38. Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Six Months Later…
GRAY
T he late winter winds of Hilton Head Island ruffled the curtains in my office, offering a cool contrast to the warmth of my thoughts. Over the past few months, Elle and I had grown closer not only in love but also in our shared vision for the future. It amazed me how seamlessly our lives and dreams intertwined. From discussing the potential of a future children’s ministry to the excitement of raising kids one day, we were on the same page.
There was something so thrilling about planning adventures with Elle. We reveled in the serenity of our kayak sessions, the gentle strokes of our paddles often the only sound disturbing the mirror-like stillness of the waterways. During her road trip, whenever I camped with her in my newly acquired tent, the world faded, leaving just the two of us cocooned in our little universe. Those memories kept me going on the days we were apart.
I was scrolling through our recent photos when my phone vibrated. My heart missed a beat as I saw her name pop up on the screen. I answered, a smile spreading across my face. “Hello beautiful.” Every time I spoke to Elle, I was reminded of the inexplicable pull she had on me. I was utterly hooked.
Her bubbly voice filled my ear. “Gray, you won’t believe what just happened!”
I leaned back in my chair, intrigued. “Tell me.”
“I just got a call from Kayak Kingdom. They’re the company I’ve been blogging for, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“They’ve been eyeing the pictures I’ve been sharing of us. And Gray, they’re in love with them!” The words tumbled out of her in a rush of excitement. I could picture her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes .
“That’s awesome, babe. I’m assuming there’s an ‘and’ coming?”
“And… they just offered us a full year of sponsored kayaking around the world.”
“What? That’s insane. What do you mean us?”
“They want a couple to promote their brand. They have a whole world tour planned. And they want us.” She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you think it’s something we should consider? They want us to start the trip in March.”
This news of a sponsored kayaking trip caught me off guard. The chance to explore the world with Elle, doing something we loved, was more than I could’ve hoped for. I took a minute to process the implications of this, and my thoughts quickly centered on our upcoming wedding. “Wow, it’s an amazing opportunity. It sounds like something I’d love to do with you, my girl. But the only thing on my mind right now is I don’t want to push our wedding date out.” I remembered the day I’d proposed, the dreams we’d shared. A long engagement had seemed perfect then, allowing us time to grow and plan. But now, the thought of pushing out our wedding by another year seemed unbearable. “If we decide to do something like this, do you think we could get married before? It would make everything easier with accommodation. Plus, I am desperate to call you my wife.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I know I said I wanted a long engagement,” she said, her voice wavering just a tad, hinting at her internal struggles and desires. “But Gray, deep down, with every fiber of my being, I believe you’re the only man for me. I’d love to get married to you sooner.”
The reality that we could be married in the very near future sent a thrill through me. It’d be a whirlwind for sure, but with Elle by my side, I had no doubts. We were ready.
“They are pretty eager for us to start in March, so we’d have to get married before then. That only gives us two months to get everything planned. Can we do it?”
“Babe, just name the day, and I’ll marry you!”
“Okay. Yikes. I can’t believe we’re considering this. I’m a bit bummed that I’ll have to cancel my summer holiday plans with Becky. But I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“I know she will. I’ll come visit you this weekend. Then we can work out all the details.”
“No, I was actually thinking I should return to Hilton Head so we can get everything planned.”
“Even better. Elle, have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Yes, every day,” she said with an undeniable warmth to her voice.
“Just in case it slipped your mind; I adore you, my girl.”