Page 67 of Summer's Echo
Hey Sunshine,
I’ve been sitting here forhours, staring at this blank page, trying to find theright words to ask the most important question of mylife. But the truth is, there’s nothing I couldwrite that would ever capture how much I love you—how much I loveus.
I remember the moment wefound out that we were pregnant. Your eyes were filledwith fear and wonder, searching mine to see if angstor panic would show up first. I’m not goingto lie, my ass was definitely panicking, but honestly, allI felt wasawe.All I imagined was you carryingthe best parts of us.
These past months, I’vewatched your body change, watched you create life with aquiet strength that humbles me. I’ve memorized every moment—your sleepy smile in the mornings, the way your handsinstinctively cradle your belly when you’re lost in thought, the way you whisper to our baby when you thinkI’m not listening.
And one night, while I waslying next to you, whispering to ourblueberryabout howmuch I loved their mama,it hit me: I neverwant to spend another night, another morning,another lifetime withoutyou.
I love you, Summer. I love this life we’re building. Yeah, it’s a little fast and furiousand maybe even a little crazy, but this is us.
So, I decided to commemorate this moment in your journalbecause this isn’t just a proposal. It’s apromise to you and our baby.
I promise to loveyou with every part of me. To be the manwho holds your hand through the hard days and theone who laughs with you on the best days. Ipromise to be the husband to always give you butterflies. I promise to be the father our child deserves.
Idon’t need anything extravagant. No grand gestures, no audience. Justyou and me and the little blueberry between us.
So, what do you say, Sunshine? Will you marry me?
Yours truly,
Summer’s Echo
Epilogue
Almost a Year Later
“Has anybody seen Summer?”Trinity asked, rushing into the hotel suite.
“What do you mean, ‘Has anybody seenSummer?’She was in your room this morning,”Brooke said, her face pinched with worry.
Trinity’s gaze darted around the room.“You think she ran again?”
“Oh my God.”Hailee’s voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.“She wouldn’t, would she?”
Atight, nerve-wracking silencegripped the room, each second stretching unbearably long, pounding like an unrelenting drumbeat.It was eerily reminiscent of the feeling that had gripped themalmost two years ago—the same suffocating fear, the same chilling uncertainty.
“Wouldn’t what?” Summerstrolled in with effortless confidence,completely unbothered,the picture of calm.She took a slow sip from herbedazzled coffee cup, the wordBrideelegantly scripted across the front.
Trinityyelped,“Gotcha.” But nobody else thought it was funny.
“You really get on my nerves,”Brooke said, rolling her eyes.
“What? What’s wrong?” Summer asked,her brows knitting at their uneasy expressions.
Haileeplastered on a bright smileand nudged her toward the chair. “Nothing,” she sanga little too sweetly.“Just…it’s a beautiful day for a wedding, right?”
Summer scanned the room with suspicion.Something feltoff.But instead of pressing, she took a slow breath and let it go.Today was her wedding day.And nothing—not lingering stares, not hesitant smiles—was going to ruin that. Her mind drifted to the love of her life.
Last night, when she and Echo weresupposed to go their separate waysafter the rehearsal dinner, hesomehow found his way to her suitearound one in the morning. They kissed and cuddled and simplyreveled in the magic of the night before they committed forever until sleepfinally stole them away. Echo slipped outbefore dawn, before the sun had even stretched across the sky, leaving her with a few extra hours of rest and the lingering warmth of him. And today? The only thing Summer felt waselation. She wouldn’t dare compare today to the day she was supposed to marry Deshawn becausethere was no comparison. This time,everything was right. Echo wasthe right man in the right place at exactly the right time. He was…butterflies.The sunshone bright over Brighton Falls, the air wasa perfect seventy-eight degrees, and the day ahead felt like it had beenwritten just for them.
“Summer, make sure you eat something,”Raqi ordered, lips pursed as a makeup artist carefully applied her lipstick.
Summerblinked, startled back into the present. “Yes, Mom,” she teased, throwing her sister a playful look.
“Is Raqi bossing people around again?” At the sound of her mother’s voice, the whole roomerupted into excited squeals, completely ignoring the question. But Summer’s eyeslocked on the real reason for her joy.
“Awww,come here, my little blueberry.” She reached out,heart full, arms wide, as her growing baby girl was carried into the room.
