The drive doesn’t take long. Madison Park is the northeast corner of Seattle. We pass the heart of the city, with its towering skyscrapers and locks. My heart gives a little squeeze when we drive past my old apartment and my old work.
It feels like a lifetime ago when I was a research assistant. My life was science and biology. Now it’s music and dodging crazy crowds.
We pull off the freeway and make our way toward the waters of Lake Washington. Down we drop. And then we pull up to a set of ornate gates.
I really wanted to buy a place in downtown Seattle. It’s where I grew up, where I lived all my life. Right in the heart of the city. But the city also means a lot of people and a lot of people who will recognize me. I need some peace and quiet, so I opted for the edge of my city.
The gates open, and we pull forward onto a well-manicured entryway. Perfectly trimmed hedges line the driveway. Flowering bushes trying to hang onto the last of the warm fall weather are splashed everywhere. A spacious lawn stretches out on each side of us.
And there’s the house. It’s a remodeled sprawling thing that was built in the twenties. And it’s beautiful.
“Nice place,” Kale breathes as we both take it in.
“It’ll do,” I say with a breathy laugh.
The car stops in front of the house, and Tony opens the door for us. We climb out, and I immediately reach for Kale’s hand. It’s there without hesitance.
He reaches for the door and pushes it open.
The smell of food is what seems off at first.
And then Kale flips a light on.
“Surprise!”
My heart jumps to my throat, and I duck behind Kale with a scream.
There, in the entryway of my new home, is everyone.
My parents. Ming, Henry. Robin. Sage, Julian, Lake, Riley, Drake, Kaylee, the kids. Even Carson. All the family and all the most important friends, they’re here.
“Holy poo, you scared me!” I say in shock as I hold my free hand over my heart. It’s still trying to jackhammer out of my chest.
Everyone laughs. “Welcome home,” my mom and Robin say at the same time.
“How’d you all know we were coming back?” Kale asks as he pulls me close to his side and wraps an arm around my waist.
“Tony called,” Julian pipes up. “He thought maybe you all could use a reunion.”
I turn back to look at Tony. He just gives a little smile and a shrug.
“I knew something was up when you called me,” Lake laughs as he sits back on the couch. “That was just too out of the blue after too long.”
“To be fair, I tried calling Sage and Kaylee first,” I say with a blush. “But I needed to know what was going on.”
“I’m glad you called,” Lake says with a wink.
“I think we all are,” Robin says.
Half the family is here in the living room, lounging around on the couches. The other half is in the kitchen or dining room, laughing, talking, eating.
It’s exactly how it should be.
“So how long is it going to be before the media gets word that you two are back together?” Ming asks as she tries to slyly check Julian out for the fiftieth time tonight. She should be careful. I don’t think Sage will react well if she notices.
I sigh, lace my fingers through Kale’s, and look over at him. “If we never leave the house? Maybe a while. But it won’t be long.”
“So are you two officially moving in together?” Riley asks with a sly smile. “I mean, you don’t have anywhere else, right Kale? Unless you move in with one of us.”
“I’m not completely broke, you guys,” he says with a slightly offended smirk. “I was famous once and managed to do pretty well for myself. But…”
He looks at me to answer her question.
“I lived without him for eleven months,” I say, looking at him seriously. “I’m not letting him go anywhere.”
A smile breaks onto Kale’s face, and he leans forward, pressing an intimate kiss to my lips.
“Take it to your room!” Lake yells through a smile.
“It’s her house,” Kale says, even as I pull his ears to keep him captive. “She can have her way with me wherever she wants.”
“You love each other, you’re going to be living with each other,” Robin says as I let Kale go with an embarrassed blush. “Why don’t you two just get married? It’s going to happen eventually anyway.”
My shocked expression snaps from Robin to Kale.
And he looks a little taken aback, too. But it goes from surprised, to a smirk. I see something shift in his eyes.
“I’m all in, Whitney,” he says, taking both my hands in his. “I’m done not being with you all the time for the rest of my life. I’m all in, Whitney, because I love you, and I’m never going to get enough of you. Ever.”
My heart breaks out into warp speed. But I’ve never said truer words when I say, “Let’s do it.”
Just then, my parents walk into the room, followed by everyone else. Kale’s eyes shift up to them.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ford, may I please, pretty please have your permission to marry your daughter?” he asks with a smile and hesitance in his eyes.
“Aw, snap,” I hear Ming say, but barely register.
I look back at my family. Carson has his awkward expression his face—surprise and embarrassment. Mom’s eyes are a little wide, but Dad just has a smile.
“I’ve never seen my daughter happier than she is right now,” Dad says. “Who am I to say no to that?”
“Mrs. Ford?” Kale asks.
“Well, at least when you two have children, they’ll be brilliant and beautiful.” And she says it with a smile.
Kale’s face breaks out into a brilliant smile, and he looks back down at me. He slides off the couch, shifts down onto one knee.
The smile on my face is out of control. And the glow in Kale’s eyes could power the world for a year.
