54. Gage
GAGE
We’re okay now, but it’s not enough. She’s still fragile despite being one of the strongest people I know. After the accident, I forced myself to do some soul searching. Uncle Bill was right, I can’t let her go.
Cap and Margaret agreed to help me tonight for my big surprise.
I asked them to invite Charli to dinner at their house and I would do the rest. I’m grateful for their help after how horribly I treated their granddaughter.
They got on board with my plans and Cap told me he was happy I finally got my head out my ass.
I headed to Port City so I could shop for a few things for Charli for what I have planned. Luckily, the Marina shop had the rest. I want to give her the world, but my small gifts will have to do on short notice.
Around five, I pick her up and we make the short drive to her grandparents’ house for dinner. We’re casual tonight, in jeans and sweatshirts to ward off the chill after dark. Margaret said she would arrange the meal and to just take care of Charli.
We take the steps to the porch hand in hand, the evening light at the perfect hue to take in the view of the harbor. A harbor that will be home to me sometime in the future. A sense of calm fills me, feeling settled after drifting for so long.
Voices echo from inside as the front door open and Cap and Margaret appear before us.
“Look at you two,” Margaret beams. She pulls us both in for a hug as Cap stands back, watching us, his usually stoic expression soft.
“Thanks for having us, Mimi,” Charli says as she moves to give her Pop a hug, her long braid hanging down her back.
“It wasn’t my idea, sweetie.”
Charli turns to me, a puzzled look on her face.
“I have something for you.”
“It’s just inside the door,” Cap rumbles.
“Come and sit.” Margaret takes Charli by the hand and leads her to the rockers as I gather what I need. “We’ll be right back.” Cap and Margaret disappear around the corner and a door creaks open before whining shut.
I sit beside Charli, my love, and set the bag in front of her.
“I asked you to trust me and you did. You trusted me with everything, your heart, your body, your soul. And I let you down. It wasn't because I didn’t love you back. I just didn’t trust myself.
I was hurting you by trying to protect myself. I want to be enough for you.”
She blinks at me and presses her lips together like she’s fighting tears again.
I keep going, “I love you so much. I want to live each day we have together with you, beside you. You’re my everything and I don’t want you to ever forget it.”
She tries to stop the tears and rubs her fingers along the lower edge of her eyes. She reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. Her voice is ragged. “I love you too, baby. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you always. You’re it for me. My forever.”
I close the space between us, kneeling in front of her as I reach for her like my life depends on it.
“Charli, will you come sail with me, at least down the waterway? If you hate living on the boat with me, you can go back home, and I’ll come back with you.
But I don’t want to be apart from you, not now. What do you say?”
Her lip trembles and she searches my eyes.
“I'm sorry that I made you cry,” I say as I hold her close.
A watery laugh escapes her throat as she leans to kiss me. “These are happy tears.”
Our mouths collide in an intense kiss. She’s quenching my soul, in a way I didn’t know I needed. “So, is that a yes?”
She nods, and chews at her lip. “Yes, I want to.”
We cling together and I cradle her face in my hands brushing my thumbs along her jawline. I kiss her mouth gently savoring the taste of her lips against mine. They’re salty from her tears. Tears that I caused.
“But I have to figure some things out with Oliver.”
I scan her face. “I ran some things by him yesterday.”
“What?” Her brows knit together.
“Well, he and I met and I asked him what he thought about you traveling with me for an extended time, depending on what you wanted to do.”
“You did? What did he say?”
“He said you two could work something out and that everything would be fine.”
“Oh my God, I don’t know what to say.”
“Well he knows I was going to meet with you tonight, so he’s expecting to talk tomorrow.” I stroke her soft skin. “I want to buy my uncle’s boat. What do you think?”
“It’s up to you.”
“No, that’s a ‘we decision’ now.”
She smiles into my kiss, then sighs, and runs her hands into my hair at the back of my head. She melts into me, her chest flush against me as I hold her tightly. I never want to let her go again.
“We can work down there this winter, chartering, and traveling until we decide what’s next for us.”
“I say ‘yes.’”
Footsteps sound from the doorway as her grandparents peer through the glass. I give Cap a nod and he ushers his wife onto the porch.
Margaret claps her hands together and comes to hug us both. “I'm so happy for you kids.”
I smile broadly at Charli. “I forgot that I have something for you too.”
We release each other from our hug and I turn to pull the boat bag.
We sit in the rocking chairs as she pulls out each item and the tears trickle down her cheeks.
A light blue hat, a women’s hoodie, a dark blue fleece jacket, a t-shirt, a collared shirt, and a hooded sunshirt all with Wanderlust embroidered or printed on each one.
After she carefully unfolds each item from the bag, I pass her a small wrapped gift. “Open it.”
Her eyes flick to mine nervously. She unties the bow and tears the paper carefully, revealing a small white box. She pops the top and sees the gift. “Gage,” is all she says softly. “Put it on me.”
I stand and she lifts her braid so I can fasten the chain around her neck. “Is it a good length for you?”
“Yes, perfect.”
Margaret asks, “What’s on the necklace?”
Charli looks at me with those beautiful eyes. “It’s a charm with the coordinates for Seascape.”
Cap nods, adding, “I like that.”
I tug on my chain. “I got the same thing engraved on the other side of my necklace too. I have a new home now.”
Afterwards, we all eat together on the porch as the sun gets lower in the sky. It’s killing me staying to eat, but we can’t run off after her grandparents helped me out on this one.
We take our dessert to go. They aren't dumb, but we don't need to spell it out for them.
Instead of going back to her place, I drive out to the beach trail.
Harvey came early and built a campfire for me so we wouldn't freeze our asses out here.
He left some blankets off to the side and a bottle of wine for us.
I text him before we head out there so he can make himself scarce.
When I take the turn for the beach trail, she whips her head in my direction. “I thought we were going home?”
“I have another surprise for you,” I say, squeezing her knee.
Later, we lay under the warm blanket eating our dessert in front of the fire. We’re lucky; no wind tonight and the flames keep us warm. The fire dances in front of the waves. I feel the love for her in my heart grow. This is really living. Soon, the wind shifts and we know it’s time to go home.
She takes my face in her hands, her fingertips cool to my skin. “Promise me that you’ll talk to me about how you’re feeling from now on.”
I kiss her before answering, “I promise. I won’t hold back on anything, even if it worries me.”
“Especially if it worries you.” She lays her head on my chest. “And I won’t be afraid to tell you anything either.”
I stroke her back slowly under the blanket. “We’ll do this together. Even if we make mistakes, they’ll be ours.”