AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kenneth takes my hand in his, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have you," he says, his eyes locked onto mine. "You're the most incredible woman I've ever met."
I feel myself blush at his words, feeling both embarrassed and flattered at the same time. "Kenneth, I just did what I had to do," I shrug, trying to downplay my actions.
But he shakes his head. "No, Kasey. What you did was selfless and amazing. It just confirms what I already know—what I’ve known since the first moment I saw you. That I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Suddenly, my heart feels like it's about to burst. I can't believe what I'm hearing. Could this really be happening? Is Kenneth about to propose to me?
And then, just as I'm lost in my thoughts, he drops down on one knee, taking my hand in his. "Kasey, will you marry me?"
The world drops out from under my feet, static buzzing in my ears as shock rolls over me like a wave. All the hours I spent agonizing over whether he would forgive, and here he is, on his knees, ready to make me his wife. It makes me realize that Kenneth forgave me the second he left my suite that night because he loves me and he wants me. All of me, flaws and uncertainties and all.
Tears start to form as I look down at Kenneth and into his ocean-deep eyes, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. "Yes," I say, barely able to get the word out. "Yes, I'll marry you."
The ring is perfect, a single solitaire diamond, huge and sparkling on a gold band. Just like how Kenneth fits into my life, the ring fits onto my finger perfectly. Like it has always been meant to be there.
I take his hands and tug him to his feet, standing on my tiptoes to clear the differences in our height and crushing my mouth to his. Kissing him feels like coming home, and now the tears flow freely.
“I love you,” I gasp, and he wraps his arms around me like I’ve been aching for.
“I love you too, Kasey. I know you’re going to cause me a lifetime of trouble.” I huff but he laughs, continuing, “But I’d go through that and more to have you.”
Now he kisses me again, and even though I can’t speak, I tell him over and over again in my mind, I love you, I love you, I love you.
EPILOGUE
KENNETH
Two Years Later
Sometimes, I’m still shocked at how good life can be. I’m lying by the pool on our private cruise in the Caribbean with my beautiful wife Kasey by my side. She's cradling our sleeping daughter, her tiny round head covered with a ridiculous baby-size sun hat to match Kasey’s, and I can't help but smile at the sight.
Everything feels perfect—the sun shining, the ocean glistening, and I have everything I've ever wanted right here beside me.
It’s good to be me.
Kasey reaches into her bag to grab something, but she struggles to get it out one-handed with the baby on her chest. I offer to help, and she hands me the bag. “I’ve got a surprise for you and I can't wait any longer,” she chirps excitedly, keeping her voice down so she doesn’t wake Kaia.
Taking a second to admire her long, oiled-up legs, I smirk. “Kasey, we can’t have those types of surprises with the baby here.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, just hush and open it already!”
Inside her cavernous purse, I find a small box, and Kasey tells me three times in the space of a second to open it. Laughing at her anxiousness, I do. I can hardly believe my eyes. Inside the polished wooden box is a pair of cufflinks made from abalone. Even before she tells me what makes them special, I already sense the importance radiating from the gift.
“They’re made from abalone that comes from the beach of the resort where we first met,” Kasey says, her eyes bright. “Happy early anniversary. I couldn’t wait, sorry.”
I look up from the gift Kasey, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude. She knows me so well, and she always knows just how to make me feel special. Money is no object to me, which is why it’s so perfect that my wife is so thoughtful and deliberate with the gifts she chooses.
What she doesn’t know, though, is that she is the most precious gift in the world to me. Her and sweet little Kaia. I lean over and kiss both her and our daughter on the top of their heads, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.
“It’s perfect,” I tell her, my voice thick with uncharacteristic emotion. Only Kasey will ever see me like this. “Perfect like you. Thank you, baby girl.”
Looking thrilled at my reaction, Kasey settles back into her lounge and closes her eyes, patting Kaia’s back in an unconscious motion as she does so. “You’re welcome.”
As I sit here, watching my family, I think back on all the ups and downs we've been through together. From our tumultuous past to our blissful present, we've come so far. But what excites me most is the future that lies ahead. I know that whatever comes our way, we'll face it together, with love and strength.
Gazing out at the sparkling blue water, watching the waves dance in the sunshine, I reflect on how much has changed over the past year.
Kasey's decision to go freelance and start her own office after fast-tracking her associate’s degree had been a bold move, but it had paid off. She had worked tirelessly to build a thriving business and had even hired someone to manage it while she took time off to focus on our daughter.
