When We Are Enough (Valiant Hearts #1)

Epilogue

Patrick

T he plane’s engine hums steadily as we climb higher into the sky. I look over at Liam, who’s grinning from ear to ear, excitement radiating off him. Next to him, Jake grips the seat while Ethan makes last-minute checks on their gear.

My heart pounds against my ribs, not just from what we’re about to do, but from the weight of the small ring box secured safely in my pocket.

“You sure you want to jump with the ring?” Liam asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s properly secured.” I’ve thought this through, and I want this moment to be perfect.

Ethan claps me on the shoulder, gray eyes holding mine for a moment before giving me a thumbs-up. “You’ve got this, man. It’s going to be epic.”

And I know he’s talking about Emmy and not the jump. Jake gives me a nod of encouragement as we start getting ready. Nerves mixed with adrenaline rush through me as Liam straps us together.

There’s a moment of pure fear as I inch toward the open door, the wind whipping around us. But then I take a deep breath, focusing on the feel of the ring against my chest .

Liam is behind me.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

As we step out of the plane, the rush of air screams past my ears, and for a brief, exhilarating moment, I’m weightless. The world below is a blur, the blue expanse of the sky merging with the distant greens of the Pines and the darker blue of the harbor.

Strapped to Liam, I’m not in control for once—my safety, my life, is entirely in his hands. It’s a dizzying, liberating sensation, feeling the pull of gravity and the push of the wind with nothing to do but trust.

The old burden of responsibility, the constant need to be the one in charge, melted away months ago, leaving me to enjoy this moment of pure, unfiltered freedom. A wild mix of fear and exhilaration whips through me, and I find myself laughing out loud, a sound that gets swallowed by the roar of the descent.

The parachute deploys with a jolt, and we’re suddenly floating, the crazy fall becoming a gentle glide. The wind rushes past us, Harbor’s Edge below, sprawling out in all its beauty. The town looks like a miniature model, the buildings tiny and the roads like thin veins threading through it all.

The view is breathtaking, ocean shimmering under sunlight, rooftops glinting, the boardwalk bustling with people. The lighthouse stands tall, a beacon of safety and home.

Liam raises his hand for a fist-bump, which I return. At this moment, everything feels right. I’m soaring above the world, holding on to the promise of a future with Emmy. I reach down, feeling the reassuring shape of the ring box through my clothes.

We land with a rough bump in a field just outside of town, Ethan and Jake landing a moment later. Liam unclips us and I undo my harness, my heart still racing, taking in the familiar faces of my brother, Ethan, and Jake. They’re all smiling, sharing in the triumph of what we just did.

“That was incredible,” I say, catching my breath. “Thanks for being here with me, guys.”

Liam claps me on the back. “Anytime, brother. And good luck with what comes next.”

I spot Emmy and Jake’s daughter, Suzie, walking toward us, Emmy’s hair catching the sunlight, golden and shiny, a floaty summer dress skimming the tan of her legs. Stormy trots beside her on a leash.

The sight of her fills me with heat, warmth that spreads from my heart and burns through my body, like staring into the heart of a wildfire, a bright and all-consuming love that sets everything around it ablaze with its intensity.

I lock eyes with Emmy, and she stops in front of me, everything becoming softer, gentler, the blaze welcoming me as her hand intertwines with mine. I trace the contours of her face with my fingers, taking in the smoothness of her skin and the warmth of her touch.

As I pull her against me, every detail is in sharp relief—the cherry-blossom smell of her hair, the softness of it against my cheek, the sensation of her hands on my back. Being close to her is all I want, every day, for the rest of my life.

Before she can say anything, I capture her mouth in a kiss, the world fading away around us until I lean back. I pull the ring box out of the pocket where it had been zipped safely. Dropping to one knee, I hold it out to her, my heart beating a wild rhythm in my chest.

Her eyes go wide.

“Emmy,” I say. “You are the love of my life, the one person who makes every day brighter.” I take a moment just to look at her, to memorize every detail of this moment. “Will you marry me?”

Stormy jumps up, licking my face, and Emmy’s eyes fill with tears as she looks at me, then at the ring. She nods, her voice breaking. “Yes, Patrick. Yes. Of course I’ll marry you! ”

She throws her arms around me, and I stand, spinning her around as the world blurs. The field around us, the town in the distance, the clear blue sky—it all feels like a dream, a beautiful, perfect dream.

But it’s not a dream: this is our life.