Chapter 14 - THE HOME WE BUILT WITHOUT FEAR
Two years after leaving the mansion, I stood in the garden of our Lincoln Park home.
The roses were blooming.
Red.
White.
Soft pink.
Ethan was nine now.
Taller.
More confident.
And finally laughing the way he used to.
He ran across the grass carrying a soccer ball.
“Mom!”
I turned.
“Watch this!”
He kicked the ball toward a small goal.
It bounced off the post.
He groaned dramatically.
I laughed.
“Almost!”
Gabriel Whitmore stood beside the porch holding two glasses of lemonade.
He smiled.
“Future professional athlete?”
I laughed.
“Possibly.”
Gabriel handed me a glass.
Over the past year, our friendship had grown.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He had never pressured me.
Never asked me to forget Alexander.
Never treated Ethan like an inconvenience.
He showed up.
For school concerts.
For charity events.
For ordinary Saturday afternoons.
When Ethan needed help building a model bridge for school, Gabriel spent three hours at the kitchen table explaining how supports worked.
When I was exhausted after work, he cooked dinner.
When I needed space, he gave it.
And when I told him I wasn't ready for another relationship, he said he understood.
Then he proved it by respecting my answer.
Eventually, I realized I wanted more.
Not because I needed someone to rescue us.
Because I liked the life we were building together.
That evening, after Ethan went inside, Gabriel stood beside me in the garden.
“Claire.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
He smiled.
“Can I ask you something?”
I laughed.
“That depends.”
He reached into his pocket.
My heart stumbled.
“Gabriel?”
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
I stared.
Gabriel looked nervous.
“I know you've built a beautiful life.”
My eyes filled.
“And I know you don't need someone to complete it.”
I swallowed.
He continued.
“But I'd love to spend the rest of mine beside you.”
He lowered himself onto one knee.
“Claire Bennett, will you marry me?”
I began crying.
Then laughing.
Then crying again.
“Yes.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
Relief washed over his face.
He stood.
I threw my arms around him.
And kissed him.
May you like
From the kitchen window, Ethan shouted, “FINALLY!”
We burst into laughter.
