But then I found Casey again. I saw how she'd raised Tommy on her own. How she stood in that courtroom and fought to protect her son. That's when I made up my mind. I'd spend the rest of my life making it up to her. I'd stay. I'd protect her and Tommy. We'd never be apart again.
A month ago, I started planning a proposal. I wanted to surprise her. Give her a real promise. Give her and Tommy a real family.
I did my research. The volcano overlook on Oahu was the best spot for sunsets on the island. You could see the ridgeline of the mountains and the whole stretch of blue ocean below. At dusk, the sky turned gold and pink, soft and romantic.
That kind of place—it was the only thing worthy of Casey. Worthy of what we'd been through.
I also tracked down a local craftsman and had him make a ring from black koa wood. Inside, he engraved our initials in both languages—Paul, Casey, Tommy. I wanted to tell her that this love wasn't tied to business or gain. Just us. The three of us. A family no one could pull apart.
I kept the ring in my pocket, checking it every day. I was nervous. Excited. Scared she'd say no. Scared I wasn't good enough. But I was certain I wanted to give her a future.
Saturday morning, the sun was barely up, Oahu light already slipping through the curtains. Tommy woke early and ran into our room, climbing onto the bed.
"Daddy, Mommy, where are we going today?"
I ruffled his hair. "Somewhere special. Somewhere with the best view you've ever seen."
Casey leaned against the headboard, smiling. "You're being mysterious again. But I trust you. I know you won't disappoint us."
Seeing that soft smile made my nerves spike. I took a breath, swallowed the anxiety, and got up to make breakfast. Tommy peppered me with questions the whole time. I teased him, said he'd find out when we got there. He pouted, all anticipation, and we laughed.
We packed up and headed out, the three of us in the car, driving toward the volcano overlook. The road hugged the coastline. Palm trees swayed on both sides, their green fronds glinting in the sun. Ocean wind blew through the window—salty, fresh, mixed with the scent of coconut. It felt good.
Tommy pressed his face to the glass, chattering nonstop. He pointed at seabirds, at the rolling surf, eyes wide with wonder.
Casey sat beside me, holding my hand. "This road's kind of long. Where exactly are we going?" she asked quietly, curious but patient.
I glanced over, smiling. "Almost there. Just wait. I promise it'll be worth it."
She nodded, didn't push, just leaned back and watched the scenery. Sunlight fell across her face, softening every line. In that moment, I felt it surge through me—the need to tell her how much I loved her, how badly I wanted to spend my life with her.
An hour later, we reached the overlook. It was even more beautiful than I'd imagined. The platform sat halfway up the mountain, open and wide. In the distance, the volcano ridge rolled dark brown and heavy, solid as the earth itself. Below, the ocean stretched blue and endless, waves crashing into the rocks.
Tommy bolted out of the car the second we stopped, running down the path, shouting. "Whoa, it's so high! I can see so much ocean!"
He sprinted to the edge, stood on his toes, staring out at the water, his little face bright with joy.
Casey took my hand, and we walked slowly to the platform's edge. The wind lifted her curls and brushed them across her cheek. Her smile was gentle, content. Her eyes reflected the sea and sky. She was so beautiful I couldn't look away.
"This place is incredible," she said softly, voice full of wonder. "Paul, thank you for bringing me here."
I squeezed her hand, warmth flooding my chest. "As long as you're happy."
I watched her profile, the happiness in her eyes, and my nerves began to ease. The moment was coming. I'd give her a promise here. One that would last forever.
We played with Tommy for a while. He picked up pebbles, ran to the edge to watch the waves, lost in his own world. I'd drift back to Casey's side every so often, watch the ocean with her, talk about life, about Tommy growing up, about her training program.
When she talked about the project, her eyes shone. She told me more nurses were signing up. She wanted to train bilingual healthcare workers and help more immigrant patients. Watching her chase that dream, I felt nothing but pride.
Before we knew it, the sun began to sink. The clear sky turned gold, then streaks of pink bled through, weaving together like a soft canvas stretched across the horizon.
More people gathered on the platform. They took photos, captured the moment. Tommy stopped playing and ran over to us, craning his neck to look up.
"Daddy, Mommy, look! The sky's so pretty—like a rainbow!"
Casey crouched down and hugged him. "It is, sweetie. This is the most beautiful sunset we've ever seen."
I watched them, my chest tight with emotion. I took a deep breath, let go of Casey's hand, and pulled the koa ring from my pocket. I dropped to one knee.
