Chapter 25 - The Ring Under the StarsBy late August, the apple trees in our backyard were heavy with ripening fruit, their branches bending gently toward the rich Ohio earth.
I had planned a surprise weekend camping trip for the family down by the private creek at the back of our property—complete with a crackling campfire, roasted marshmallows, and stargazing under the vast, clear night sky.
After Lucas and Chloe had fallen asleep in their sleeping bags inside the spacious canvas tent, Elena and I sat side-by-side on a rustic wooden bench near the fire pit, watching the orange embers drift upward into the dark canopy of leaves.
"The stars are incredible tonight," Elena murmured, resting her head gently against my shoulder.
"Not as incredible as the woman sitting beside me," I replied softly.
Elena chuckled, looking up at me with her warm hazel eyes. "Are you feeling poetic tonight, Deputy Miller?"
I smiled, sliding my hand into my jacket pocket and pulling out a small velvet box.
Elena’s breath caught in her throat. She froze as I popped open the lid, revealing a stunning platinum ring set with a brilliant, sparkling diamond flanked by two small sapphires.
"Elena," I said, my voice thick with emotion as I dropped gently onto one knee on the soft grass. "You brought light into a house of shadows. You taught my children how to laugh again, and you showed me what true, unconditional love is supposed to feel like. Will you marry me? Will you be our forever?"
Tears of pure joy spilled over Elena’s eyelashes, and a radiant, breathless smile lit up her face.
"Yes, David!" she whispered, throwing her arms around my neck as I slipped the ring onto her finger. "Yes, a million times yes!"
From inside the tent, a sleepy little voice called out: "Does this mean Elena is officially our mom now?!"
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Elena and I burst out laughing as Lucas poked his messy head out of the tent flap with a grin.
"Yes, buddy," I called back, pulling Elena into a deep, passionate kiss beneath the starlit Ohio sky. "She's officially our mom."
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