked, "Have you got any tissue paper?"
"We have white or purple."
"Purple. White ribbon?" The clerk handed it to him Harry set it in the pareau and it's contents in the center of the paper and pulled the edges up around the bundle.
He tied the ribbon around the collected paper then clipped the hibiscus flower to the ribbon. His engagement present to Beth was complete. Now he merely had to hide it until she said yes. He let the clerk bag it now and after thanking her he started back towards the beach.
When it was possible he ran. He got to the catamaran and just had time to stow his gift and his cases when the person form the hotel's catering department showed up with the cooler of food for the day.
Harry helped stow it in it's spot then he spotted Beth and Sirius. Racing over he took his guitar case from her and the beach bags from both her and Sirius which he quickly stowed. Beth just giggled at his helpfulness.
Two hours later they sailed into the lagoon where they expected to spend the day. Harry helped them set up a blanket and umbrella on the beach then wandered away to give Sirius the opportunity to speak.
Sirius looked at Beth. He wasn't sure of what words would sway her. He knew he couldn't offer her everything she deserved but she meant everything to him. Taking the plunge he started speaking.
"Beth have you enjoyed your vacation?"
"More than I ever what have dreamed I would."
"What did you enjoy most?"
"Getting to know you and Harry."
"Would you like for this vacation to last for the rest of your life?"
"What? Are you serious? What are you asking me?"
"I'm always Sirius." he grinned when she groaned. "But joking and bad puns aside, I was hoping you would do me the honor and privilege of marrying me. I can't offer you everything you deserve but you mean everything to me and I promise I will always do my best to see that you have everything you need. I know that we don't know each other's past, and there are definitely things that we need to tell each other. That said I feel, Harry and I feel, that you are the person who fits. I don't know much about your past but I know the person you are, and you're the only person I've ever met that I felt this way about and I don't want to give that up."
Beth was surprised. She felt as if God had taken her hopes and dreams and handed them to her on a platter. The part of her that was the controlled and slightly repressed person she had been before this vacation was afraid. For so long she had been what her family had told her she should be, this vacation had been liberating in so many ways because for the first time in her life it was about what made her happy what she wanted. The last week had been more than she had believed would ever happen to her and now Sirius was asking did she want it to continue. "Yes, yes I'll marry you, Yes!"
Harry's triumphant "Yes!" was heard in the background.
Sirius and Beth smiled then leaned forward to kiss.
The rest of the day was as happy as that moment. Harry left the lovebirds as he called them alone and went looking for the perfect place to take formal engagement shots. An hour later he was back, after the three of them had lunch he pulled out his present to Beth and presented his idea. Touched by his forethought Beth delightedly put her flowers on and her new pareau.
Sirius pulled out his wand. He transfigured his clothing to something more appropriate for the pictures Harry had in mind. Then as they got to the spot Harry had picked for photos. Sirius pulled the ring out. Winking at Harry so he'd have his camera ready Sirius said, "Here's one more thing for you to put on." Beth's reaction to the ring Sirius picked, was everything he had wanted.
She found herself feeling overwhelmed. The ring was tangible proof that this was not a dream. The center stone was a two carat round cut dark blue aquamarine, that matched her eyes, set in a platinum bezel setting. There was a narrow row of diamonds on one side of the center stone. On the other side there were two rows of diamonds that seemed almost like a wave and where the wave crested over the center stone it became a spill of diamonds rather than rows, all the diamonds were also bezel set. It was an exquisite ring.
Harry thought he got the pictures he wanted. He tried to stay in the background and even used his guitar to entertain them he served the meals from the cooler and allowed the two of them to talk. Beth talked about her past what she had discovered about herself while on this trip and what she hoped for in the future. That evening after they tucked Harry in. She hesitantly mentioned children. "How do you feel about children?"
"I want some. Raising Harry has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I will be delighted to welcome and care for any children that you and I produce. You may give me as many or as few as you and God see fit to grace me with." Sirius felt rewarded when Beth smiled.
"I'm already thirty two. I don't want a long engagement and I don't want to put off kids long. My next question is when will you and Harry come to the States to meet my family?"
"I can't go to the States Beth."
"What do you mean?"
"I can not go to the United States without risking my life and Harry's well being, because of extradition treaties between the U.S. and the U.K. In both the magical and muggle worlds. I am wanted in those and many other countries as well. Palau is pushing it as a U.N. Trust. But it doesn't have a magical population per se and I'm less well know in the muggle world."
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. Except be born into the most famous "dark" family in England. Have my best friend, cousin, brother of my heart killed while hiding under the Fidelius charm, while everyone assumed I was the secret keeper. Have the most famous powerful and influential "Light" wizard want to have control over my godson, never mind his plans contradict James and Lily's wills. Harry is the only person to ever survive the Killing curse."
"The night James and Lily died, was also the night the last civil war in England ended. Harry is famous in England for something he doesn't even remember. He's famous for having "killed" Voldemort. Even without his family's high social position, he's a powerful piece on the chess board of British Magical Politics. Dumbledore wants to control him."
.....
Want to read ahead. Then You can dive right in!
Head over to my P*atreon right now and enjoy a combo of more than 60 advanced chapters from my two novels.
FREE members can access up to 2 chapters for FREE.
Join now!
Link:
p*atreon.com/Divine_Quill (Remove the *)