Acid burns my throat at the reminder, but I swallow it back. “I can take a lot of shit, Elle. You can rage at me, scream at me, but don’t ever walk out on me,” I tell her, giving my only stipulation. “You want space? I’ll give it to you. I will leave, but not you. Never you. Okay?”
She nods, her expression soft and sincere. “I promise.”
Content with that, I grab her hand off the side of my face and press a kiss to her palm.
Another smile claims her lips, this one mischievous as she lifts her pinky. “Best friends forever?”
Smirking, I lock my finger with hers. “Forever and always.”
We seal that pact with a kiss, one that radiates the unbreakable bond between us. Afterward, I pull her in close, reveling in the warmth of her body against mine.
“We’re going to be the best parents, Gunnar,” she whispers, her breath skimming my chest.
“Yeah. We are.”
There’s no fear in my statement, only the undeniable truth. Elle and I have always faced this world head-on, weathering every storm together. Yet, as I hold her in my arms, I have no doubt that this moment is truly just the start of our forever.
Ellie
Thirteen Years Later
The afternoon sun peeks through the clouds, warming my skin as I step out of the flower shop, locking the door behind me. The lingering fragrance of fresh blooms mingles with the earthy scent left behind by the brief sun shower we had earlier.
“Ready?” I ask, glancing down at the little girl beside me.
Her gapped-tooth grin lights up her face as she cradles the fresh arrangement in her arms, a gift for her dad.
“Ready,” she chirps, her excitement palpable.
Taking her small hand in mine, we set off down Main Street, our steps in sync with the heartbeat of our quaint town.
We wave to Mr. Buford as we pass by his candy store, his warm smile and gentle greeting a comforting routine. Further down, we spot Hollis through the open door of the Christmas store and wave to her as well.
“Look, Mommy, a rainbow!” Millie points at the faint stream of colors arching over Passion Falls’ most beautiful landmark. “Heart Mountain looks even more magical,” she whispers, a note of wistfulness in her voice.
“It sure does,” I agree, feeling a familiar tug at my heart.
“I can’t wait to fall in love there one day,” she confesses, her eyes sparkling with innocent dreams of true love. “Just like you and Daddy.”
A soft smile forms on my lips. All three of our children know the legend, but it’s our youngest who feels it as deeply as I did at her age.
“I’m excited for you too,” I tell her. “But let’s keep that between us for now so we don’t give your daddy a heart attack.”
“Deal,” she snickers, her giggle infectious.
As we step into Gunnar’s shop, the familiar scent of oil and metal envelops us, instantly making me feel at home. My heart lifts at the sight of my oldest children, Dylan and Lily, working alongside Ryland and Gunnar under the hood of a car.
Grizzly, our loyal fur baby, a descendant of our beloved Bear, is right in the middle of the action. He’s the first to notice us, his excited bark alerting everyone of our arrival before he runs over to greet us.
Millie wraps her arms around Griz’s thick, furry neck, her laughter ringing out as he affectionately licks her face like she’s his favorite treat. I give him a few loving pats, before locking eyes with Gunnar. In that instant, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us suspended in a timeless moment. But the spell is quickly broken by Millie.
“Daddy!” she calls out, racing toward him.
Gunnar bends down, sweeping our youngest up with ease. “How’s my Millie girl?” he asks, his voice rich with warmth.
“Good! Look what I made for you,” she exclaims, proudly presenting a small, hand-made flower arrangement. “Do you love it?”
Gunnar’s face softens with pure adoration. “Yeah, almost as much as I love you.”
“Whoa, that’s a lot.”
I laugh at her response, feeling a rush of affection at their bond. Moving past them, I go greet my other two children, starting with my oldest, Dylan, who is the spitting image of his father and wrap my arms around him. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Mom,” he returns my hug, his voice deepening with age and responsibility.
Next, I hug Lily, planting a kiss on her oil-streaked cheek. She’s a tomboy through and through, preferring the rumble of engines to the scent of flowers. And that’s perfectly fine by me since I have Millie to share my floral passion with.
“Check it out, Mom.” She beams in excitement. “Dad and Paw Paw Ryland showed me how to change the carburetor today.”
“They did?” I ask, marveling at her enthusiasm.
Ryland puffs out his chest. “Sure did. Kid’s a damn natural, just like her dad and brother.”
Smiling, I lean over and greet him with a kiss on the cheek too, the familiar roughness of his stubble a comforting sensation.
“How’re you, darlin’?” he asks, wrapping me in a bear hug.
