Chapter 24
“Where are you today?” Kate asked Deacon as she climbed into bed that night. Each night she'd found herself climbing into an empty bed with nothing but his phone call to keep her warm. She didn't like it. She hated in fact.
“Just outside of Boston, in Salem, at Winter Island Park,” he told her. “It's nice. Near the water,” he told her. “There's even a lighthouse.”
“No witches?” she teased.
“Not that I've met,” he said with a laugh. “It's a beautiful spot.”
“It sounds nice.”
“You'd like it,” he said. “It's quiet at the moment, but the manager told me that they are expecting a huge rush this weekend since schools let out for summer. So I'm sure my peace and quiet is about to be gone.” He paused.
“Yeah, but it will be a good kind of hectic. Children laughing, families having fun together,” Kate heard all of the sentiment in her voice and it was shocking to her. She was getting soft. In a good way, she thought. “A summer vacation sounds nice.”
He agreed. “How was your day?”
“It was all right,” she told him. “Kind of boring. I had a hearing, that I'm sure is going to end up in a long court battle, and then a meeting with the partners. Same old.” Normally today would have been a perfect day for Kate. Expected and normal, but lately she'd found herself a bit underwhelmed by what she once deemed great. Which had a lot to do with the man on the other end of the phone. “Oh, and I had coffee with Grey,” she added. “He says hello.”
“Good. How is he?”
“I think he'll be okay,” she told him. “He says he's working through his grief in the only way he knows how and I believe him.”
“I'm sure he'll be fine,” Deacon assured her. “He's one of the nicest, strongest guys I know. And, we'll keep an eye on him.” She loved the way Deacon looked out for his friends and for her. It was one of the many qualities she admired.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” She wanted him to say more. She wanted him to ask her to drop what she was doing and get on the first plane to Boston. But he didn't and that was her fault. He'd asked once, twice even, and she told him that she couldn't leave her job. He was simply obeying her wishes at this point. Kate sniffed back the warning signs that she was going to cry. “I'll see you in a couple weeks, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she told him. “I've already booked a ticket to Charlotte. I should be there the day after you arrive.”
“I can't wait,” he said. “I'm thinking we take a few days for just us too. Head to a beach. Spend a lot of time doing absolutely nothing.”
“That sounds fantastic.” Moonlit walks with their toes in the sand. Drinks at a pier overlooking the water. Waking up in each other’s arms without a care in the world. “More than fantastic.”
“I should let you get some rest,” he said. “I'm sure you have a big day tomorrow.”
“You have no idea,” she said. A moment of clarity washed over her as she thought about exactly what it was she needed to do tomorrow. “A big day.”
* * *
Deacon's alarm went off a little after seven. Stretching out, he picked up his phone and double checked the time. He needed to be downtown by noon if he wanted to grab lunch before he met with his clients from Wheeling Construction. They'd hired him contractually to help them develop a 401K plan for their growing company. This was the kind of work he liked. Helping people who might not be able to afford a huge firm like the place he used to work. A few more meetings this week and then he'd be on the road to New York and then on to Charlotte where he was going to be picking up Kate from the airport. A fact that he couldn't wait to get to. When she'd said she missed him the night before, he'd heard the sadness in her voice. He hated their time apart just as much as she did.
Never in a million years, did he think that he'd meet the girl of dreams via a letter from a dead woman. Hope was truly an angel. It was a story that he imagined telling his children and grandchildren one day.
He might not have said it to her yet, but he'd made a decision about her. All those hours driving alone gave him time to think about their relationship. After this trip down the coast, he was going to set up shop in Chicago. Permanently. He could open a small firm and operate easily from the city. It might not be the same as his current gypsy-style gig, but he'd be with her and that was what mattered. He felt like an ass for being so pushy about asking her to compromise her life when he could have just as easily made the decision to stay. He couldn't wait to tell her his decision when she arrived in Charlotte.
There was even a moment while he was driving that he considered stopping off at a jewelry store and picking up an engagement ring. Of course it was seven hours into his drive and the middle of the night, but still... it wasn't a completely absurd thought. He loved her and one day he would be asking her to marry him. He hadn't mentioned the idea to her yet, but he knew deep down it would happen.
Once he'd told her he loved her that night and hung up the phone, he checked a few emails, including one that popped up as soon as he'd logged onto his email regarding a possible meeting that next morning. A referral. Best part was, they were from the Salem area and asked if they could come to him, which meant he had time to go for a run before they showed up at nine.
He pulled on a pair of Under Amour shorts and clean t-shirt before lacing up his running shoes. He was out the door in no time with his earbuds in and a clear head. His life may have taken a few twists and turns over years—veering from the path he had thought he wanted—but now things were starting to make complete sense. It was crazy what love could do to a man.
Five miles later, just as he made the turn back to the RV lot, something happened that forever changed the set-out plan that he'd started his run with. There, in a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt with her hair in a messy bun, and two suitcases at her side, stood the woman who'd created the beautiful chaos in his life.
She offered up a smile and shrug when he stopped in his tracks and pulled the ear buds from his head.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, still not believing that she was standing in front of him. “We just hung up the phone a few hours ago.” With each step he took forward, he prayed she didn't vanish like a mirage.
“I can do some pretty amazing things when I really want something,” she said with a laugh.
“I'll say,” he said, placing his hands on her hips as if he needed to feel that she was a reality and not a figment of his imagination. “Is this temporary?”
“No,” she said with a confident shake of her head. “I quit my job,” she confessed. “I'm here for the long haul.” She paused. “If you'll have me?”
“What do you think?” he said with a smile before crashing his lips to hers. She tasted sweeter than he remembered. Perhaps, it was the fact that she'd just flown in unexpectedly, taken a cab to Salem, and completely taken him by surprise. He could have kissed her forever. He hoped he'd have the chance.
“I can't believe you're actually here.”
“I missed you too much,” she told him. “I made a mistake not going with you last week. I was stupid to not see that what we have is worth taking a risk for.”
“I'll make it worth the risk,” he promised. “Every single day.”
“I'm all yours then.” She grinned up at him as his arms tightened around her waist. He kissed her again, this time softly and unrushed. There was no rush. No urgency. No this won't last. She was staying. He had all the time in the world to kiss her.