a smal circular turret to the third and highest floor of the castle. Here, at the top, was a smal sitting room, an open-air, stone gazebo, which he used to retreat to in times of worry. He sat on the ledge of the stone, in a wel -worn groove, and looked out at the ocean.
He reflected on his life. He was happy to be here, in this time and place. He was happy beyond belief to be with Caitlin again. He was racked by grief over Jade, but the more he sat, calmly listening, the more he felt that Jade was stil with him, even now. He knew that he could not travel forward in time, and he knew he could not see him again.
He realized, with resolve, that he just had to accept how things were now, and let him go. He breathed deeply, slowly starting to feel better.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wanted to have another child. This time, with Caitlin. The child that they never had. He knew that it was impossible for two vampires to have a child. But maybe, just maybe, there was some way.
Ever since he’d seen her again, he’d been trying to find a moment to tel her how much he cared for her. And to tel her that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
He was about to raise the topic, in Paris, by the river, but he’d gotten nervous at the last second, and hadn’t been able to summon the courage to tel her.
But now that he was here, in this place, the timing felt right to him.
He searched the wal s of the stone gazebo, looking for the secret compartment that he remembered.
He ran his fingers along the stone, and eventual y he found it. He pushed the lever, and a smal crack opened in the stone. He pul ed it with his fingertips, and a stone loosened.
Caleb reached in, and found what he was looking for. He had placed it here, hundreds of years ago. It was a smal , silver box, encrusted with jewels.
Inside it, was his mother’s wedding ring.
She had given it to him once, and had told him to only give it to the one he truly loved, the one that he was sure he would be with forever. Being of his race, “forever” took on a whole new meaning.
Caleb had never given it to Sera, despite their marriage.
Somehow, something inside him had prevented him from doing so. Somehow, even then, he knew it was not a relationship that was meant to last.
But with Caitlin, things were different. He wanted her to have this ring. He was certain that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. And now, he felt ready.
It was time for him to propose.
Caleb slowly opened the box, hoping the ring was stil there.
It was. It was as magnificent as he remembered: a huge, six carat sapphire, perfectly cut, mounted on a band of sparkling rubies and diamonds.
He felt overwhelmed with emotion, as he thought of his mother, of Jade, and now, of Caitlin.
Of the family they might one day, some way, have together.
Now, he only hoped that she would say Yes.
*
Caitlin walked through the entire house again, looking everywhere for Caleb. She was baffled as to where he might have gone.
Just then, she heard a creaking door, and saw him coming down from a spiral staircase. She hadn’t even known that staircase existed. She realized he had been coming from the roof, and wondered why he would go up there.
And then she realized. There was no reason why he would, unless he wanted to get as far away from her as he could.
To be alone. Her presence was bothering him, she realized. He wanted to distance himself from her, perhaps even prepare himself to tel her something she did not want to here. That he had changed his mind about their living together. Like asking her to leave.
Caitlin felt her heart sink, as Caleb approached and as she caught a glimpse of his troubled face.
She felt that he was getting ready to break up with her. He was going to tel her that he had invited her here too quickly, that he hadn’t real y thought it through. That it had al happened too fast. That he wasn’t cut out for domestic life.
That he wanted her to leave.
As he walked closer, she could see the redness in