Hundred and Eighty One

Hundred and Eighty One
It had been a long time since I woke up without feeling a sense of impending doom. It was good to be normal. 

No news alerts. No calls from lawyers. No waking up to my name trending on Instagram. Just sunlight filtering through the curtains, the smell of coffee drifting in from the kitchen, and Noah humming to himself as he drew on the dining table with his crayons.

For once, life felt normal.

Declan had planned an outing for us. He had promised the day would be fun, his tone mysterious but light. He’d packed sandwiches, snacks, and Noah’s water bottle, and when I’d asked where we were going, he’d just smiled. “Somewhere you’ll both love.”

Noah, of course, had made the leap instantly. “Disneyland!”

I laughed then, but Declan hadn’t corrected him. Just winked at me over Noah’s head. “You’ll see.”

Now, sitting in the shotgun seat of his car, the sun warm outside and music playing softly through the speakers, I felt a quiet happiness that felt so safe and serene and peaceful I almost couldn’t believe it. 

Noah was in the back, knees bouncing, jabbering nonstop about roller coasters and popcorn. “Mommy, do you think there’ll be fireworks? I love fireworks. Maybe they’ll have the big ones like in that video!”

“Maybe,” I said, smiling at him through the rearview mirror. “But we should thank Declan for taking us.”

“Thank you, Declan!” Noah sang out instantly.

Declan smiled, eyes on the road. “You’re welcome, kiddo.”

I watched him from the side, with one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against his thigh. The sunlight hit his face just right, softening the sharp lines that stress had carved into him lately.

He looked… peaceful. And seeing him that way made warmth stir in my chest.

For months, we’d been so stressed, walking a tightrope, surviving the lawsuits, the headlines, the courtrooms, the noise. But lately, things had quieted. Declan had been smiling more, cooking with Noah, humming while he worked.

About two hours in, I realised we were most definitely not going to Disneyland.

“Uh,” I said slowly, noticing the exit we were taking. “Pretty sure this isn’t the way to Disneyland.”

Declan didn’t look at me, but the corner of his mouth curved up. “You sure about that?”

I frowned. “Pretty sure we had to take the third exit”

From the back seat, Noah gasped dramatically. “Are we lost?”

Declan chuckled. “No, bud. Just taking a detour.”

“A detour from Disneyland?” I asked suspiciously.

He only smiled wider, that infuriatingly calm expression he wore whenever he was hiding something.

“You’ll see,” he said.

I groaned, sinking into my seat. “I hate when you say that.”

He laughed quietly. “I know, my love.”

We drove another half hour before the road opened up into something familiar. 

Oh. 

The lake house?

“Declan,” I asked, “Do we need to pick something from here or?”

He pulled the car to a stop on the gravel path, cutting the engine.

Then he turned to me with that small, soft smile of his. “Surprise,” he said softly.

I took in the sight of the house. It was beautifully adorned with lights and flower arrangements. What was going on?

Noah leaned forward between our seats. “Whoa! The house looks beautiful. Did you decorate it?”

“Yeah,” Declan said. “I had some help, though..”

“Cool!” Noah grinned, practically vibrating with excitement. “Can I go see the water?”

Declan nodded. “Go ahead, kiddo. Careful on the dock.”

Noah bolted out the car, running faster than I could imagine a kid running. 

I turned to Declan, still stunned. “You brought us here?”

He nodded, a quiet smile playing on his lips. “It felt right.”

“Right?” I echoed, half laughing, half overwhelmed. “You do remember, right? What happened the last time we were here? And the time before that?”

“Every bit of it,” he said. “Which is exactly why I wanted to come back. It’s where everything started, and where I want something else to start.”

There was something in his tone that made my chest tighten. I didn’t ask. I just got out of the car and followed him toward the house.

I stared at Declan. “You decorated it?”

“Mostly Noah,” he said with a grin. “He’s surprisingly good at flower arrangements.”

Noah? But he was acting so surprised.

Noah was now crouched at the edge of the dock, trying to convince a frog to come closer. Declan walked beside me, his hand brushing mine. “Come on. There’s something I want to show you.”

We climbed the porch steps, and I saw a small table set with three plates, a picnic basket, and Noah’s favorite chocolate cake, slightly lopsided and clearly homemade.

“Declan…” My voice wavered. “What’s all this?”

He smiled softly. “You’ll see.”

That line again.

Before I could ask, Noah came running up the steps, face flushed, clutching something behind his back. “Mommy! Close your eyes!”

“What? Why?”

“Just do it!”

Declan’s grin was boyish now, mischievous. “Go on. Humor him.”

I sighed, closing my eyes. “If I open them and there’s a frog involved, I’m leaving.”

Noah giggled. “No frogs! Promise!”

There was some whispering -  Declan’s low voice, Noah’s excited one, and then Declan said quietly, “Okay. Open your eyes.”

When I did, Noah was standing in front of me, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. His face was lit up with pride.

“These are for you, Mommy,” he said solemnly. “From both of us.”

I smiled. “Oh, sweetheart. Thank you.”

But before I could finish, Declan moved closer.

He wasn’t smiling now. 

He reached into his pocket.

And then, right there on the porch, he knelt down on one knee.

My heart stopped.

“Declan…”

“Don’t say anything yet,” he said softly. His voice trembled, but his eyes never left mine. “Willow. I’ve loved you since the moment I met you, though I tried not to. I loved you when I wasn’t supposed to, when it hurt, when it couldn’t work. I loved you even when I thought I shouldn’t anymore. And I never stopped.”

Tears blurred my vision instantly.

Oh God. 

“I used to think what happened between us ruined everything,” he went on, voice thick. “But maybe it’s what built us. Because we fought for this, for each other, for Noah, for a life that’s finally ours. You’re my home, Willow. You always have been.”

Noah was grinning so wide his cheeks flushed pink. “Say yes, Mommy!”

I laughed through the tears. “You’re not supposed to tell me what to say!”

Declan smiled at him, then looked back at me. “He’s right, though.”

He opened the small velvet box. Inside was a simple gold ring. It was thin, delicate, studded with numerous small diamonds. 

“Please,” he said. “Marry me.”

“Yes,” I said, my voice breaking. “Of course I will.”

Noah whooped, jumping up and down. “She said yes! I knew she would!”

Declan stood, laughing as he slipped the ring onto my trembling hand. His fingers brushed my skin, warm and steady.

“Perfect fit,” he murmured.

“It is,” I whispered.

He leaned forward, his forehead resting against mine. “You sure about this?”

I laughed softly through the tears. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

He kissed me long and hard, his hand snaking around my waist, his tongue soft on mine.

Noah made a loud, exaggerated groan. “Eww! You’re kissing again!”

Declan pulled away just enough to grin. “You’ll understand someday, kiddo.”

“Never!” Noah said, giggling so hard he nearly toppled over.

Later, we ate cake straight from the box, sitting barefoot on the porch steps. 

I kept staring at the ring, still half in disbelief.

Declan caught me. “You keep looking at it.”

I smiled. “I keep expecting to wake up.”

He brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “You’re awake. I promise.”

Noah had fallen asleep between us, head on my lap, chocolate smeared across his chin. Declan leaned in, his voice quiet.

“Do you think he’ll remember this?”

“Probably not all of it,” I said. “But he’ll remember that we were happy.”

He nodded, his eyes on the lake. “That’s enough for me.”

The last of the sunlight caught the water, and for a moment, everything was golden. The porch, the lake, the trees, the space between us. Him. And me.