“Whitney Ford,” he says, looking so happy. “You are my one in seven point two-two billion. I don’t want to spend another boring second without you. Will you freaking marry me?”
And everything in me breaks free. “Kale McCain, you’ve got yourself a wife! Yes!”
I launch myself at him, knocking the two of us to the ground and crushing my lips to his.
Everyone starts clapping and whooping.
“I don’t want to wait,” I say to his lips. “Let’s do it. Like, as soon as we can get a marriage license.”
“I’m all in, angel,” he breathes. “Let’s do this.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“And I thought Julian and I got married quick,” Sage says as she helps secure the veil in my hair with Mom’s help.
“Well, this is Kale, and he always has to show everyone up,” I chuckle as I look in the mirror and smooth my dress down.
Four days. That’s how long Kale and my engagement lasts. Because it takes three days to get a marriage license in Washington state.
It’s been a crazy, chaotic, wonderful three days. All the girls came with me to my favorite vintage stores, and it only took me two hours to find the perfect dress.
It’s from the fifties. It only goes to just below my knees with a full, tulle skirt. A sweetheart neckline, a beaded, complicated belt. Lace comes up and over the neckline, to a high collar around my neck. It’s sleeveless. And slightly yellowed from age.
And I love it. It’s perfect, and quirky, and a little different, and totally me.
“I do believe it was your idea,” she says as she raises an eyebrow at me.
“What can I say?” I breathe as I look at myself in the mirror. I look so happy. “I’m ready to start the rest of my life.”
Soft music starts down the hall.
We chose to have the wedding here at the house. This is where our story would play out for the rest of our lives. We both wanted it to begin here, too.
“Time to go,” the wedding planner says as she pokes her head through the door. “Line on up!”
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Everyone squeals. Ming, Hadley, Kaylee, Riley, Sage, Paisley, and even Quinn and Afton line up.
I feel like my heart should be racing right now. I should be nervous or scared or something. But I’m not. I feel like I’m right where I was always meant to be.
One by one, my bridesmaids in mismatched, vintage dresses walk out the door and down the long hall that leads to the great room. When it’s my turn, I step out the door and there’s my dad. He gives me the proudest smile in the world, and I slide my arm through his.
The hall is long, but finally opens up into the great room that looks out over the water with its giant windows. The sun shines brilliantly outside.
The flowers that drape across the room are gorgeous. There’s only a dozen chairs for people to sit in. Tony, Calvin, a few others watch us all. Almost everyone is in the wedding party.
But I don’t notice any of this as we step into the room.
Cause there’s Kale.
And instead of racing, my heart soars.
The second he sees me, his face breaks out into a triumphant smile. His eyes are locked on mine, and I feel a smile spread on my own face as I walk toward him.
Maybe too fast, I feel like I’m dragging my dad along.
And, just before I reach Kale, I trip on the tile floor.
“Whoa!” Kale shouts, darting forward to catch me before I biff it. “Please don’t try to off yourself before we seal the deal. I know it’s scary marrying me, but really?”
Everyone breaks out into laughter. “Never,” I say, winking at him. “You’re not getting out of this that easily.”
And all seriousness back, Kale takes my hands in his, and our eyes lock.
I’ll never look away. Ever.
The pastor we wrangled up and made sign a confidentiality agreement goes into a speech about love and hardship and forgiveness. I’m sure it’s beautiful, but I’m not really hearing him. I’m staring at the love of my life and marveling how I’m here and how quickly my life has changed.
Miracles happen when you least expect them.
“I do,” Kale says. And the smile on his face is the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed.
“I do,” I say when it’s my turn. And we slip each other’s rings on.
“Then I’m proud to pronounce you man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. McCain.”
Everyone erupts, and I kiss Kale like the world will end and I want to go down with my breath taken away.
I hear the photographer snapping pictures like mad. And then Kale ducks down, his shoulder goes into my stomach, and he’s hoisted me over his shoulder.
I give a little scream. Kale just lifts his hands in the air and gives a triumphant holler. “She’s mine!”
And then he takes off running. Off to a happily ever after.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Four years later
“And you don’t have any regrets?”
A smile crosses my lips as I pick Abby up from off the floor. She puts her latest toy directly into her mouth, gnawing on it like a rabid animal.
“How could I?” I say as I smile down at her. “I’ve lived more life in just a few short years than most people do in their whole lifetime.”
“Not many people reach your level of world fame and retire at the age of twenty-seven,” the journalist says with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
“Not many people get to be as happy as I do.” I press a kiss to Abby’s forehead and let her go, cause she’s wiggling around like crazy, trying to escape.
“Do you ever miss it?” she asks. “The fame? The stage lights? The crowds screaming your name?”
I take a second to think about it. Do I miss it?
“I think there’s a time for everything in your life to happen,” I respond. “I loved my time recording and touring and being a musician. I mean, I’ll never stop being a musician. But there was a time for me to be that face on the news and the person that everyone wanted to live vicariously through. And I’m done with that. Now it’s just time for me to be a mom. To be a wife.”
And almost as if on cue, the front door opens, and in walks Kale.
