Epilogue
The breeze is cool as I sit next to Katrina on the large rock at the side of the lake. My hands shake as I hold the remote control. I look at Rachel and Joshua with tears of joy in my eyes.
“You ready?” Joshua holds the boat in his hands and eases it into the water. It’s an exact replica of the one I got on Christmas Eve in 1995.
He found it in a vintage toy store when he’d gone on vacation and brought it home for me. He’d been so worried that I’d get upset. It was the exact opposite. The moment I held it, I felt connected to my parents and I was able to relive the joy of opening it.
As soon as it’s in the water, I have it skimming over the top at full speed. Seeing it dance over the lake makes me smile. I feel like the nine-year-old boy I was then, wide eyed and innocent. Katrina puts her hand on my leg and it’s like my life has come full circle.
“Want to take it for a spin?” I hold the remote out to her and she takes it with a smile.
My hand finds my pocket for the hundredth time today. I run my fingers over the gold band and the nerves kick in again. If I don’t ask her soon, I’m going to make myself sick.
“This is so much fun.” She giggles as the boat takes a turn too sharp and almost tips over.
“Yes it is, Princess.” I put my arm around her and she snuggles in like she always does.
Joshua stands at the side of the lake, staring out over it quietly. He’s been lost in thought a lot lately and I wonder if he’ll ever open up to any of us. Now that the tour is over and it will be awhile before we go back out on the road, maybe he’ll find someone to share his time with. Knowing how happy we all are, I can only wish that for him. This gift he’s given me has helped me heal. How can I ever thank him for that?
“Walk with me?” I hop down off the rock and offer her my hand.
She takes it without a second thought. We walk quietly, hand in hand, enjoying this cool fall day. I asked Lorenzo permission to ask her this question so many weeks ago. He granted it readily, even though I could see the pain in his eyes. He keeps in touch with Katrina between races. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him but it doesn’t hurt my feelings that he’s in Europe and can’t be at her side as often.
I bend over and pick up a rock and Katrina starts laughing. She’s asked me so many times why I give her rocks and I never answer her. She has a pretty large collection of them and she acts like they are the most valuable possessions she has. When I met her, there was such a huge wall up around her. I wasn’t sure it would ever come down. I take pride knowing that loving her helped crumble that stone and open her up to a life of love. Every time she smiled, another piece of the rock wall came down. I thought she should have a reminder of every single time a piece of that wall fell.
“You dropped something,” I whisper in her ear.
She holds her hand out and I drop the ring into her palm. Her eyes go wide with shock. She had no idea this was coming. Her other hand covers her mouth and tears fill her eyes.
I drop to one knee. “I fell in love with you when I was eleven years old. Even then, I knew you were my forever. When I look at my future, you’re the only one I see. If we were lucky enough to find each other twice, I think we’re worth betting on for life. Take a chance on me Kitty Kat. Will you dance with me at our wedding?”
She kneels next to me and throws her arms around my neck. I hold her as she cries and I feel a few tears of my own hit my cheeks. “Yes, Lennon. I will take a chance on you. A million times, yes.”
Her lips find mine and I’m home. Kissing her will always be my favorite thing to do. Her lips were made for mine and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to her.
I take the ring from her hand and slip it on her finger. The chocolate, pear shaped diamond sparkles almost as brightly as her eyes while she stares at it. The smile on her face tells me I picked exactly the right ring.
I take her hand and help her stand. I hug her tightly, breathing in the moment. I want to remember everything. I pull away and take her face in my hands. “I love you, Katrina King. I’m going to spend every single day making sure you know that.”
As we walk back to meet our friends by the lake, I realize that this moment changes my whole this. This is the moment I find my happily ever after, the moment she saves me from myself, the moment I find my redemption.
The End
MJ Carnal with Chance (Jared Seth Coy)
USA TODAY Bestselling Author, MJ Carnal, is an Ohio native who has settled down in the state of South Carolina. The daughter of a poet, she spends her time writing everything from romance novels to children's books. When she isn't writing, you can find her spending every possible second with her daughter, playing chauffer and dance mom, singing karaoke for anyone who will listen, and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She has a small obsession with all things Winchester and Supernatural, Sour Patch Kids and So You Think You Can Dance.
She loves to hear from fans, fellow writers and book lovers. Find her online at www.facebook.com/mjcarnalauthor or on Twitter @mjcarnalauthor