Jake’s daughter now lived full-time with her father, a request she’d had to make before yet another judge.
“That’s correct, Olivia Riley is in complete remission.” Jake smiled down at the girl and she smiled shyly back. The news had come just a few weeks ago and they’d taken the girls to Disney for the weekend to celebrate, their choice. “So I guess everyone gets a happy ending after all.”
“What about Ms. Lange?” one of the reporters inquired. Rachel’s head came up at the mention of her name.
Jake’s smile faltered as he glanced down at her. “Well, we’re still waiting for test results, but we’re hopeful…”
Rachel leaned in to the microphone, her heart thudding in her chest. She hadn’t planned this. She’d wanted to wait until after this whole court thing was over to sit both Emma and Jake down to tell them the news. But somehow this just seemed right.
“Actually, I heard from the doctor yesterday.” Rachel cleared her throat and spoke into the microphone, wincing a little at the sudden feedback. Jake’s hand tightened in hers and she glanced up at him, seeing the blindsided look on his face. Her eyes filled with tears. “It seems this happy ending thing must be catching because he told me my cancer is in remission too.”
The crowd around them exploded with cheers and applause—it was even louder than the first wave, when they’d just come out of the courtroom. Jake pulled her into his arms and kissed her so hard she could barely breathe.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispered harshly against her ear, hugging her tight.
“I just did,” she gasped as he held her at arm’s length, his eyes drinking her in, looking at her as if she might disappear at any moment. Emma and Liv were around them, jumping up and down and hugging them both at turns. “Surprise.”
“Daddy’s got a surprise for you too,” Emma whispered as her arms went around Rachel’s neck, but the teen spoke too loudly. Jake heard and shot her a warning glance. “Oops.”
“Surprise? What surprise?” Rachel asked, not realizing they were so close to the microphone.
The reporters heard the word and started asking the same question. Soon the crowd caught on and started chanting, “Sur-prise! Sur-prise! Sur-prise!” Jake flushed and stammered into the microphone, but it was hard to resist pressure like that.
“Okay, okay!” he relented, turning to Rachel in front of the crowd. “Rachel, I have to ask you something.”
“What?” she asked, puzzled. She didn’t fully understand, although she had hoped, had held fast to that hope for months. They both had. “Jake? What are you doing?”
“Loving you,” he replied simply.
Then she did understand, and the hope that had settled in her heart, right under the dove pendant Jake had given her months ago, took flight in her chest as he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a blue Tiffany’s box.
Then, like a magician, he got down on one knee and turned hope into something with wings.