Bonus Epilogue
MACKENZIE
Nate takes the boys’ hands, gently pulling them away from Ethan’s grave. “Let’s give your mom some space.”
This visit was long overdue. We’ll come every year now, as long as we can.
I unfold Ethan’s letter with trembling fingers, my heart bracing for the words that once shattered me but somehow healed me, too.
And lastly, about Nate…
I know you’ll be shocked, but I asked him to look out for you and the boys. Nate’s a good man, Mackenzie. Better than me in a lot of ways. He was always the one who could cut through my bullshit, who called me out when I needed it. If anyone can be there for you, really be there, it’s him.
It’s strange writing this. I don’t want you to think I’m arranging your life from the grave. But I trust him. I hope you will too in time.
And Mackenzie, don’t stop living just because I stopped breathing. You have too much life left in you. Don’t let my absence cast a shadow over it.
All my love,
Ethan.
A sharp inhale stings my lungs. My hands tremble around the letter. Tears press against my throat, but I grit my teeth.
“Damn it, Ethan,” I whisper. “You weren’t supposed to leave us.” My voice cracks. “You promised.”
The only answer is the rustling of leaves at my feet. The silence is unbearable.
I kneel, running my fingers over the engraved letters of his name. “I hope you’re happy with how things turned out.” My breath shudders. “We’re doing our best.”
I feel Nate’s gaze on me, the boys standing just far enough away to give me this moment.
“And Nate…” My voice wavers, heart tightening. “He’s been … incredible.”
A gust of wind sweeps through the cemetery, stirring my hair. It feels like an answer.
I let out a shaky breath. “He’s been there for us, Ethan. In ways I never expected. He loves us. And he keeps your memory alive. The stories he tells the boys, the way he still calls you a hero.” A small, wry smile tugs at my lips. “Even when you were a pain in the ass.”
The wind shifts again, softer this time. A whisper of reassurance.
I glance at the engagement ring on my finger. “He asked me to marry him.” The words barely escape my lips. “And I said yes.”
Saying it out loud makes it feel more real—final, in a way Ethan would understand.
I press the letter against my lips one last time, then place it gently beside the cross.
The wind lifts, rustling through the trees, sweeping around me like a phantom embrace .
I turn, and Nate is waiting. Watching with quiet understanding.
I walk toward them, toward my family. Unconventional, shaped by loss, but stronger because of it.
Nate’s arms open, and I step into them. His warmth is steady and solid.
“You okay?” he murmurs.
I nod against his chest. “Yeah. I am.”
His lips press against my forehead. It’s a silent vow, a shared grief, and a promise.
We stand there, wrapped in something both fragile and unbreakable.
After a moment, Nate exhales. “Come on,” he says, threading his fingers through mine. “Let’s go home.”
This time, when I walk away, I don’t look back.