Page 127 of His Heart

I would always love Liam. I didn’t need to forget him, or pretend I hadn’t loved him, in order to love again. There was room in my heart for his memory—to acknowledge the ways he had touched my life—and more than enough space to love Sebastian. The deep, abiding, fierce, and passionate love I had for Sebastian didn’t need to exist on its own. It was too strong for that. Too sure. It filled me with the strength to choose joy over pain. Hope over grief. Life over death.

Liam had tried to save me from my past. Sebastian had tried to save me for a future he wanted to share. The strength of love had allowed me to choose to save myself. And to give myself to the man I loved. I wasn’t perfect. I still had healing to do. But every day, I would choose to live, and to love. For my friends, who were my family. For Liam. For Sebastian. For myself.

People stayed for a while, mingling, browsing, buying books, sipping coffee and tea. The Harpers were in town for a week, so we made plans to show them all our favorite Iowa spots. Charlie and Sebastian were mostly concerned with where we would eat—those two led with their stomachs. Olivia wanted to take me and Mary wedding dress shopping. Sebastian’s parents had invited all of us to come out to Waverly for dinner. It was going to be a fun week.

The store emptied and I told Joe I’d lock up. Charlie and Olivia took her parents out for dessert, but we decided to stay behind. Sebastian waited with me while the last of the customers left. I turned things off and made sure everything was closed for the night.

Sebastian held my coat while I slipped my arms into the sleeves. “I rode with Charlie, so we have to walk home.”

“That’s fine.” I pulled my hair out of the back and adjusted my necklace with the corncob charm. “It’s a beautiful night.”

He held the door and I locked it behind us. The air was cool and the soft sounds of night spoke of a world at rest. A single car drove by while we walked, the hum of its engine fading as it left us behind. Sebastian’s hand clasped with mine was warm and comforting. We walked slowly down the sidewalk, beneath tall maple trees, their branches a canopy of green.

Sebastian was quiet. I felt like he was thinking about something. He had a subtle sense of introspection, as if his thoughts were both here with us, and far away.

We got home and he paused on the step in front of the door.

He stood close, and without saying a word, he took my left hand and pressed it against his chest. His heart thumped against my palm, his hand so large it covered mine.

“This heart is yours.” He leaned down so our foreheads touched. “It always was, and I’m grateful every day that it led me to you.”

With his hand still holding mine against his heart, he reached into his pocket.

“I was going to do this at the bookstore tonight, in front of everyone. It’s why I invited the Harpers here. I thought it would be perfect. A nice setting, with the people who care about you. But then I decided to wait. Because this isn’t for anyone else—just us.”

My heart fluttered as he brought out a velvety gray box. The ring inside was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Three thin bands of gold wound around each other, almost like a vine, with a diamond in the center. The setting looked like a circle of tiny leaves.

He took my hand from his heart and held it while he lowered himself onto one knee. I bit my lip. I wasn’t sure if it was to stop me from laughing or crying. I was on the verge of both.

His eyes were intense and focused as he looked up at me. “Brooke, will you marry me?”

“Yes.” I touched his face, slid my fingers along his beard. “Yes. I love you so much.”

He slid the ring onto my finger and stood. His hands cupped my cheeks and his eyes held onto mine. “I love you, too. We both have a second chance at life, and I’m going to spend the rest of mine loving you.”

Our lips came together in a breathtaking kiss. He wrapped his thick arms around me and pressed my body against his. I held him tight, losing myself in the feel of his mouth caressing mine.

The space in my chest that had once felt so hollow was full. Full of love, and the life Sebastian had helped me rediscover.

The life I was going to spend with him—loving him. A priceless gift and a second chance. One for which I would be forever grateful.

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