My heart flips in my chest as I scan the words.
Our porch.
It’s not signed, but I know it’s Hudson, and I glance up at Axel curiously. He shrugs. “My lips are sealed, little spoon.”
He drives me out of the city, the sprawling tower blocks and high-rise buildings giving way to rolling fields that decorate the landscape like a patchwork quilt in shades of green.
I have my nose pressed to the window for most of it. “I’ve never been to the countryside. I’ve never even been out of the city.”
“You like it?” There’s something in Axel’s voice that makes me turn to look at him as I consider the question.
“I do.” I glance back out the window. “It’s so peaceful out here.”
“Good.” He turns off the main road, his truck moving slowly down a slightly rocky path before he pulls up to a field and parks alongside Hudson’s car. He turns to scan my outfit before peeling off his sweatshirt and handing it to me. I take it with a grin.
Mine now.
When I look across the grass, a familiar figure is standing, arms crossed as he watches us.
Axel cups my cheek. “I love you.”
The words hit me straight in the heart. “I love you, too.”
He backs out slowly once I’m a safe distance from the truck, and I wave before I walk over to where Hudson is standing, his smile soft.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
I turn to look around us. The sun is shining, the winter air with enough bite to make me shiver. “This place is beautiful, Hudson.”
His smile deepens. “You think so?”
I nod. “What are we doing here?”
He takes my hand, twining our fingers together as he begins to walk.
“This,” he says, pausing and looking around, “right in this spot, is where our porch is gonna be.”
My fingers clench around his, my shock drawing me to a standstill. “Our porch?”
“Yep,” he says casually. “Right along here. Enough space for all of us to have our own chair, I think.” He winks at me. “You in the middle, of course.”
My legs are shaking as I follow his sweeping arm. “Here?”
“Mmmm,” he says, shrugging. “I think we could all do with a fresh start, Gabrielle. And I can’t think of a better one than this. I want you to have a home that you love. So how would you feel about building one here?”
He draws me closer to him, his eyes watching me seriously.
“You are our endgame,” he says softly. “I told you that before. I want to sit on a porch with you when we’re old and gray, watching the sunrise every morning. So I’m building our endgame, Gabrielle.”
“The restaurant—,”
He nods. “It’s not going anywhere, at least not for now, but they have these amazing inventions called cars, now.”
I blush, shoving at his arm, and he laughs. “So… what do you think?”
I turn to look out, taking in the trees, the birds flitting between them. I take a deep breath, sucking in the faint scent of the few wildflowers still growing at this time of year.
“I think this will be an amazing home,” I say softly, squeezing his hand. “And I’m all in.”
