Lila
Epilogue—Three Months Later
Hampton, Virginia
March mornings in Virginia are crisp, the kind that remind you winter isn’t quite ready to let go but hints at the promise of spring. Logan insisted we go for a morning walk today, something we’ve been doing often since moving into his house. Our house.
It still feels new, sharing this space with him—waking up to his sleepy smile, cooking breakfast in his kitchen, and slowly making it ours.
I kept my little house, though, just a few miles away.
I couldn’t let it go, and Logan didn’t want me to.
He said we should keep it as long as I want and maybe rent it out or something down the road if I choose.
I don’t think I could love him more for understanding how much it means to me.
The trail we’re on is one of my favorite places. It winds through a wooded park just outside the city, dotted with budding wildflowers and benches tucked into quiet spots. I love it here, the stillness and beauty of it all. Logan’s gloved hand brushes mine as we walk, his fingers lacing with mine.
He’s quiet, more than usual, and it tugs at my curiosity. Logan isn’t a nervous man. He’s always so solid, so sure of himself. But today, there’s a little tension in the air, something he’s holding back.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, bumping his shoulder with mine.
His lips curl into that familiar smile, the one that makes my chest feel full. “You’ll see,” he says, his voice soft, almost teasing.
He’s wearing a navy-blue sweater and jeans under his flight jacket, his hands tucked into black gloves.
I’m bundled in a cream coat and scarf, my boots crunching softly against the gravel path.
The sunlight filters through the bare branches, warming our faces as we walk.
I planned on wearing leggings, but when I saw Logan dressed nicely, I figured I should do the same in case we ended up going to lunch or something.
We stop at a small clearing overlooking the lake. The water is glassy, reflecting the pale blue of the sky. Logan’s hand tightens around mine as he turns to face me. He slides his hands out of his gloves, tucking them into his back pocket.
“Lila,” he begins. “I’ve been thinking a lot about home lately.”
I tilt my head, watching him carefully. His gray-blue eyes, so full of thoughtfulness, hold mine as if he’s searching for something.
“Home used to be just a place,” he continues. “But then I met you, and I realized it’s not a place at all. It’s a feeling. It’s what I want to come back to. It’s you.”
My breath catches, the words sinking into my heart.
“Logan—”
For the second time in my life, this handsome man is dropping to one knee in front of me.
The world tilts for a moment, and all I can do is stare as he pulls a small, velvet box from his jacket pocket.
He opens it, revealing the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen—a delicate gold band with a large oval diamond sparkling in the natural light.
It’s timeless and elegant and exactly what I would have chosen.
“Lila,” he says, his voice laced with compassion. “Our lives have been twisted together for nearly a decade. But I didn’t fully realize the reason until recently. Now that I understand, I don’t want a single day to go by without you knowing how much you mean to me. Will you marry me?”
Tears blur my vision as I nod, my voice a shaky whisper. “Yes, Logan. Of course!” I drop to my knees in front of him, throwing my arms around his neck.
Logan slips the ring onto my finger, and it fits like it was made for me. He stands, pulling me to my feet and into his arms.
I pull back slightly, my hands on his face. “I can’t believe you did this,” I whisper.
His grin is wide, boyish, and proud. “There’s one more thing…” He gestures toward the trees.
A woman steps out, a camera in hand, smiling warmly. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought you’d want to remember this,” Logan says, his thumb brushing my cheek.
I laugh through my tears, shaking my head. “You thought of everything.”
“Always,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I wish more than anything that Lincoln were here to see that I turned out okay.
I miss him with every beat of my heart, but some part of me believes he knew.
He knew I’d need someone who could weather the storms with me, someone who could carry both my laughter and my grief. And somehow he knew that man was Logan.
The camera clicks. Sunlight spills over the ring, but it’s the man holding my hand who takes my breath away.