Page 79 of Since the Day We Kissed

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the crowd. But before she could react, they were already parting, making way for the determined dog. With a soft chuckle, Kara stepped down and followed him as he pranced confidently through the yard and around the side to the back, like a guide leading her on some grand adventure.

In front of her, Charlotte and her dad exchanged knowing glances as they ushered the crowd to follow. Kara could feel their eyes on her, a mix of amused anticipation buzzing around her, but no one seemed eager to offer any explanations.

“What’s going on?” Kara said, casting a quick glance over her shoulder. The crowd had stopped short of the gate, some pretending to avert their gazes, others chuckling as if they were all in on a secret.

Kara smiled, then turned to see Charlotte quietly slipping ahead of the crowd, making her way toward the fence. As Kara followed, her footsteps slowed when she noticed Charlotte at the gate. Charlotte’s smile grew with each step her mother took.

Kara’s heart fluttered as she reached her daughter. “What’s this?”

Without saying a word, Charlotte stepped aside, swinging the gate open wide, inviting her mom to pass through.

As Kara stepped through it, time seemed to slow. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Where the familiar backyard should have been, a paradise bloomed before her eyes.

A sea of flowers stretched out in every direction, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. Roses in deep crimson and soft pink, sunny marigolds, and delicate lavender formed a breathtaking tapestry of colors so vivid, it almost hurt to look at.

And there, in the heart of this floral wonderland, stood Ethan. The setting sun cast a golden glow around him, making him look like something out of a dream.

He smiled and motioned for her to join him. With each step Kara took, her heart beat a little faster. The soft brush of petals against her legs seemed to urge her forward. When she finally reached Ethan, and placed her hand in his outstretched one, a jolt of electricity passed between them, just like it had all those years ago.

Kara continued toward Ethan and slipped her hand into his outstretched one. “Where did all of this come from?”

“You haven’t seen it all yet,” Ethan said. “Close your eyes.”

Kara giggled. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm. Close them,” he said, gently placing a hand over her eyes and turning her around. “Alright—now open!”

As Ethan’s hand fell away, Kara’s eyes fluttered open, and the world seemed to shift before her.

There, on the backdrop of the building, a masterpiece unfolded before her.

Kara gasped.

The once-plain wall now burst with life and color, a canvas stretched across the entire back of the house. Brushstrokes danced across the surface, bringing to life the images of rescued animals, their eyes sparkling with newfound joy and their faces radiating an inner light that seemed to glow from within the mural itself.

And then, at the bottom of the mural, the inscription stole her breath:

“Second chances aren’t just for the animals we save; they’re for all the hearts we heal along the way.” —Sarah Walker

Kara’s eyes welled with tears as she read the words her mother had once spoken. It was as if her mom was standing beside her, whispering them once again. This mural wasn’t only a beautiful piece of art; it was a bridge between past and present, a tribute to the woman who had taught Kara the true meaning of love and compassion.

“Kara,” Ethan’s voice broke through her reverie. “Second chances are rare, but when they come, they’re the kind of gift you hold on to with everything you have. You gave me a second chance at life, and I want to hold on to you—forever—with everything I have.”

He knelt before her, taking her hand as he pulled a beautiful diamond ring from his pocket. His eyes shone as he smiled up at her. “Will you make me the happiest man on the face of the earth and marry me?”

Tears streamed down Kara’s face as she gazed at the man she loved more than life itself. She nodded, her voice breaking with joy.

“Yes ... Yes, Ethan. I’ll marry you.”

With a gentle smile, Ethan slipped the ring onto her finger.

Kara glanced sideways at the crowd, still watching in breathless anticipation.

She grinned, laughed, and shook her head as she worked to hold back tears of joy. “Are you gonna kiss me or not?”

Ethan stood, his smile widening. “Of course I am.”

In one swift motion, he pulled her close and dipped her backward, planting a deep, passionate kiss on her lips as the crowd erupted into cheers.

---