He’s wearing his thick khaki pants and a sweater over his Seattle Fire Department shirt. His face is covered in soot and his hair is a mess. He looks tired.
But the second he sees us, his little family, his face breaks out into a smile.
He crosses the entryway to the living room and plops down onto the couch next to me. He grabs Abby with a growl and blows onto her belly, making her laugh in that adorable way of hers.
“Last one?” Kale asks as he leans over and presses a kiss to my temple.
“Ever,” I say with a smile and a nod before I look back to the journalist. She’s the one who was chosen to write the article for the biggest magazine in the country.
It’s my last interview. At least for the foreseeable future.
“I have to say, I don’t think anyone would have ever seen this coming for the two of you when you first emerged into the celebrity world,” she says as she takes notes. Her phone is on the table between us, recording everything we say. “Kale no longer a model, working as a fireman. You retiring after becoming the most well-known artist in America, and most of the world.”
“Life is unpredictable,” I say as I watch Kale play with our daughter on the couch. He’s so amazing with her. I can never get enough of the two of them together.
“I guess we all know where you got the title of that third album,” she says. I just nod in agreement. “Okay. I think we’ve got enough. I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity. It really is an honor. I wish you and your family all the best.”
“Thank you,” I say as we both stand and I shake her hand.
I walk her to the front door, say a goodbye. Tony sees her to her car.
I close the door and walk back to the living room. I hold back by the entryway, just watching Kale and Abby.
He growls at her in that way she loves, tickling her gently. She giggles like crazy, sucking in deep breaths before letting another screeching laugh rip. Kale is lying on the floor, Abby on top of him. She looks triumphant, like she managed to tackle Daddy all on her own. A line of drool drips from her mouth, and lands on his neck, right over his burn scar.
I smile as I watch the two of them. So happy I can hardly stand it.
Kale and I had the most wonderful honeymoon. Here, at home. Just the two of us, not a soul to disturb us. And I was so grateful that I’d kept that one precious thing I had, so that when the time was right, when I was ready and everything was perfect, that I could give it to Kale.
It was nothing like I could have ever imagined. Two people, being together and one in such a deeply emotional and physical way.
We had four months to just be with each other. To learn how to be married, to be together, forever. We spent time with family. And Kale got hired with the fire department.
And as we settled into this amazing life, I realized something. I had always wanted to do music because it was what made me happy. And I still loved music, but now I loved something else even more. My life. Kale.
So, I called Elysium. I promised them one last album. One more tour. And then I was retiring.
To say they weren’t happy would be a massive, grievous understatement.
But what choice did they have but to honor it?
So that’s what I gave them. A year later, I was back in the studio. They took four months to produce it. Six months of pre-order. They drug it out as long as possible. Never breathed a word about my retirement. Not until the day the album came out.
Unpredictable did what my first two albums did combined. Every station was playing half the songs from it. A twenty week-long tour kicked off. It was hard, and reminded me why this was it for me. Kale came with me every few weeks, but he had a job now. He had somewhere to be. So we were apart for far too long.
We had one last concert, here in Seattle. At KeyArena. It sold out within five minutes of the tickets going on sale
.
It was amazing. I felt elated. Free. Because this was my last night under the lights. My last time to connect with all those amazing people out there who were there for me and no one else.
And two months after the shows and the limelight were done, I was pregnant. That had been the plan all along.
Now, Abby is eight months old.
And life is perfect.
I step into the room and steal Abby away from Kale. Her eyes grow wide and surprised for a moment, and then she’s squealing in delight, whirlwinding her arms in the air.
“Look at you,” I coo to her as Kale climbs to her feet. “Daddy has you all wound up right before nap time.”
“Squirt needs her wrestle time,” Kale says as he pokes Abby in the belly, to her delight. “Got to get her prepped for when all those boys are going to be swarming her.”
“That’ll never happen,” I say to Abby with wide eyes. “Those boys will stand no chance between Daddy, and Uncle Lake, and Julian, and Drake. Not to mention Tony. You poor thing, you don’t have a chance at finding a boy. Ever.”
Abby coos and grabs my nose.
I laugh, and Kale presses a kiss to my cheek. “You’d better go get showered, everyone will be here any second.”
“Care to join me?” he says low into my ear.
“Well, I would have, but then you got our daughter all wound up instead of sleepy,” I tease him with a raised eyebrow.
“I regret it instantly,” he says in that cocky, confident way of his. He presses a kiss to Abby’s cheek, and I know he’s a liar. Kale doesn’t regret any moment he spends with our daughter. He’s an amazing father.
But just then, the doorbell rings, and Lucian lets himself in.
“Too late,” Kale says with a chuckle as Quinn and Afton immediately follow Lucian. The three of them let out a war cry and rush Kale, who meets them battle call for call. They collide somewhere in the middle of the hall and go down in a tangle of arms and legs.
“Something smells amazing,” Robin calls as she appears in the doorway. She’s immediately followed by Lake and Riley and Callie and Tyler. The kids throw themselves onto the wrestling pile.