Chapter 10
Elise
Shay called me tonight out of the blue. I always welcomed her calls and missed her, but I also knew that she was busy living her spontaneous life, and I didn’t necessarily fit into it. I was okay with that because I was the exact opposite of Shay. I hadn’t heard from her since she surprised me that night, which happened to be one of the worst nights of my life.
“It’s almost your birthday!” Shay said with excitement.
“Yeah, it is. Not too thrilled about it this year with the crap that keeps getting laid on me.”
“What else has happened?”
“Ford … and then my mom is suing me for the money Thad left for me, and on top of that, I ran into Bryan.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“For what purpose? I get so sick of hearing myself talk sometimes … Terry and Carol have been around listening, and it has been a huge relief.”
“I would have been there for you, Elise.”
“I know you would have.”
“What is going on with Ford?” she asked, and I hesitated to speak of it.
“He has a brain tumor,” I said and then hated how the words felt on my tongue. Tumor. Such a hideous word that had nothing good coming out of it.
“Elise … I had no idea. Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but I sure wish there was … Can we just change the subject?”
“You think Ford will take you to the pier again this year?”
“Not sure … I hope he does because it is our thing, but Ford isn’t exactly the same guy right now.”
“Well, no matter what, he is the Ford who loves you. Always has, always will.”
“Thanks, Shay. I needed to hear that. So did you need something?”
“No … well, kind of. I miss Luke.”
“So call him.”
“I did … left a message and texted but no response.”
“When was the last time you talked to him?”
“Been a while. Have y’all talked to him? I figured Ford might have talked to him.”
“I think once.”
“Can you let me know if you hear from him?’
“Sure.” Ford had told me that Luke had moved on, finding a girl who wanted to settle down. The exact thing Shay didn’t want. It wasn’t my place to say, and I had no intention of reporting what I knew although she was my best friend. That was Luke’s job.
“Are you in …?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I have been living here now for almost three years, and I am ready to come home. Shay Hayes wants to come home and be with her old boyfriend.”
“What?” I was completely shocked.
“That doesn’t sound like me, does it?”
“It sounds like you are growing up.”
“Glad you waited around for me. Happy early birthday.”
“Thanks.”
“And remember, I am here for you to talk to. Just pick up the phone and call.”
“I hope I don’t have anything to call and discuss.”
Ford
Every year without fail, I tried to take Elise to the first place I took her for her birthday—our pier. It wasn’t an official commercial pier, but rather one that had started to fade with the rising water. I had even talked to Terry about seeing how we could get it repaired because I didn’t want to let it fall.
Every twelve months, I brought her here. Sometimes, it was with a picnic of her favorite meal—lasagna, two breadsticks not one and a dessert, cheesecake. Sometimes with her favorite glass of wine that she only drank on special occasions, vowing to never be a person who wanted to drink on a regular basis.
I didn’t blindfold her any longer because it wouldn’t do any good. She knew exactly where I was taking her, and the look on her face always told me it was exactly where she wanted to be.
We pulled up to the drive that faced our spot, and she turned to me with a smile.
I had her smile burned into my memory forever. When I was in pain or feeling especially down, I thought of it and the way her lips perfectly showcased her pearly whites.
She immediately opened the door and headed toward our spot but stopped before walking down it and turned to me.
She smiled and took my hand as we continued to walk with me slightly behind her steps.
At the end of the pier, we stopped, and I laid the blanket down as she looked out at the water. Elise didn’t turn around to see when I had it in place, but instead, she just took her seat and extended her legs, not taking her eyes off the waves of the water.
I glanced at her legs then her face before returning to the water.
“This is the best place on earth, you know that?” She said quietly as to not disturb the surroundings.
“Anywhere on earth is the best when you are there.”
She looked at me with the words in her eyes that spoke volumes although I knew she would speak them too. Elise was never short on words when it came to telling me how she felt.
“Ford, every year we come here, and every year it is perfect. And this year, knowing we’re married only makes it even more special. I love you. I don’t know what I ever did to get you in my life, but I don’t want you to go anywhere ever.”
“I’m not going anywhere …” I uttered the words, but just as I said them, I knew I couldn’t promise that. And Elise knew I couldn’t.
Elise stood, and I watched, waiting to see what she was doing.
“You ready to eat?”
She shook her head, looking as sexy as she did sweet. A woman who was class and sophistication yet as tempting and brass.
She slipped her shirt over her head, and I stared intensively, taking in whatever she was doing.
She threw her shirt, letting it hit me in the face, and I inhaled the soft t-shirt that was covered in her perfume.
Elise unclipped her bra and put on a show for me by not letting me see anything but her hands covering her as she slowly turned around still wearing her shorts.
I stood to meet her gaze, not taking my eyes off her.
She smiled wickedly and then lifted my shirt up as I matched her smile.
Throwing my shirt to the ground, she moved her breasts against my chest and kissed me, taking control of the situation.
“Happy Birthday, Elise.”
“Thank you.” She kissed me one more time before backing away and slipping out of her shorts and thong as I watched her every. single. move and then as she jumped into the water.
It took me a half of a second before I followed suit to be with my wife.
Happy birthday to me too. The black fog had been lifted for a little bit today, and I was grateful for this short time to feel alive.