Page 24 of The Game

She smiled, though neither of them moved. Dean concentrated on committing her face, this moment, to memory. He never wanted to forget a single detail.

But then someone called out, ‘Say yes, then!’

Alyssa laughed, leaned forward and whispered, ‘Of course I’ll marry you.’

Then, surrounded by the people they cared about, on the beach that had brought them love and healing, she kissed him.

Epilogue

Not far from the Catalpa Memorial, Alyssa sat snug in Dean’s arms. She leaned against him, her gaze locked on the spot where they’d run into each other that day, over five years ago now. She shuddered to think where she’d be if they’d never crossed paths.

Dean nuzzled her neck and kissed behind her ear. ‘Everything okay?’

She nodded and pulled his arms tighter around her. ‘Mm-hmm.’

They sat quietly, watching the sky transform, the setting sun once again putting on a magnificent show. She never took it for granted—witnessing nature at its best while in the arms of the man she loved, even after more than three years of being in remission.

Dean hugged her closer, his hand dropping to her rounded belly. ‘Might be the last sunset we get to watch for a while.’ He smiled when their daughter kicked against his hand.

Alyssa threaded her fingers through his. ‘I’m okay with that. We’ll have another miracle to stare at for hours on end.’

‘True. And then let the fun and games begin, right?’

She laughed. ‘Right, and I bet we’ll need to learn a whole new set of rules.’

He kissed her forehead. ‘We can learn them together.’

Later, as they walked home hand in hand, past the sculpture of the flying geese, Alyssa realised she no longer dreamed of being as free as a bird. Life was good, despite its ups and downs, and with Dean by her side, she could handle whatever life threw at her. She was stronger and happier because of him. Together, they’d played the cards they’d been dealt and had won.