Chapter 21Aiden
Chapter Twenty-One
Aiden
A week later, the warm breeze tousled Stella’s hair as we walked hand in hand along the pedestrian path running parallel to Seven Mile Bridge. Though less than ten miles away from our little islands, it felt half a world away. The endless stretch of turquoise water below competed with the sky above, both captivating shades of blue. I couldn’t help but think the water won, reflecting Stella’s vibrant energy back at us.
An osprey soared overhead, its sharp gaze surveying the waters before it chose to alight on the railing a few feet away. Its talons gripped the metal with easy authority, and Stella squeezed my hand, pulling me to a stop to admire the large raptor.
“Look at him,” she said, her voice laced with awe. “He’s magnificent.”
The mottled brown and white bird surveyed us without fear. “I wonder how close he’d let us get?”
She smirked. “Do you really want to find out whether he’d attack or fly away? ”
“Good point. Let’s keep going.” I bumped my shoulder with hers as we stepped around the bird. It watched us pass but didn’t move otherwise.
As we continued our stroll, I found myself just enjoying the moment. The salty air filled my lungs, and it felt like inhaling a piece of home. A piece of us. “I’m so glad I moved back. I’ve missed this so much. The warmth, the water, the fresh air.” I glanced down at her and winked. “You…”
Her fingers tightened around mine, and she turned to give me that mischievous, heart-stopping grin. “I’m pretty happy about it too.”
As we walked, a splash in the water below caught our attention. We wandered over and rested our arms on the metal railing. A fishing boat bobbed on the waves, and a man on deck was engaged in an epic battle with a fish that leaped and danced on the water’s surface. One particularly majestic leap revealed it as a tarpon—its silver scales flashed brilliantly under the sun.
“Look at him go!” Stella exclaimed, pointing as the fish thrashed wildly, trying to shake free from the line.
“Kind of like us,” I said. “Always wrestling with something or other.”
“Except we usually came up for air at some point.” She laughed, then grew contemplative. “You know, growing up on Calypso Key and being able to dive or fish whenever I wanted… I didn’t realize then how precious that freedom was. How lucky I was.”
“Sometimes we don’t see the value of what’s right in front of us until it changes,” I mused, watching the man finally reel in the tarpon.
Stella leaned against the railing, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. “There was this wild sense of adventure that came with every dive, every catch. And Dad made sure each of us got the experiences we craved. It felt limitless.”
Limitless was a fitting word for Stella too. She had an untamed spirit that matched the ocean’s depths. As if to prove my point, she stood on her tiptoes and bent over the railing, peeking straight down .
“Hey, what do you think about jumping off this bridge right now?” She wagged her eyebrows at me.
I stared at her for a moment, incredulous, before bursting into laughter at the solid hundred-foot drop into the ocean. The idea was ludicrous but so quintessentially Stella. “Only if you plan to sprout wings or start practicing your mermaid skills. And you go first.”
“Mermaid skills, huh? You haven’t seen anything yet, Mitchell.” Her laughter mingled with mine, a sweet sound that filled the space between us.
The laughter hadn’t quite died down as we strolled farther along Seven Mile Bridge, hand in hand. I couldn’t help but feel that every smile and giggle between us was stitching the past and present together, weaving a portrait of what could be.
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” I said, my voice carrying a note of contentment that had been absent for too long. “Simple pleasures—walking beside someone who means the world to you.”
Stella’s gaze met mine as our steps slowed, then stopped. She stood on her tiptoes, and her lips found mine in a kiss that felt like coming home. A kiss that spoke of second chances and unspoken promises.
“Agreed,” she murmured against my lips, then broke the kiss to flash me a smile brighter than the sun glinting off the water.
And as I watched the light dancing on her dark hair, my heart skipped a beat. Stella’s vibrant laughter, her fearless approach to life—it all hit me straight in the chest like a physical blow. I was falling in love with her all over again, each laugh and smile deepening the emotions stirring within me. The realization was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. How had I let her slip away once before?
After finishing our walk, we got in my truck and headed north on Highway One to Marathon’s quiet charm. The lunch spot we stumbled upon was the epitome of small-town allure, a tiny hole in the wall that promised more than its unassuming exterior suggested. The Salty Crab was etched onto a weathered wooden sign that swung gently above the door, the paint chipped but the name clear .
Inside, the air was thick with the aroma of spices and grilling seafood, and the buzz of conversation filled the cozy space. Nautical decor—nets, buoys, and old photos of local fishermen—adorned the walls, while a chalkboard menu boasted the catch of the day in colored scrawl.
“Look at this place,” Stella said, her eyes scanning the intimate restaurant as we took our seats at a corner booth. “It’s got character.”
“Character and some amazing scents,” I added, taking in a whiff of garlic and sweet herbs that wafted from the kitchen. I pointed at the chalkboard. “Look. Catch of the day. Must be a good place.”
