Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I looked back at the little dog in my arms. He had the softest eyes and the biggest paws, and he was a total baby. “What brought this on?”
Roque shrugged slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Saw a post online about a kid and his therapy dog—this goldendoodle— that helped him through panic attacks. I didn’t even finish the video. I just… yeah, I knew I wanted one for the kids.”
My throat tightened. The kids were seeing a therapist about what’d happened, even though they hadn’t had any issues, but I loved that he was prepared for their future like this, too.
He smiled, stepping closer. “He’s already ours, and he knows it.”
The puppy sneezed, then licked my chin again, like he agreed completely.
Kairo giggled and patted the puppy’s ear. “He’s squishy.”
Kaida added, “Smell like peanut butta.”
Roque laughed. “That’s because he fell in his food bowl earlier.”
I shook my head, still smiling. “So, does the new chaos maker have a name?”
Roque raised an eyebrow. “I figured we’d let the kids name him.”
Immediately, Kairo shouted, “Nugget!”
Kaida shouted, “Butta!”
The puppy barked, pissing Dog off enough into leaving the room with a haughty huff.
“What about Zeppelin?” I offered, sticking with the classic rock theme Lynyrd and Skynyrd had already started. “Or Jett, Floyd, Sabbath, maybe even Aero?”
Roque's brows climbed halfway up his forehead. “Have you been thinking about getting a dog?”
I shrugged, trying to look casual as I glanced at the kids. “What can I say, I think in band names.”
Kairo tapped his chin thoughtfully, then looked at Kaida. “I like Zep,” he said softly.
Kaida nodded instantly, clapping her hands like it had been her idea all along. “Zep! Zep!”
Roque chuckled, reaching down to rub the puppy’s fuzzy head. “Zeppelin it is, Zep for short.”
I snuggled the bundle of fluff closer and kissed his soft, warm head. “What breed is he again?”
“Miniature Goldendoodle,” Roque replied, watching me with that easy smile of his.
“How miniature is miniature? I thought Goldendoodles were huge.”
Roque shrugged. “He’ll be as big as he’s gonna be.”
It made absolutely no sense, but also, in a weirdly Roque way, it made perfect sense.
Then something caught my eye, a glint around the puppy’s neck that was too shiny to be a regular collar tag. I frowned and gently shifted his fur aside to get a better look.
The tag wasn’t blank. Two simple and clear words were etched into it.
Marry Me
My breath caught, and slowly, I looked up.
Roque was no longer standing. He was kneeling on one knee on the floor, his eyes locked on mine with that same soft steadiness that had pulled me in from the beginning. Kairo and Kaida stood on either side of him, both holding small velvet ring boxes like they were guarding treasure. Kairo looked proud, but Kaida looked like she was about to explode with excitement.
I blinked, stunned. “Roque…”
“I was gonna wait until we moved back in,” he said, voice a little rough. “But when I saw you with them, with him…”—he nodded at the wiggling puppy in my arms— “I just knew. You already love all of us like we’re yours, and we are yours, Sayla. Every day, in every way, if you’ll have us.”
Kairo stepped forward and opened his box with a shaky but determined hand. Inside was the ring—simple, elegant, perfect.
“Will you marry me?” Roque asked.
My eyes burned, my heart was racing, and my whole body felt like it was holding back tears, laughter, and joy all at once.
“Yes,” I whispered. Then louder, with a breathless laugh, “Yes.”
The kids squealed, Kaida nearly knocking over her brother as she jumped in place. Roque stood and caught me just as I reached him, his arms wrapping around me tightly, with the puppy squirming between us.
I kissed him right there, with the kids giggling, a puppy barking at our knees, and a ring still waiting to be slid onto my hand.
It was imperfect, chaotic, and completely us, and it was everything I’d never dared dream of finding. At this stage in my life, I realized that imperfection was our perfection, and I loved it.
Then Kaida came forward and opened her box, showing me the necklace with the three names of my new world. The feeling of being complete reached a new level.
Epilogue 2
Sayla
The Best Kind of Forever
The sky above the Townsend ranch stretched wide and blue, scattered with soft, lazy clouds and warmed by the afternoon sun. Rows of wooden chairs sat beneath strings of fairy lights and swaying oak branches, and every seat was full—friends, family, and familiar faces who had stood beside us through the most challenging parts of our lives. Wildflowers were everywhere, and it was like the day had decided to bloom just for us.
I stood under a simple arch draped in soft linen and eucalyptus, Kairo gripping my hand on one side, Kaida swinging from my other, barefoot and happy in her flower crown.