Silence,
Cohen’s eyes go wide, then wider, then suddenly there are tears and laughter and something like disbelief. “This is the BEST. DAY. EVER!” he shouts, launching himself into Cole’s arms with enough force to knock them both backward onto the bed.
Cole wraps his arms around him like it’s instinct, like he’s been doing it every day of his life.
“You’re right,” Cole chokes out. “It is.”
I feel the tears welling up in my own eyes. This moment—this dream I’ve held onto for so long—is happening right before me.It’s everything I ever wanted for Cohen, to have his dad, to feel loved and whole.
Cohen pulls back just a little and looks up at Cole, his eyes sparkling. “Can I call you Dad now? Are you coming to my birthday? Are you gonna marry Mom?”
Cole laughs, wiping a tear. “I’d be honored if you called me Dad. And yes, I’m coming to your birthday. I wouldn’t miss it. And your mom…”
He looks at me.
“If I thought she’d say yes, I’d ask her right now.”
I gasp, feeling my heart race as I look at him, my eyes already brimming with tears. “Cole…you should ask. Please.”
He kneels down in front of me, taking my hands in his before pulling a small box from his pocket.
“Sunshine, I’ve loved you for twelve years. Every day without you felt like the longest, darkest stretch of my life. But even in those hardest moments, you were the light that kept me going—the reason I never gave up. When I finally came home, the first person I wanted to see, the only person I needed, was you. What we have…it’s not some fleeting high school crush or a passing phase. It’s something deeper, something unbreakable. Our love has been tested, stretched, and it’s only grown stronger. It’s forever. Kenna Claire Feely, will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me and let me spend the rest of my days loving you the way you deserve?”
Tears are streaming down my face as I nod. “Yes! Yes, of course, I will!” I leap into his arms, kissing him passionately, feeling like the luckiest person alive.
Cohen’s eyes sparkle like he’s just witnessed magic, and honestly, I feel the same way.
Cole’s hand finds mine, warm and steady, and I squeeze it like I never want to let go.
He stands, pulling me into a tight hug, and I can feel every worry, every scar from the past months melt away. This—right here—is what healing looks like.
I look down at my hand and see a perfect oval cut diamond ring set in gold.
Cohen climbs onto my lap, wrapping his arms around my neck. “So… does this mean the best birthday ever is going to be the bestest-ever-ever birthday? Like, better than a million volcano eruptions?”
I laugh, kissing his hair. “Yes, love. This year, it’s going to be bigger than you can imagine.”
Cole crouches down next to us. “And we’re going to make sure it’s perfect. For you. For all of us.”
There’s something sacred in this moment, the three of us tangled together on the bed, the air thick with promises and new beginnings.
I glance over at Cole, at the man who came back when I least expected but most needed him, and I know that whatever comes next, we’re ready.
Because family isn’t just blood. It’s love. It’s choosing each other, every day.
And today? Today is just the start of everything beautiful.
We make our way to my parents’ house, the excitement still buzzing between us like electricity in the air after a summer storm. The late afternoon sun filters through the trees, casting long shadows that dance alongside our footsteps. Cohen’s small hand is tucked tightly into mine, and Cole walks just behind us, his arm brushing lightly against my back every few steps—like a silent promise of support.
The moment we step inside, the familiar warmth of home wraps around us—the scent of old wood, my mom’s favorite cinnamon candle flickering softly on the kitchen counter, and the quiet hum of life that has always made this place a sanctuary. Cohen’s eyes gleam with mischief and joy as he suddenly clears histhroat and announces loudly, “Cole is my dad, and Mom and Dad are getting married!”
For a split second, the entire room freezes. Plates halfway to mouths pause mid-air. Glasses stop clinking against the table. It’s as if the world has held its breath. Then, as if the silence breaks a dam, Millie is the first to react—her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she rushes over to pull me into a tight hug.
She’s glowing, her cheeks flushed with pregnancy and a soft halo of light seeming to surround her like she’s carrying the sun inside her. Her hands rest protectively on her nearly nine-month belly as she whispers, voice trembling with emotion, “I’m so happy for you, Kenna. This...this is everything.”
Lucie chimes in, “Well, it’s about time.” Her voice is playful, but there’s undeniable warmth behind the tease, a sisterly approval that means more than words.
Reuben and Asher come forward together, their smiles wide and genuine. Reuben pulls me into a brotherly hug, his voice soft but full of meaning. “You finally got the life you dreamed of, Kenna.”
