Page 166 of The Golden Hour

She tilts her head back to meet his eyes. “Promise?”

“Cross my heart,” he says, dragging a finger across his chest.

And they seal that promise with a kiss.

EPILOGUE

MASON

“Happy birthday, dear Daisy, happy birthday to you!”

Daisy stares hungrily—and more than a little impatiently—at the cake. Mason and Honey stand on opposite sides of her high chair, singing to their daughter and sharing smiles over her head.

Daisy, however, looks deeply offended that her parents placed this delicious pink-and-yellow cake in front of her—baked and decorated by her beloved mommy—and then told her she had to wait for them to finish singing.

When everyone cheers, Daisy takes that as permission to bury one fist in the cake, grab a handful of frosting, and shove it directly into her mouth.

Honey laughs brightly. “Baby girl, wait! I don’t have your bib on⁠⁠—”

“Honeybee, it’s okay,” Melissa laughs, clapping happily. “Let her at it.”

“That’s right, Daisy!” Phil cheers, his arms wrapped around Melissa from behind as she records Daisy enthusiastically demolishing her smash cake.

“Mommy, she’s eating all the cake,” Jamie complains, pouting up at Fia.

“Don’t worry, JJ,” Honey says. “We have another cake to share with everyone.”

His little blue eyes light up at the prospect of more cake.

“Thank you, Aunt Honey!”

“I’ll go grab it,” Marlene says, heading inside their house.

As Daisy continues demolishing her cake, Mason’s gaze travels around their backyard. It’s decorated with pink and yellow by Honey and their mothers.

Marlene even painted a giant banner hanging from their trellis.

Daisy’s First Trip Around the Sun

So many people came to celebrate Daisy.

Mac stands across the deck with several members of Mason’s therapy group, all of them laughing with his father. Across the yard, Adonis is talking to Ellen, though his attention keeps drifting toward Fia.

Mason catches Honey noticing it too. They share a brief look before Daisy squeals for more cake and pulls their attention back to her.

Mason’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much, his gaze moving between Honey and Daisy as their delicate little flower piles cake into her mouth as fast as her tiny fists can manage.

“Slow down, little flower,” Honey giggles. “I don’t want you to choke.”

Daisy smiles widely at her mother as if Honey is the funniest person in the world. The entire lower half of her face is covered in cake and frosting, but her eyes—the warm chocolate brown Mason adores—are bright and sparkling.

When Mason looks at his wife, he finds the same brightness shining in her brown eyes.

His throat tightens at the sight.

This day a year ago was almost a tragedy.

It was the worst day of his life.