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been?”
    “Actually working, unlike other people I know,” he said with a smirk that turned into a grimace when I punched him in the arm. “Ow! Damn. Gotta tell Nate to stop teaching you how to fight back,” he laughed, still rubbing his arm.
    “Yeah, well next time I’m gonna have him teach me how to take you all the way down.”
    My brother and I had always been close, but that didn’t stop us from loving every moment of banter. Liam wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed me on the head. “Nice work on the job. Oh, and now that the two of you are living less than ten minutes away, I better see much more of you after tonight.”
    “Don’t worry, you’ll see so much of my pretty face you’ll get tired of me.” I laughed.
    “I doubt that. Now go say ‘hi’ to everyone else. You can tell me all about your new job later.”
    “Thanks, Liam.”
    Finally, I made my way over to Nate’s parents where both of them wrapped me in a hug. “Congratulations, Danielle. We are so happy to be here to celebrate with you. Nate really wanted to be here,” his mom said.
    “Thank you for coming, Kathleen. And you, Paul.”
    “We wouldn’t miss it. How’s the apartment?” Paul asked.
    “It’s perfect. I actually finished unpacking this afternoon.”
    “Baby girl, you better tell me that boy of mine did a lot of the unpacking yesterday or he’s gonna hear from me for making you work so hard,” Paul said with a smile.
    I giggled. Nate’s dad was always so protective of me—about as much as my own father. “He actually did a lot of it himself. He has so much more energy than I do.”
    Kathleen put her arm around me. “That’s good to hear.”
    Someone cleared their throat behind me and I turned to see one of the waiters. “Excuse me, if you wouldn’t mind taking your seats we can start by getting everyone’s drink orders.”
    “That sounds perfect,” Marissa chimed in. Wow, she was very excited.
    The table was long and rectangular, and had two extra place settings. I could only assume that Nate had planned on Colin being there as well. It made me a little sad to think that Nate was going to miss dinner, but I couldn’t let it ruin my night.
    Liam stepped behind me to pull out the chair at the head of the table for me, and then took the seat on my right. Marissa took the seat on my left, and my parents chose the seats next to Liam. Finally Nate’s parents sat down next to Marissa, but this made the two seats at the end of the table stand out even more.
    Once everyone was seated and our drinks orders were placed, the waiter returned to the table, an envelope in his hand. “Miss Renton? Someone just dropped this off for you.”
    “Thank you,” I said, taking the envelope and instantly I recognized Nate’s handwriting on the outside.
    Danielle, my love.
    I looked around the table and answered their questioning looks. “Nate had someone drop this off,” I said, holding up the envelope.
    “Open it,” Marissa encouraged.
    Peeling back the flap, I found a handwritten letter inside. It was so like Nate to write a letter to me since he couldn’t be there. As tech-savvy as he had to be for his job, he never took the easy way with me.
    Read out loud was written on the front of the folded sheet of paper. I opened the letter and began to read.
    My dearest Danielle,
    From the first moment we met, I knew there was something special about you. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, or where it might lead us, but what I do know is that you hold a special place in my heart. I always hoped someday that connection would lead us down the path we are on today. A journey where anything is possible, as long as you’re willing to make the trip.
    Danielle, you will always be my one and only true love. I will love you with everything I am for the rest of my life.
    Nate
    P.S. Turn Around…
    My head snapped up to see everyone starring at something behind me. With shaking knees I stood up and slowly turned around and there