Charlotte
Ike and I laid under our tree, side by side, holding hands. We’d said our farewell in our way—a soft slow goodbye. We’d made the most of our last minutes together. Now, we were quiet, letting ourselves absorb the inevitable.
“Thank you, Charlotte.”
Turning my head, I looked at him, but he had his gaze fixed on the tree branches above us. The sun leaked down between the bright leaves, traces of shadow and light dancing across his face. He was so beautiful, and I reminded my heart to never forget how he looked in this moment. “For what?”
“For my nephew. He’s going to bring so much happiness to so many people. Knowing that is probably one of the few reasons I’m okay right now. All those people I love; that we love; their hearts are going to find a lot of peace with his existence.”
His stare was still fixed on the branches above. “Do you see it, Charlotte?”
Moving my gaze up, in the light and color, I saw a sweet old man with bushy eyebrows handing a little boy an ice cream cone as he sat on a stool behind the counter at the Mercer’s gas station. In the next image, George and his father were standing on either side of that same little boy, the three of them casting lines over the water. Another with my mother-in-law Beverly rocking him to sleep even though he was just about too big to sit in her lap, but she’d hold him as long as she could. The big wide grin of Uncle Cameron as he chased a giggling chubby little toddler around, pretending he was a dinosaur about to eat him. My father and mother in a crowd at a parade, their grandson sitting on my Dad’s shoulders as he waved a tiny American flag. Lastly, there was George, asleep on the couch, his squishy-faced newborn son resting peacefully on his chest.
“So much love, Charlotte. Look at what you give.”
I didn’t want to cry. Not anymore. Not in my last moments on this side, with Ike. I didn’t respond, fearing that if I spoke, it might make me lose the fragile hold I had on controlling it.
“And for Meadow,” Ike continued when I didn’t respond. “Thank you for Meadow. I think I need her as much as she needs me.” He laughed quietly through his nose. “It’s funny how things work out.” Though his tone held a hint of humor, he sounded more humble. “I always wanted a daughter, and you gave me one.”
“She’s the luckiest girl in existence to have you be her father, Ike.” He still wasn’t looking at me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I knew I would never know someone else as good as Ike McDermott. He was the best of us. God broke the mold with this man.
In that moment, a feeling came over me, strong and pulling.
My heart squeezed understanding fully what was happening.
I was waking up.
It was time for me to go back.
We’d already agreed that I would leave Ike here, this is the last place we’d see each other until death returned me again. I’d go and hug my brother, grandmother, and Ms. Mercer. Then I’d find Meadow and tell her how special she was to me before taking my son’s hand and leaving.
“It’s time, Ike,” I managed, my throat tight as I fought like hell to hold back the sobs trying to escape me.
He bobbed his head, before turning to look at me. His eyes were dark, deepened by the feelings I knew he was trying to keep at bay. Our hands were still joined when he lifted them and kissed my knuckles. “I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
Pushing up, I rolled to my side so that my head was above his. Our stares locked. “Close your eyes, Ike.” I didn’t want him to watch me vanish.
He swallowed hard, reaching one hand up to capture a lock of my hair between his fingers. He understood what I was asking, and why I was asking it. “Go be the moon and bloom, Charlotte.”
His eyes scanned my face and he gave me one last longing look. Without another word, his lids slowly closed, and he let his hands rest on his chest.
Scooting closer, my mouth but a breath away from his, I whispered, “Here, there, forever. Always, Ike. Always.” Brushing my lips against his, I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to leave my soulmate.