13. Casey

Chapter 13

Casey

Warm afternoon sun streamed through the leaves of the newly restored Heart of the Family Garden, casting shimmering golden light across the flowers and iron tree sculpture.

I stepped back, admiring the handiwork both Logan and I had put into this garden over the past few months. The feeling of completion was symbolic—we had all chipped in to create something magical. The garden was a living, breathing testament to this family’s spirit of renewal.

Logan stepped beside me; his face relaxed in a way I’d never seen from him before. His hands were in his pockets and a smile was plastered on his face. Now that the tension from the custody battle with the Mercers was long past, and Logan had announced his intention to quit his job, he finally looked free.

For the first time ever.

I felt a new sense of freedom, too.

Betsy, Logan, and Henry had welcomed me in a way I hadn’t expected. There was a new sense of family and belonging that I’d never been fortune enough to feel before.

Now, things were different, and everything had shifted.

I was no longer Henry’s nanny. Thanks to Betsy’s unmatched ability to open doors, I’d landed a job as a partially remote program director at the local youth organization, Palmetto Pathways. Every day my job brought me joy. I was in charge of scheduling workshops, mentorship programs, and community events aimed at local youth. Since the job was partially remote, I was still able to be a big part of Henry’s life at Westbrook Meadows.

Earlier today, Logan made an appointment with a real estate agent so that we could start house hunting in the area. Logan wanted to buy a place that the three of us could call home. A place to cement this new chapter in our lives. It was almost surreal standing next to him, no longer feeling like an outsider. I wasn’t just a small part of their lives; I was part of their family.

Finally, everything in my life felt like it was falling into place.

“It turned out beautiful, didn’t it?” Logan asked, his voice low and calm.

There was a hint of pride in the way he spoke.

“It’s more than beautiful,” I said. “It’s a masterpiece.”

Logan chuckled, his gaze fixed on the iron tree in the center.

He looked over at me. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Casey. Any of this.”

“You would have done perfectly fine,” I said, smirking and shaking my head. “But I’m glad I was here to help anyway.”

My voice—just for a brief moment—faltered as I felt emotion swell in my chest. This conversation wasn’t just about the garden; we both knew that. It was about everything we’d been through the past six months—the chaos, the battles with the Mercers, the laughter with the family.

It all led us to this moment.

“You’ve done so much more than help,” Logan said, his voice warm. “You’ve changed everything for us. You’ve made our family stronger.”

His words felt like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place. I looked up at him before reaching out and interlacing my fingers with his.

“Logan, I—” my breath caught in my throat, but I didn’t stop. “I love you.”

The most genuine smile I’d ever seen flashed across his face. “I love you too, Casey. In more ways than I ever knew possible.”

The air between us was charged with electricity but there was no stopping us. He leaned down and our lips met in a kiss that was full of unspoken promises.

It was a kiss that felt like coming home.

We pulled back from the kiss and Logan rested his forehead on mine. “Will you stay with us? Be a part of this family for real. Forever.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back.

My voice was barely a whisper. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Logan.”

The sound of Henry calling for us in the distance brought us out of our moment and back to reality. Logan grinned and squeezed my hand, turning to walk toward the house. As we walked to the manor together, I thought back to how far we’d come.

From the awkward first interview to this.

The garden wasn’t simply a project; it was a true reflection of us.

Wild, chaotic, full of life and love.

And just like the flowers that bloomed around us, I knew we were only at the start of our journey—the beginning of something beautiful.

**

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