Page 48 of The Heart Remembers

“And tons of pictures in the hallway with unbreakable glass.”

“Oh boy,” Emily hisses.

“Light blond wood floors?” Katie adds, reaching me with the largest smile I’ve ever seen despite tears on her cheeks. “But a rug would be nice.”

“Anything. Anything you want, sweet girl.”

“I want you most of all,” she states, confident despite the quietening of her voice.

“I’m right here. I’m all here for you.” Reaching for her hand, I use the table for support and lower to one knee.

“Is this really happening?” Jess Carter asks, his voice loud.

“Why is he getting down on one knee?” a soft female voice questions from somewhere to my side.

“Katie, I may not be a hero or a prince in a storybook. I can only be what I am, a man who has loved you from afar in the past. A man who wants a chance to love you up close in the future.”

“That’s good,” Leon whispers.

“Quiet, Shakespeare,” Tricia admonishes.

“I just want to love you, Katie. Will you be my wife?”

Her answer is quiet, lost in the tears flowing down her face, but I heard it. Simple and singular, and in the affirmative. “Yes.”

She tips forward, leaning her face over mine, and our mouths meet, kissing as we did in the past, kissing as we plan to do in the future.

“Uhm, why is Levi kissing Katie?” another female voice questions.

“Shh,” several people shush at once, but I don’t break the kiss. As I slowly stand, I slip hands into Katie’s hair, holding her to me as her hands slide up my back. We shift and I feel her body collide with the kitchen table.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Jess Carter mutters.

“No table gymnastics here,” Tricia adds.

“What’s table gymnastics?” a male voice asks.

“I’ll explain when you’re older,” Leon tells his too young son, and Tricia laughs. Katie and I slowly break apart, but my arms slip over her shoulders and hers wrap around her waist. We come together, holding onto each other like we’ll never let go again.

“With your permission, sir, I’d like to join the family.” My eyes focus on Jess Carter. Emily stands next to him, hands wrapped around his bicep as if she’s holding him back or maybe just holding onto him. His jaw clenches as his denim eyes that match his daughter’s narrow on me a second.

Glancing at his daughter, he gives her a slight nod before looking back at me. “You’re already part of this family, Levi, but I’m happy to add you as my son.”

Tricia sobs. Tears fill Emily’s eyes, and Katie squeezes me.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“Anything for you, baby, as long as he loves you completely.” His eyes remain on me.

“I love her with everything and more,” I promise him, pressing my lips to Katie’s temple and vowing to do everything necessary to become even more permanently attached to this family.

Epilogue

Two months later.

“I think we need to reconsider the hardwood floors,” I say to my beautiful girl. She’s straddling my hips while her chest rests against mine.

She slowly sits up, and I slip from inside her. We finished moments ago, but I held onto her, loving how she blankets me, and we take an extra minute to just soak each other in after sex, after making love.