Page 68 of The Sound of Forever
Keane grabs a couple of blankets from the storage box, handing one to me as we settle into the chairs by the fire. The flames flickers, the light casting dancing shadows across the yard. The sky above is clear, the stars scattered like tiny jewels against the dark night.
“Rayne’s come such a long way,” I say, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders. “I didn’t think we’d ever get here.”
“You’ve done so much for her,” Keane says, his gaze fixed on the fire. “She’s lucky to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have you,” I say softly, turning to look at him. “You’ve been here for us almost since I moved to Luna Harbor, Keane. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”
“You would’ve done amazingly, but I’m glad I was part of your life—” he clears his throat “—thatI ampart of it.”
He shifts in his seat, his expression growing serious. “Jules,” he says, his voice low. “There’s something I need to say. . . well, more like to ask.”
My heart skips a beat. I don’t want to be concerned, but what if he’s decided to leave since his life is back? I mean, he can play and tomorrow he might be just telling the world, ‘hey, I’m alive.’ Instead of panicking though, I ask, “What is it?”
He takes a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine. “These past months have been . . . I don’t even know how to describe them. Coming here, meeting you and Rayne . . . it’s changed everything for me. You’ve changed everything for me.”
I reach out, placing my hand over his. “Keane . . .”
“Let me finish,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again. Like I could love someone or even dare to think about having a life, a family. Like I could be happy. But you and Ray . . . you’ve given me that. You’ve given me something I didn’t even know I needed.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them away, my throat constricting with emotion. “You’ve given us just as much, Keane. More than you know.”
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small box. My breath catches as he opens it, revealing a simple, elegant ring that glimmers in the firelight.
“I’m not sure if this is too soon, but if there’s something I’ve learned it’s that life can change in seconds. And I want to live it fully in the now. Julianna Valencia, I don’t want to spend another day without you,” he says, his voice steady and sure. “You and Rayne have become my everything. My home. I love you, Julianna, and I want to build a life with you, if you’ll have me. Will you marry me?”
The words wash over me, my heart brimming with so much love it feels like it might overflow. I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
“Yes,” I finally manage, my voice shaking. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
His face breaks into a smile, and he slides the ring onto my finger. The moment feels surreal, like something out of a dream.
But I know by the way he looks at me with so much love, so much passion that this is real. Pure. This is us.
Not a fleeting illusion, but something real—something we’ve built together, brick by brick, heartbeat by heartbeat. My fingers find the back of his neck, and I lean into him, our lips meeting. The kiss is soft at first, his lips brushing against mine like a whisper of devotion, before deepening into something more—a blend of all we are and all we’re going to be.
I’m not afraid to give him my heart. I trust him with the pieces I once thought were too shattered to fix. He’s not just my love. He’s my calm in the storm, the place where my soul finds peace and the world feels quiet.
He’s my soul.
As we pull back, my forehead rests against his, and I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “You’re my forever,” I murmur.
“Thank you for trusting me, for loving me,” he says. “I swear to take care of you for the rest of your life.”
And I know, as sure as the stars, the ocean, and the air exist, that giving him my heart isn’t a risk. It’s the only thing that’s ever made sense in my life.
Epilogue
Keane
The courthouse stepsfeel impossibly tall today, like every step we take is carrying us closer to a moment that’s going to change our lives forever. My hand rests on Julianna’s lower back as we climb, her belly just starting to show beneath her dress. She’s glowing. Her radiance takes my breath away every time I look at her.
Rayne is walking ahead of us, holding her grandfather’s hand and the other hand clutches two of her bunnies. It’s a family affair, so she had to bring at least two of them. She’s wearing the blue dress Julianna picked out for her, her hair tied back in a neat braid. She looks nervous, but excited, too.
“You okay, Ray?” I ask as we reach the top step.
“Yes, Dad,” she answers. Though she keeps walking, she looks over her shoulder, her face serious. “But what if they say no?”
We all come to a halt. Julianna kneels in front of her, smoothing a hand over Rayne’s hair. “They won’t say no, sweetheart,” she says gently. “This is just a formality. You’re already ours.”
