Rowan
I promise not to tell your daughter you offered up your corpse to help me cover up murder.
A laugh bubbles up from my chest. I miss her so much, death jokes and all.
Lydia
Good man.
I’m listening…
Rowan
I’m in love with Hannah.
It started the moment I first saw her. She ran toward me on that sidewalk and I thought she was the most radiant thing I’d ever seen. I don’t know if I should call it love at first sight, but it was…something.
Then she showed me her heart and it was like my whole world clicked into place.
Your daughter makes me believe in the kind of fate that says I was made for her, she was made for me, and someone upstairs has just been playing the long game in bringing us back together.
Hannah is kind and witty. Her laugh is so cute it makes me stupid. She’s selfless and kind. Compassionate. Smart. She’s a fighter and she’s strong. So damn strong.
Just like you.
I hate that the two of you are there and my mom and I are here when the only place I want to be is wherever Hannah is. But I promise I’m gonna get back to her as soon as I can. You have my word.
And I know I already said it, but it bears repeating. I love your daughter so much it hurts.
Lydia
Tell me something I don’t know.
Rowan
I have a feeling that’s impossible.
I swat at my wet cheeks, eyes blurry. More texts sit below but I read through Rowan’s love confession one more time. Before we’d said the words aloud to each other, he made sure my mom knew. I told her too, lying beside her at the end. Mom died knowing I was loved and in love. The real kind. The kind you can’t fake.
Strong, broad arms wrap around my middle. Rowan has shifted behind me, bearded chin resting on my shoulder to read along with me.
Lydia
Was there a question somewhere in there?
Rowan
I’d like permission to marry your daughter.
I can’t say if it’ll happen next month or even next year but there’s nobody else for me except her.
Lydia
On one condition…
Rowan
Anything.