Page 112 of When We Are Falling

Chapter 53

Ethan

A warm breezedrifts through the open window, carrying the faint scent of fresh blooms from outside. It’s spring, and everything feels new, alive. The kind of day where the world is full of possibility.

I glance over at Blake, her face lightly speckled with yellow paint as she concentrates on the wall in front of her. We’re both painting one of the rooms in the new emergency accommodation, and it’s coming together. Bright and cheerful, just like she envisioned it.

“Looks good,” I say, stepping back to admire our handiwork. The sunshine-yellow walls practically glow in the afternoon light, and there’s something about this place—this room—that feels like hope.

Blake turns to me, a playful look on her face. “I think you missed a spot.” She dips her brush in the paint and flicks a tiny splatter at me.

I laugh and shake my head. “Oh, you’re asking for it now, Summerton.”

She’s too quick for me, darting to the other side of the room, her laughter ringing out as I grab a brush and chase her, paint streaked on both of us now.

We pause, catching our breath, and I drop the brush, moving closer to her. The sound of other volunteers working in other parts of the building reaches me, but for the moment we’re alone.

“I can’t believe this place is almost done. It’s going to help so many kids.” I glance around, imagining what it will be like filled with furniture and cheerful decorations, toys, and children who need a safe place to land. “You made that happen.”

Blake squeezes my hand. “We did it together. You’ve been here with me through all of it. I almost can’t believe it’s real, you know? It’s actually happening.”

My heart swells with something bigger than pride. “It is. And... I’ve been thinking.” I take a deep breath, the words catching in my throat for a second before I just let them out. “What if we did even more. What if we got licensed as foster parents? Likenow.”

Blake blinks at me, her eyes widening a little, processing what I just said. “You mean like, now-now?”

“Yeah.” I take a step closer, cupping her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing against the soft of her skin. “Let’s do this. I want you to move in with me officially. You’re practically living at my place anyway. Let’s get licensed, start fostering. I know we’ve talked about it before as a hypothetical some time in the future, but I don’t want to wait any longer. I want us to start now.”

Her eyes search mine, and I can see the surprise there, the excitement, and maybe a bit of fear. But mostly, I see love.

“You’re serious,” she says, her voice barely audible.

“I’m dead serious,” I reply. “I love you, and I want to build a life with you. A real life. We could do this. Help kids who need us. Be there for them. Be a family.”

Blake’s lips part, and she looks like she’s about to say something, but then she just shakes her head, a soft laugh bubbling up. “I can’t believe this. Ethan Carter, the guy who used to act like he had to control everything, is telling me to jump into the deep end, move in with him, and become foster parents.”

“I guess you’re rubbing off on me. Life’s going to get unpredictable, but for once, I’m okay with that. Hell, I’m happy with it. Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“You really want to do this?”

“I really do. Let’s not wait. Let’s dive in.”

She smiles, the kind of smile that lights up her entire face, and then she kisses me. Soft at first, tender, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. There’s too much between us—too much love, too much excitement, too mucheverything.

The kiss deepens, and I pull her closer, feeling her heartbeat against mine, knowing that this is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.

Epilogue

Blake

The pregnancy testsits on the bathroom counter, my phone timer slowly counting down the minutes. I’m staring at the little white stick a few feet away, my heart pounding louder than I’ve ever heard it. The seconds seem to crawl, each one dragging on as I wait for the answer that, deep down, I already know.

I glance out the small bathroom window, the sound of laughter floating in from the backyard. Ethan is out there, playing softball with Macey and Tommy, our foster kids, while Bandit lounges in the shade, his tongue lolling out as Tommy takes a break from the game to hug him.

Ethan’s throwing the ball underhand to Macey, who’s concentrating hard, her bat raised, ready to swing. She hits the ball, and Ethan whoops, running backward to catch it, all the while calling out encouragement. I watch the scene unfold, warmth and love washing over me. Ethan has taken to being a dad like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Tommy, our five-year-old foster son, wraps his little arms around Bandit, resting his head against the dog’s side as they take a break together in the cool shade. Bandit’s tail wags lazily, and Tommy’s giggle reaches me through the window. It’s perfect, all of it. Everything I ever wanted, and more than I ever thought I’d have.

But now, with this test waiting to confirm what I already know, there’s a whole extra layer of emotion. I place a hand over my stomach, the reality of it settling deep inside me. I’m pregnant—I can feel it in my bones, in the way my body has changed, in the small hints and whispers my intuition has been trying to tell me for days.

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