Stella perused the menu with the eye of a seasoned chef, her fingers tapping rhythmically. When our meals arrived, she assessed her plate with a glint in her eye, giving the blackened snapper an approving nod before sampling a bite.
“Wow,” she exclaimed after a moment, her taste buds clearly delighted. “I should hire whoever’s back there to bring a little of this magic to Orchid.”
“Is that so?” I laughed, watching her savor each forkful. “I’ll still take your Cajun seafood pasta over this.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Dr. Mitchell.” Her grin was as delectable as the food we were enjoying, and I got caught up in the simple pleasure of our banter.
But her use of my title reminded me of something. I arched a brow. “Being here in Marathon reminds me… have you made your appointment with your new gynecologist yet?”
She wrinkled her nose in that adorable way. “Yes, though you are rather familiar with my lady bits now. I don’t see what the problem is.”
Smiling, I refused to rise to her bait. “The problem is that it’s a conflict of interest. A doctor needs to maintain impartiality as much as possible to make the best treatment decisions. And, darling”—my voice turned to a low drawl—“I’m anything but impartial where you’re concerned.”
“Glad to hear it. And you’re off the hook, though I couldn’t get an appointment for a while yet. No more horrifying meetings in your exam room.”
Laughing, I covered her hand with mine. “I still feel awful about that.”
“It wasn’t the best way to see each other after nearly two decades, was it?”
“No, but it led us here. So at least some good came from it.”
Lunch stretched on, punctuated by laughter and the clink of silverware. As Stella talked animatedly about flavor profiles and cooking techniques, I realized that these moments—the easy conversations, the shared smiles over a meal—were what I’d been missing in my life. Why I was back.
I watched her across the table, the sunlight filtering through the window and casting a golden glow on her skin, and I wondered how long I could keep my heart’s truth silent. Would she ever be ready to hear just how deeply I’d fallen for her? I pushed the thought aside, determined to savor the present, uncertain as the future might be.
The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation filled the little diner, a quaint sanctuary from the bustling heat outside. I leaned back in the booth, feeling the stickiness of the vinyl against my skin, and watched as Stella took another bite of her key lime pie, her eyes closing in what I could only describe as pure culinary bliss.
“It’s kind of nice not to work all the time, huh?” I teased, taking a swig of my ice-cold beer.
Stella’s eyelids fluttered open, and she set her fork down with a gentle clink. “You know,” she began, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, “I’ve been so wrapped up in the restaurant lately that I forgot how good it feels to just… breathe.”
“Sounds like you needed this break more than you realized.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, intrigued by the softness that had overtaken her usually fiery demeanor.
She nodded, a strand of hair falling across her face. “I need to remember that there’s still room for fun and adventure,” she said, tucking the errant lock behind her ear. “Especially now.” Her gaze held mine, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a smile.
“Then here’s to rediscovering each other.” I raised my bottle. “And to remembering that the best parts of life aren’t on any menu.”
“Cheers to that,” Stella agreed, her glass chiming against mine.
“How are you feeling about the pool party next weekend?” I’d been pleased she wanted me to attend such a big family event. She might not be quite as into this relationship as I was, but inviting me was a step in the right direction.
“A little nervous, of course. The last time those two were around the pool, it didn’t go so well. But I’ll keep trying. Both of them need to move past what happened, but I think they’re too stuck to reach out on their own.”
“And here you are, ready to step in and help. They’re lucky to have you.”
She smiled and blushed a delicate shade of pink but didn’t reply to the compliment. Once again, that deep, clenching wave of emotion swept through me. A trio of pelicans swooped by outside, inches above the water’s surface. I picked at the label on my beer as I tried to sort out the tight warmth in my chest.
“Hey, you’ve gone quiet on me.” Stella nudged me gently, her voice pulling me back. “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. The truth was, my heart was so full it felt like it could burst through my chest. The words I love you perched on the tip of my tongue. But I swallowed them down, along with another mouthful of beer.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but she let it go. Maybe it was the way I looked at her just then, the intensity and vulnerability making her uncomfortable. She picked up her beer and took a swallow, her throat moving in a way that made me want to kiss it. To kiss everything. I wanted to savor this simplicity, this easiness between us. It was a rare treasure—one I knew all too well could be fleeting.
The pelicans rose in a graceful arc and then one slammed into the ocean, coming up with a wriggling pouch under its bill a moment later. Stella’s eyes widened and her mouth stretched into a broad smile. Her delighted look nearly did me in right then and there.
But just as I opened my mouth to spill my heart out, I thought twice. Of the times I’d glimpsed that flicker of hesitation in her eyes. It was enough to give me pause. Because despite spending the perfect day together, she wasn’t ready to hear my declaration. And even as I forced a smile on my own face, I had to wonder.
Would she ever want to hear those words? And would she ever return them?