Chapter 47
Amonth has passed since the accident, and somewhere in the quiet days that followed, Aiden became part of my everyday life.
We spend every moment we can together, and since he went back to work, we’ve slowly become inseparable.
What started as the two of us accidentally falling asleep together while watching a movie has somehow turned into a nightly sleepover.
Sometimes at Aiden’s house, but more often at mine, where we get all the privacy we need because the truth is we can barely keep our hands off each other.
This morning I don’t wake up to my alarm.
Instead, I wake to a slow trail of kisses starting at my neck and drifting down along my clavicle. My eyes open to the soft light of morning and the sight of Aiden leaning over me, kissing me good morning.
“Hey,” I murmur, stretching comfortably before curling closer against him.
“Hey,” he answers, smiling down at me, his dark blue eyes bright with mischief.
He leans down and kisses me on the lips, and my stomach does that familiar flutter that I’m starting to suspect will never go away.
Waking up like this… I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it, and I love every minute of it.
“What time are you meeting Natalia?” he asks.
“Eight,” I say, glancing toward the clock on my nightstand.
“It’s almost six-thirty.”
“Do you have time for breakfast?” I ask.
He nods.
“I go in at seven-thirty. I’ll start the coffee.”
He kisses me once more before climbing out of bed, and I watch him walk away, completely naked and completely unconcerned about it.
I can’t help the quiet giggle that slips out of me.
Honestly, how lucky am I?
A few minutes later, I get dressed and head downstairs. The smell of fresh coffee already fills the kitchen, and music is drifting through the house from the living room speaker. Aiden’s favorite playlist is on, a mix of songs that I’ve learned are tied to some of his favorite memories.
Starting the weekend with music is his thing. He likes to sing along while doing chores, or while getting ready for work, filling the house with whatever song happens to be playing.
Through the window, I can see him outside, throwing a ball for Neptune and Skye, entertaining them and giving them some exercise before he leaves for work. I head to the community center to help with the last-minute preparations.
It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means the Fleet of Flowers ceremony is happening today. After helping with wreath-making the past two days, I promised Natalia I would meet her early to help decorate the boats before the event.
I start making eggs and toasting bagels while Aiden comes back inside and fills the dogs’ bowls with food and water. Neptune and Skye have been spending so much time together lately that they’ve grown used to sharing bowls, no matter which house we happen to be staying at.
A new song begins playing through the speaker.
From the living room, I hear Aiden say, “Oh, I love this song.”
I glance up and immediately start laughing.
He’s dancing.
His hips sway from side to side as he takes two steps to the right and then two steps to the left, completely lost in the music. When he looks toward the kitchen and catches me watching him, he freezes in place.
“Do you know how to dance bachata?” he asks.
“A little,” I answer, flipping the eggs.
He walks over without another word, reaches around me, and turns off the stove.
Before I can protest, his arms slide around me from behind, and he starts moving us gently with the rhythm of the song.
Two steps to the right.
Two steps to the left.
I close my eyes for a moment, letting him guide me while the music fills the kitchen and the warmth of his body settles comfortably around mine.
Then, softly against my ear, he starts singing.
“Después de tanto tiempo, mira dónde estamos.
Seguimos juntos y así nos quedamos.
Porque llegaste para quedarte,
y ahora, sin ti, no voy a ninguna parte.”
He turns me towards him, until we’re face to face, dancing in the middle of my kitchen, his right arm settling comfortably around my waist while his left hand closes around mine.
“What does that mean?” I ask, looking up at him.
He studies me for a moment before answering, his voice low and steady.
“After all this time, look where we are. Still together, exactly where we belong. You came into my life to stay, and now there’s nowhere in this world I’d want to go without you.”
The words hang softly between us while the music continues to play in the background, and for a moment, I forget about the breakfast waiting on the stove, the plans for the day, the entire world outside this kitchen.
All I can see is him.
My fingers tighten slightly in his as warmth spreads through my chest.
“Well,” I say quietly, unable to stop the smile that’s growing across my face, “that might be the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me before seven in the morning.”
Aiden chuckles under his breath and pulls me a little closer, our bodies still moving slowly with the music.
