Page 113 of Taming Violet

His fingers twist the ring on my right hand. Mum’s ring that he gave me. “I haven’t seen you wear this for a while.”

Reminders of my mum are not something I welcome, but each day, the truth is easier to bear. I’m not sure what made me put it on this morning, but seeing it in my drawer, it reminded me of Kane’s love more than it did her betrayal, and if Kane can forgive her, maybe I should try too.

Kane wiggles the ring over my knuckle and slips it from my finger.

“What are you doing?”

“This ring isn’t good enough for you.” He throws it into the lake. My eyes widen, watching it skim across the surface before sinking out of sight.

“Why did you do that?”

“I bought that for her. You should have your own.”

My throat closes up. The questions lingering in the back of my mind are unable to be spoken.

“Ali was my past. I don’t see her in my future. It’s you, Vi. Only you.”

A flutter in my chest travels to my stomach. He’s finally letting go. Lilly’s words pop into my head. ‘I’m tired of competing with a ghost.’ He’s giving up the ghost. The old Kane is dead, and he’s embracing his new life and that life is with me. It’s all I’ve wanted since the night I stepped foot into his farmhouse.

“We’ll have to get the courts to change my name on your birth certificate, too. I’ll get things put in place and send off the DNA tests as soon as possible.”

I’d forgotten about my birth certificate. “Why the rush?”

“Because I want our names on a different certificate.” He reaches a hand into his denim pocket beneath me. “I was going to wait until later to do this, but now seems like as good a time as any.”

I can’t breathe. The oxygen in the air seems to have burnt away with the red setting sun. I sit up, turning to face him. He sits up too, gathering the wild strands of hair blowing in the wind and tucking them behind my ear. He holds the small green box up in front of my face with a smile playing in the corner of his mouth.

“Violet.” My name floats on the breeze and caresses my cheek. The scent of him catches in my nose as the boat gently rocks in the water. “I want to make you officially mine. Forever.” He opens the box. The setting sun casts a glittering glow over the amethyst jewels in a flower shape with a sparkling diamond in the middle.

“It’s…” A lump gathers in my throat. “It’s a violet.”

“It took me ages to find one that was right for you.”

“You’ve been planning this for a while?”

“Since the fire. Since I knew I never wanted to lose you again.”

I slide my hand over his chest. The pounding of his heart beneath my palm is faster than usual. “I never want to lose you, either.” My fingertips graze over the scruff of his jaw, and I lean closer, pressing my lips to his.

He takes my ring finger and slips the ring on, pushing it past my knuckle. “So, how about it? How do you like the sound of becoming Violet Harding again?”

A smile spreads across my face. “I’ve always loved that name.”

Kane settles back down against the padded cushions in the boat, pulling me back with him. I snuggle against him, my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling my favourite scent and my palm resting on his chest. The purple jewels shine in the setting sun, and I exhale a dreamy sigh.

I have arrived at my destination. It wasn't the farmhouse or my dad I was journeying towards. It was Kane, as if I'd been searching for him my whole life, someone who will love me unconditionally, someone who will take care of me like a daddy, but also as a husband.

Family doesn’t always mean blood. He is family where I belong. Finally, I’m home.

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