This is where we started, where we became something more than grief and rescue and complicated feelings.
We walk down to the water’s edge. The three of them exchange a look—some silent communication I can’t read.
Then they all drop to one knee.
My heart stops.
“We practiced this,” Theo says, pulling out a small box. “But I’m going to forget everything we planned because you’re crying already, and we haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I’m not crying.” I’m absolutely crying.
Cole opens his own box. “Rachel Morgan, you walked back into our lives six months ago carrying a kid and a duffel bag and more weight than anyone should have to carry alone.”
“We didn’t plan to fall for you,” Marco continues, his dark eyes serious. “We didn’t plan any of this. But here we are.”
“And we wouldn’t change a single thing,” Theo finishes. “Not the fires, not the complications, not Jake wanting to kill us for three solid weeks. Because all of it brought us here.”
Cole speaks again. “We can’t give you a traditional marriage. Can’t offer you a white dress and a church wedding and normal in-laws who bake casseroles.”
“What we can offer is three men who love you completely,” Marco says. “Who will show up every day. Who will raise Tommy like he is ours. Who will build this life with you however you want it to look.”
“So, Rachel Morgan,” Theo’s voice shakes slightly, “will you marry us? All three of us? Will you let us love you for the rest of our lives?”
They open their boxes simultaneously. Three rings, each different. A sapphire, an emerald, a ruby—all set in simple silver bands.
I can’t speak. Can’t do anything except stand there sobbing while the sunset turns the lake into liquid gold.
“You’re supposed to say yes,” Theo prompts gently. “Or no. But preferably yes.”
“Yes.” The word comes out strangled. “Yes, of course, yes.”
They slide the rings onto my finger—one on my ring finger, two on the fingers beside it. The metal is cool against my skin, solid and real.
Cole stands first, pulling me into his arms. I kiss him while the other two stand, and then I’m kissing Theo, then Marco, all of them are around me, and I’m laughing and crying and completely overwhelmed in the best possible way.
“We have a surprise,” Cole says after I’ve calmed down slightly.
“There’s more?”
“Look behind you.”
I turn. Dorothy is walking down the path from the parking lot, leaning on her cane. Jake’s beside her, carrying Tommy, who’s wearing a tiny suit jacket that’s absolutely ridiculous on a five-year-old.
“You all knew?” I look at the men.
“Everyone knew,” Theo admits. “We’re terrible at keeping secrets from people we love.”
Dorothy reaches us, slightly out of breath. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Tommy scrambles out of Jake’s arms and runs to me. “Mama! Did they ask you? Did you say yes?”
“I said yes, baby.”
“Good. Because I already told my whole class I was getting three dads officially, and if you said no, I’d look stupid.”
Everyone laughs, and I pull him close, pressing my face into his hair.
Jake approaches, hands in his pockets. He looks at his three best friends, then at me, then back at them.
