Epilogue Under Stars and Forever Skies

EPILOGUE

Under Stars and Forever Skies

Savannah

The Lake District, England

Eight years later …

" IT LOOKS DIFFERENT IN THE SUMMERTIME, " I SAID TO C AEL AS WE WALKED hand in hand along a familiar shoreline. Lake Windermere spread out before us, a sparkling pool of diamonds. Night was closing in, England's summer-light nights giving the lake an ethereal glow.

Cael squeezed my hand, and I peered up at him and smiled. He was so handsome. Not a day went by that I didn't thank the stars for bringing him to my life. Especially of late. In true fashion, life had thrown another loss into our path.

Rune.

Living the life he'd always dreamed, as a photographer. He had been in a war zone, capturing the conflict on film, when a stray missile had hit his hotel, taking him from us too. Cael had held me through the pain of losing another loved one. But this time, although it hurt, I didn't crumble. Because I knew Rune was back with Poppy, reunited with his soulmate in their blossom grove, happy once again. It was the biggest comfort to think of them that way. No longer separated by life but together, where they always should have been.

I cuddled into Cael's arm as he led us to a familiar-looking jetty. Only instead of a rowing boat nearby, a small boat with a motor awaited. I laughed as Cael offered his hand. "Miss Litchfield," he said, all prim and proper, which made me laugh harder. He was so playful. Humorous in his own quiet way.

"I remember this," I said, and Cael lifted me up by my waist. Before he placed me in the boat, he kissed me first. I sat down, Cael quickly climbing in behind me and turning on the engine.

"It's where it all began, Peaches," he said, a knowing glint in his eyes. It all seemed so long ago. That fated trip around the world. I had just finished med school and was moving onto my residency training. I was ever closer to becoming the doctor I always wanted to be. And I loved it. It was hard, and often emotional, but I came home to the safety of Cael, and he made everything better. On the days I would break, he was there to hold me.

Cael had stayed at Harvard only two years before entering the NHL draft. He now played for the Bruins, made the All-Stars each season, and was the standout player of Team USA. He was exceptional, and I loved nothing more than watching him play—it was like seeing true freedom.

Our life was in Boston, and I couldn't be happier. We visited Georgia often. Ida was living her own life, happy and still as gregarious as always. My family adored Cael and, of course, I had to go back to see Poppy … and now Rune, who lay beside her in their blossom grove.

"It feels strange to not have the others waiting in the hostel back on shore," I said, and Cael nodded. We had kept our promise. Our group from the trip met up once a year. They were some of our very best friends. Especially Travis and Dylan, who had found their way to one another's arms in the years that followed. Lili and Jade were married to amazing men. Lili was now pregnant with her first child.

I couldn't have been prouder of everyone.

"We'll invite them next time," Cael said, and I watched as his silver-blue eyes matched the hue of the full moon that hung above us. The years had only been kind to Cael. He was broader through hockey, and still covered with tattoos, my favorite being the peach tree that now lay over his heart. And the kintsugi-style golden line that ran over the broken-heart tattoo on his hand—a heart that was no longer broken.

I closed my eyes and smiled as the warm breeze washed over me. This place was magical to us both. It was where we had begun to fall in love. When we were heartbroken and weak, this place had been the genesis of us and our journey to strength.

Our journey to each other.

Our journey to the healing power of love.

I couldn't help but picture Cael back then. Dressed in all black, black beanie on his head and his messy hair that I thought was perfect. Today, he was wearing navy-blue cargo shorts and a white button-up. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showcasing his mass of intricate tattoos over his muscled forearms. He looked beautiful. I was in a blue summer dress. Cael loved me in blue. He said it matched my eyes.

"Peaches …" Cael said, and I opened my eyes.

My heart began to race when I was met with Cael on one knee, holding a ring in his hand. I covered my mouth in shock. Cael's eyes swam with happy tears, and I fought to breathe.

"Savannah," he said, voice hoarse. "When we came here years ago, we were both broken. We both felt there was no way back to happiness." I saw the flash of sadness those words brought up in Cael's gaze. "But we didn't know we would find each other on this trip. We didn't know we would find our soulmate and the other half of our heart outside of the States and across the world." Cael smiled as tears began to stream down my cheeks. "That trip changed my whole life. It taught me to live, to be strong, but mostly, it taught me to love, even through pain. And I have, Peaches. I have loved you more than I ever thought possible. You are my reason for breathing. You make me happier than I could have ever dreamed. You are the greatest thing in my life, and I wanted to ask … if you'd do me the honor of being my wife."

Everything stilled—the birds, the swaying branches, my heart, as he uttered the two most precious words, "Marry me."

My world filled with light as I reached out and kneeled before him. As I cupped his perfect, handsome face and pressed my lips to his. "Yes," I said, nodding, crying, overcome with so much happiness. "Yes, it's absolutely a yes." With shaking hands, Cael pushed the blue sapphire and diamond ring on my finger and it sparkled in the twilight.

"I waited so long to do this as I wanted to give you space for your studies without the pressure of a wedding. But honestly, baby, I couldn't wait one more day to have a ring on your finger and truly make you mine. Officially."

"I love you," I said. There wasn't a person on this planet who understood me more than this man.

Then he blew me away when he said, "I wasn't at a training camp last weekend." I furrowed my brows in confusion. "I was in Georgia asking your daddy for permission to marry his baby girl."

"Cael …" I said, heart melting.

"I wanted to do this right," he said and brushed my hair from my face. He pulled me to him, my back to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me. "I want you as my wife so badly I almost can't stand it."

And I could just see it now. We would get married. I would be a doctor and Cael would continue living his dream with hockey. Then we would have a family and be so happy that there wouldn't be a single day wasted in our lives. We would love each other with our entire hearts and make the most of our brief time on this earth. Life had taught us not to take a single day for granted, and to not waste a minute.

"I love you," I said again, turning to kiss him and filled with so much happiness I almost couldn't take it. He kissed me thoroughly, deeply and with so much adoration I knew our love would never fade. Just like the stars, I thought, looking up at them now. I used to look up at Orion's Belt and think it represented Poppy, Ida, and me. Now, when I looked at it, I saw Poppy, Rune, and Cillian, looking down at us, watching us live, showering us with their celestial love too.

And then there was the north star. For Tala.

"They're celebrating up there now too, you know that, don't you?" Cael said, looking at the stars too. Because I did. Losing a loved one, no matter the circumstances, was the most heartbreaking thing a person could endure. But living for them, loving them even after loss, was healing too. Because they would always be around us, wanting us to live with all our hearts. Wanting us to love and wanting us to live a life so full, there would be no room for regrets when our time to pass arrived.

I had that with Cael. A life so sweet I could never want anything more. I was happy. Truly happy. And I was holding onto that with both hands.

And we knew Poppy and Cillian were right by our sides. So, we lived and loved in their honor. In their legacy. And love Cael I did, more than I ever thought possible. I was going to be his wife . He was going to be my husband. Never had two words sounded so beautiful.

And I couldn't wait for the rest of our life to begin.

The End Beginning