4. Boone
Chapter Four
BOONE
I've been staying at Caroline's place for the last three days. And even though it hasn't been long, we've fallen into a routine that I love.
I wake up with the sun, drop Caroline off at work, and then head to the mechanic shop. When her shift ends, I swing by to pick her up.
Then we come home and cook dinner together, or more accurately, I watch her cook while trying not to gawk at how beautiful she is.
Sometimes, I can't help but wonder how it would be if her daughter Lucy was here too.
What would our routine be like then?
I've never really been around kids, but I know I would do anything for Caroline and her daughter.
I imagine we would all sit down at the dinner table together, sharing stories from our days while Lucy tells us about her adventures at school.
She would probably have me wrapped around her little finger in no time with her infectious laughter and big brown eyes.
Now it’s the day before Christmas Eve and I’ve just gotten up to start getting ready for work.
For a second, I consider taking a shower. But then my stomach grumbles, reminding me that it's time for breakfast, and I head downstairs and check on Caroline first.
When I get into the kitchen, I see Caroline, sitting at the table surrounded by crafting supplies.
"Morning, sweetheart," I rumble, my voice still heavy with sleep.
She glances up when she sees me and smiles. "Good morning, Boone. I left breakfast for you in the fridge."
I stride over to the refrigerator, opening it to find a plate of bacon and eggs. My mouth waters at the sight – she knows exactly how I like my eggs, slightly runny, and the bacon just shy of crispy.
I grab the plate and join her at the table.
"You off work today?" I ask, spearing a piece of bacon with my fork.
"Yeah," she replies. "I'm heading over to the nursing home to visit Penny's dad."
"That's nice of you, baby," I say, my respect for her growing even more. "I'm sure he'll appreciate the company."
"Yeah, he’s been a little lonely these last few months. Penny and Callum have been so busy with baby Ford that they haven’t had a chance to see him as much," she says, her voice soft. "He loves it when I visit." Then she changes the subject. “How are things going down at the shop?”
I pause, my fork hanging mid-air as I process her question.
"They're going okay, I guess," I reply. "It's gonna take a chunk of work and a smidge more time, but it looks like everything is salvageable."
Caroline sets her crafting tools down, her full attention now on me. "That's great news, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," I agree, feeling a rush of relief. "If luck stays on my side, I should have things humming along nicely after the New Year."
"That's fantastic," she says, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I mean, you've been working so hard, and it's really paying off. It's no small thing to start a business, and here you are, making it happen. I'm really proud of you."
Her words warm me more than any hot meal could. And it's not just the words themselves, but the genuine admiration in her voice, the sparkle in her eyes when she looks at me.
It's moments like these that remind me why I fell for Caroline in the first place. Her unwavering faith in me, her infectious enthusiasm, her ability to see the silver lining in every cloud - it all makes me feel like I can conquer the world.
After a few more moments of comfortable conversation, I stand, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm about to head upstairs and take a shower, baby,” I murmur against her skin. “Then I’m off to the shop.”
Caroline leans into me, her warmth seeping into my body.
It's moments like these that remind me just how lucky I am to have her in my life. I pull away reluctantly, already looking forward to seeing her later.
"What time will you be back home?" she asks.
"Should be around 6 p.m.," I reply, my heart warming at her question.
It's the 'home' part that gets me. Does she really think of this place – her place – as my home too?
Caroline smiles back, a hint of pink tinting her cheeks. "Sounds great," she says, her eyes sparkling. "I'll see you later, Boone. I’m about to get going to the nursing home."
And with that, I leave the kitchen and head upstairs to take a shower.
The water is hot, soothing my muscles and throwing steam around the room. It feels so good to have a hot shower after those awful motel bathrooms and the biting winter air.
As I shower, thoughts of Caroline sneak into my mind, as they often do these days.
We've been dancing around the subject, not really defining what's simmering between us, but that's alright. I've always been a believer in taking things slow.
Sure, I haven't made any grand declarations, but I've been communicating my feelings in my own way. It's in the small gestures – offering support when she's lost in thought, sharing a laugh over a silly joke, or fixing that pesky leaky faucet without being asked. Sometimes, actions can speak louder than words.
But, there's one particular word that's been nudging me lately.
Love.
It's a weighty word, full of promises and hopes. I want to tell her. I want to see how she reacts when I say it.
Maybe today will be the day I gather enough courage. Or perhaps tomorrow. But certainly before Christmas - that's the deadline I've set for myself. Life is too short to keep holding back. I’m in love with Caroline.
And I refuse to spend my life without her.
Just as I'm finishing up, I hear a loud bang from outside. In an instant, I'm thrown back into my training in the Marines. It sounded like a gunshot.
Shutting the shower off, I hop out of it. I throw on a pair of jeans and hurry out into the hallway to look out the window.
As I peer outside in search of the danger, I spot Caroline sitting in her Buick in the driveway. My heart jumps like a rabbit in my chest at the thought of her in danger, but before I can do anything, I hear the sound again. The blast of a gunshot.
Then I realize that it's not a gun.
It's her car .
Adrenaline surges through me as I bolt outside. When I get to the car, Caroline is hunched over the steering wheel sobbing.
The sight hits me square in the chest.
Taking a deep breath, I walk up to the car and tap gently on the window. "Everything okay, sweetheart?"
“No everything is not okay,” she sniffs, dabbing at her eyes with a crumpled tissue. "It's the Buick," she manages to say, "it's broken down. Again ."
My heart sinks.
I've just brought this car back from the shop for her. The mechanic did what he could, but it's clear the Buick's seen better days. She really needs a new one. The only problem is that this car means everything to Caroline. It's not just a vehicle. It's a precious link to her late husband, James.
How can I suggest a new car when this one holds so many cherished memories?
"I don't know what I'm going to do, Boone," she sobs, "This car... it's everything to me."
I nod, understanding her pain. I open the car door and pull her into a hug.
"I know it does, baby," I murmur, "I know."
After a moment, I pull back and offer, "I’m going to run upstairs and finish getting dressed. Then I’ll drive you to the nursing home."
She looks at me, surprise evident in her watery eyes. "But I thought you were spending the day at the shop?"
I shrug, giving her a small smile. "The shop can wait. You're more important."
She blinks, then manages a weak smile. "Alright, Boone," she murmurs, "That sounds nice."
As I help her out of the car and to the porch, promising to return shortly, my mind races.
I can't fix the car indefinitely, but maybe I can help Caroline find a way to keep those memories alive, even without the Buick.
And maybe, just maybe, I can also show her that it's okay to make new memories, too.
With that thought, I head upstairs to get dressed, ready to face whatever the day throws at us.