Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
The wind moves through the valley, rustling the golden grass in slow, sweeping waves, carrying the scent of earth, of fall, of home. The sky is that deep, endless blue that only comes in the last stretch of the season before winter settles in, and the light is softer now, draping everything in gold.
It reminds me of the first time I saw her here.
Kat stands beneath the tree, one hand resting on the rough bark, the other absentmindedly tracing the K her fingers tremble against her lips.
I swallow, my heart hammering harder than it ever has in my life.
“I love you, Kat. I love our family, and I love the life we’re building. I’ll give you everything you were ever told you couldn’t have.”
I flip the box open, and her breath hitches.
“Say yes,” I murmur, my throat tight. “Say yes, and let’s finish what we started.”
Tears slip down her cheeks, and then she’s nodding, throwing her arms around me.
“Yes,” she laughs through her tears. “Of course, yes.”
Relief, joy, love—everything crashes into me at once, and I catch her, pulling her close, sealing my mouth over hers, pouring every ounce of devotion into the kiss.
My girl. My family. My forever.
And this time, when we walk away from this tree, we leave with something we didn’t have before.
A future that belongs to us.
Thank you for reading this story!