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We found an apartment ten minutes from campus and twenty-five minutes from my dad’s house that allows dogs. Delilah loves it, claiming the spot by the electric fireplace, despite the warm early June weather. Chase immediately put her bed in front of it for the princess to lay on and then set up her toy box nearby. I giggled as she watched him with one eye, making sure it was up to her satisfaction before closing it and dozing off.
Dad gave us some money to buy furniture for our apartment, so we had a move in party with Jeff, Melody, my dad, and his new basset hound, Winston. We knew my dad needed a dog and when we saw the shelter had a basset hound named Winston, we called and set up an appointment. They allowed us to introduce Delilah to him, and the two hit it off the second they met. We made all the arrangements, then surprised my dad by driving him to the animal shelter to meet Winston. It was love at first sight. Winston is now living the dream, much like Delilah.
Once we got settled into our apartment, the five of us settled at the dining room table and devoured the pizza we ordered. I felt so blessed as I took in the way the four of them got along. Life seemed perfect.
Chase surprised me when they left by dimming the lights and putting on a playlist of our favorite love songs. Wrapping my arms around him, we slow danced in the living room, basking in our love until the flames turned into an inferno, and we spent the night christening every room in our new apartment.
The vehicle stops, and Chase gives me firm instructions that the blindfold stays on until he removes it. I huff, trying to hide my smile, as his door shuts. Seconds later, mine opens, and he lifts me out, setting my feet on the pavement. The sounds of mingled laughter and screams reach my ears as he guides me across the parking lot. The familiar scents of mouthwatering amusement park foods fill my nose, making my mouth water.
“Are we at an amusement park?”
“You’ll find out soon.” I hear the smile in his voice and I’m certain I’m correct, but I don’t say anything.
When my ass hits the seat, and Chase whips my blindfold off with a flourish, I grin, staring at the familiar Ferris Wheel. “Is this my graduation present from you?”
“Nah. More like a blast from the past with a nod toward the future.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to elaborate. “Okay, cryptic man. Guess I’ll have to theorize about the last part of that statement.”
The sun dips behind the horizon, leaving behind blazing shades of red and vibrant violets. Marveling at the beauty of it, Chase squeezes my hand, drawing my attention, as the ride begins moving.
He’s nervous, his hand shaking slightly as he swallows hard. His leg bounces, shaking the seat.
I’m engulfed in a flood of concern. This is not typical behavior for Chase, who is normally calm and collected. “Are you alright?”
“I’ll be better than alright if you give me the answer I hope to hear.” With a flourish, he presents a black velvet box and opens it, revealing a gorgeous heart-shaped diamond, smaller diamonds lining both sides of it.
Gasping, my right hand flies to my mouth. Chase grabs my left hand, his imploring eyes shining with the promise of eternal love. “Mackenzie Dawn. Will you do me the greatest honor of my life by becoming my wife?”
Tears of happiness flow down my face as I nod, unable to find the words.
I’m shocked and elated as I look from the ring to the man I love with my entire heart and soul.
Blowing out a breath, I whisper, “My foster brother became my savior in every way that mattered. But you, Chase Landon, became the man I fell so deeply in love with that I’ll never stop until my last breath. Even then, we’ll step into the afterlife, hand in hand, and my love for you will continue to grow.” With an enthusiastic nod, I squeal, “Hell yes,” before throwing myself into his arms.
Chase squeezes me tightly, peppering my hair with kisses until I pull back. Then he wipes away my tears with his thumb, his lips meeting mine. “My foster sister became my savior as well.” Releasing my face, he pulls the ring from the box, slipping it onto my finger. “I was deeply damaged when we first met. But one look at you, and I knew I wasn’t beyond repair. You mended the pieces of my fractured heart when our eyes locked and held. Inside those beautiful amber irises, I saw my soulmate. Someone who carried the weight of her trauma with both despair and grace. You were a conundrum I wanted to solve, a beautifully damaged girl who rarely smiled. But when she did, it felt like the hot July sun warming me from the inside out.” Cupping my face again, his whiskey eyes shimmer with tears. “Each smile filled the cracks in my heart. Every laugh filled the blackened pieces of my soul. Helping you heal aided in my healing.”
Blowing out a breath, Chase stares at me with a mixture of awe and tenderness. “I never knew I could love anyone this much, Mackenzie Dawn. And I promise to do my best to make you feel cherished, every single day, loving you through the good and bad with my entire heart.”
I can barely speak because of the big lump inside my throat. It burns as I fight back the tears. “I’ll always love you through the good and bad,” I choke out. “Just like I did in that attic and every moment thereafter.”
We kiss until the ride finally stops. I laugh when the attendant yells, “Was that long enough, Chase?”
Chase nods, holding my left hand out to show him the ring. Meeting my eyes, he says, “It was absolutely perfect. She said yes, and that’s all that matters.”
Throwing myself into his arms, I whisper, “We’ve come full circle, Chase,” before planting my lips on his.
EPILOGUE: ONE YEAR LATER
My heart is inside my throat as I watch Mackenzie step outside the patio doors of her childhood home, her arm wrapped around her father’s. The lacy white dress makes her look more angelic, but it’s when her amber eyes lock with mine, a breathtaking smile on her porcelain face, that takes my breath away.
A myriad of emotions course through me as she slowly walks down the aisle, my thoughts racing with a kaleidoscope of memories, past and present. I smile, then it falters, before it widens again, my pulse pounding until Mackenzie stands in front of me, her eyes silently communicating with mine. We are engulfed in a sea of memories and emotions, trauma mixing with our happiness.
Her dad places her hand in mine, and we take our place in front of Matt Hammond, who recently became ordained so he could marry us.
Mike takes his seat beside Stacey Hammond. Emersyn and Liam sit on the other side, our psychiatrist and therapist, respectively. Smokey, Delilah, and Winston lay by Mike’s feet. He had a shirt made and bandanas for the dogs that said, “Mike’s Pack.” He’s wearing that shirt beneath the jacket of his tuxedo jacket, while the three dogs wear festive wedding bandanas. Delilah’s is pink, while the other two wear blue.
Even though Mackenzie’s mother is absent, as well as my father, we’ve long made peace with their decision not to be a part of our wedding or our lives. We have all the love we could want or need from the people who are here with us to celebrate our special day.