“Good,” he murmurs, brushing a soft kiss against my lips. “Get used to it.”
Later that morning, Natalia and I stand near the harbor admiring the work that has come together over the last few days.
The entire community showed up for this ceremony, and it shows in every corner of the marina.
Music plays from a small stage set up along the docks while Coast Guard vessels and commercial fishing boats of every size rock gently in the water, their rails overflowing with flowers that spill over the sides in bright colors.
Guests gather along the harbor, chatting excitedly as they line up to board the boats that will carry them out to sea to take part in the celebration from the water.
Natalia and I take it all in, quietly proud of the small part we played in helping bring everything together.
Then I see him.
Aiden is making his way through the crowd toward me, wearing a tight blue shirt tucked into his firefighter pants, his suspenders hanging loose at his sides, and the sight of him makes my smile spread so wide that Natalia notices it immediately.
“Someone is in love,” she says, poking me gently in the ribs.
My smile doesn’t fade, especially once he reaches me and wraps both arms around my waist, lifting me effortlessly into the air before kissing me in front of everyone.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he says when he sets me back on my feet.
I laugh, still holding onto him as the warmth of the moment settles around us.
“Ah, young love,” Natalia says from beside us.
Aiden chuckles and turns toward her, extending his hand politely.
“Hi, I’m Aiden.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” she answers with a smile as she shakes his hand.
Together we move closer toward the harbor where the ceremony is already beginning.
The Fleet of Flowers began as a commemoration honoring fallen military personnel and seafarers lost at sea, and every year the Coast Guard opens the event with a blessing of the fleet before recognizing acts of service and bravery among those who serve.
Lieutenant Mercer steps forward onto the small makeshift stage set up along the dock, his voice carrying clearly across the water as the crowd slowly quiets.
“Today we gather not only to remember those we have lost,” he begins, “but also to recognize the courage and commitment of those who continue to serve.”
He pauses briefly before continuing.
“Last month, during a time of great need, one of our Coast Guard servicemen responded to a rescue call just beyond this harbor. An individual had fallen into dangerously cold water, and with every passing minute, the situation became more critical. Without hesitation, this serviceman entered the water and brought that individual safely back to shore.”
My chest tightens slightly as the memory of that day rushes back.
“For that reason,” Lieutenant Mercer continues, “we would like to honor Aviation Survival Technician and Petty Officer Second Class Findlay O’Donoghue with the Gold Lifesaving Medal for extraordinary heroism in the line of duty, performed at great personal risk, so that others may live.”
The crowd erupts in cheers.
“Here to present this honor,” Lieutenant Mercer continues, “is Aiden Holloway, whose life was rescued by Officer O’Donoghue.”
My jaw drops in complete surprise as I realize what is happening.
I had absolutely no idea this was planned.
Beside me, Aiden kisses me briefly on the cheek before making his way through the crowd toward the stage. I watch as he climbs the steps and accepts the medal from Lieutenant Mercer, then turns toward Finn, who is already there, waiting for him.
Aiden places the medal in his hands.
Finn barely looks at it before pulling him into a tight hug.
Tears fill my eyes instantly.
My hands move to my pockets, searching for my phone because I don’t want to miss a second of this moment, but everything happened so quickly that I wasn’t ready.
“Don’t worry,” Natalia says softly from beside me. “Some of the wives are at the front recording everything. I’ll send you the pictures and footage later.”
I glance at her gratefully.
“Thank you.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulders while we both watch the two of them standing there on stage, the crowd still cheering around them as my vision blurs slightly from the tears running down my face.
My God, I think.
I am so lucky.
Once Lieutenant Mercer continues the celebration and the crowd’s attention shifts back toward the harbor, Aiden slips quietly to my side. His fingers find mine, and he gives my hand a gentle tug, leaning close enough that his voice brushes against my ear.
“Come on.”
I follow him without question as he leads me away from the crowd.
“Where are we going?” I ask, glancing back toward the harbor where the procession is just about to begin.
“I have a perfect spot for us to watch,” he says, a wide smile spreading across his face.