Chapter Thirty-Two
Three months later
As I hung my white jacket on the hook next to the door leading out of the kitchen, I grinned as I heard the tinkle of the bell above the coffee shop door. Took a last look around the kitchen, but it was spotless. All gleaming stainless-steel worktops and shiny white tiles on the walls.
I pushed open the door into the coffee shop and there he was. With the secret smile he saved for me that showed off his dimples. My stomach did a little flip as he strode towards me. He twined our fingers together and brushed his lips against mine.
“Ready.”
I shook my head no but said, “Yes.” Beck laughed giving my hand a squeeze.
“You'll be fine.”
Laney wandered over and gave me a hug.
“Don't worry. This place will still be here when you get back.”
I hugged her tighter. Of course she was right, but I was going to miss The Caffeine Cave. Miss my kitchen, and the regulars who came in for my baked delights. My dream. Except it was my reality now.
“Go. Enjoy yourself.”
I let go of Laney and followed Beck out of the coffee shop. My stomach flipping again but not in a good way this time.
***
Beck led us down the aisle, my hand gripping his so tightly I was probably cutting the circulation to his fingers off. As we reached our seats, he stopped and wrapped his arm around my waist.
“It'll be fine. I promise.”
A chaste kiss to my lips and then he pried his fingers free from mine. Clambering past the seats I dropped into the one by the window. Turning in time to see Beck stow our hand luggage. T-shirt riding up to reveal a sliver of tanned skin above the waistband of his jeans. Déjà vu washed over me, and I smiled. This time he wasn't a stranger seated next to me, though. And this time, I knew exactly what was waiting from me—us—when we landed in Malta. When, I reminded myself. Not if.
Our seats were further back in the plane than on our first flight together, but I could still see the wing as I peered out of the window. It was all there, which was a good start. No loose panels that I could see.
Glancing over the back of the seat, I found the nearest exit then pressed my shoulders against the seat blowing out a deep breath. I could totally do this. It wouldn't be as bad as last time when I'd done the flight alone.
Beck lowered himself into the seat next to me as I fastened my seat belt. Then he took hold of my hand.
“You doing okay?”
“Yes.” But my hand still tightened around his. I'd be doing a lot more okay once we took off. Make that once we'd landed.
As we taxied down the runway, Beck slid an arm around my shoulders pulling me against him as much as he could with the armrest between us. His other hand still had hold of mine, and he slid our entwined hands up my thigh. His breath warmed my ear as he leaned in towards me.
“You know, I could always try and distract you if you want.”
I laughed, and Beck's lips lifted into a smile against my skin, but I stopped his hand midway up my thigh. “As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I don't think that's a good idea. Or that it would work in this situation.”
The plane lifted and my gaze slid towards the windows, shoulders tensing. But the wing looked fine. Well, bouncing a little more than I'd like but in one piece which was the main thing. And then we were climbing. The sprawl of the city laid out beneath us. Buzzing with life in the early afternoon light. Cars crawling along the motorway reminding me of the toy cars my brother would push around the city floor mat when we were kids. The sprawl of emerald fields giving way to the azure expanse of sea stretched out ahead as far as I could see. Until we were through the clouds and my shoulders finally dropped. Turning from the window, Beck was grinning at me.
“See. All good.”
Pouting at him I said, “You can say that once we've landed.” I released the stranglehold I had on his hand, and he lifted the armrest from between us. I loosened the seat belt so I had just enough room to scooch closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder.
The flight passed quicker than I expected. Quicker than my solo trip last time. Snuggled up with Beck, I listened to him tell me of all the places he wanted to show me on the trip. All the things his mum had planned for us—those he told me of with mock exasperation but secretly they were what I was looking forward to the most.
Nearly four hours and a smooth landing later, I was back in Malta. After collecting our luggage, we found Beck's dad waiting outside for us. He greeted Beck with a hug and a back slap before wrapping his arms around me. My eyes stung at the warmth of his hug. At the difference between this trip and my last one. Not knowing what I would find the last time I'd visited. Arriving alone at the airport instead of Beck's dad looking so happy we were there. He took my suitcase and as we stepped out of the building, I slipped my sunglasses on. Climbed into the back seat of the green Land Rover. Stared out of the tinted window as we drove through the streets heading for the coast. Passed Saint Julian's Bay where the sea was a brilliant blue against the coastline. Passed where I'd visited the restaurant in the hopes of finding what I had thought was my biological dad. So much had happened since the day I'd found what I had thought was my real birth certificate.
Beck's parents lived in the north of the island in Saint Paul's Bay. An apartment that was all marble floors and white walls. As I walked through the doorway, I was enveloped in a floral-scented hug from Beck's mum.
“I'm so glad you're here. I have so much planned for us to do. We can go shopping and to the beach. Oh, and we have to go out to dinner by the harbour. And we can show you the palace and all the old buildings. They really are beautiful.”
“Okay, woman. Let her get inside before you start dragging her across the island.”
But I didn't mind. Not in the least. I was as excited to be there as she was to have me
“Oh, shush you. Come on Kimberly, I'll show you around the house.”
Beck's mum grabbed my hand and led me down a corridor. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled back at Beck who watched us wander off.
She showed me to our room and left me to settle in. After a quick shower, I wandered out to find the others. As I passed one of the other open doors, I saw Alicia sitting on the bed staring her hands folded in her lap. I knocked on the doorjamb to get her attention. When she looked up, I noticed dark circles under her eyes and she seemed quieter than the last time I'd seen her somehow, and I wondered if it was more than just the long flight that was bothering her.
“Hi, Kimberly.”
“Hey, you okay?” She nodded but then I saw the tears fall. I rushed over to sit next to her on the bed and slipped my arm around her shoulders. She leaned her head against my shoulder.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
I didn't know her well, but if I could help I would. “It's okay. Do you want to talk about it?” She shook her head no, but then started talking.
“I just got dumped.” She pulled away from me and ran her hands beneath her eyes.
“I'm so sorry.”
She waved my words away. “That's not even why I'm upset. We'd only been together a couple of weeks. It's just…I want what you and Beck have. But my relationships never seem to work out that way. To be honest, I'm getting tired of even trying.”
Wow. I wasn't sure what to say to that except to offer tired clichés. “You'll find someone. When you least expect it. I know everyone says that, but it's true. When I stepped on that plane the first time to fly to Malta, meeting someone never even crossed my mind. And then there was Beck. It hasn't been the easiest of journeys to get here, but it was worth it.”
Alicia stood, running a hand through her short hair.
“You're right. I know you're right. Ignore me. Come on before Mum hunts us down.”
I followed her out of the bedroom not entirely convinced, but if she didn't want to talk about it anymore I could understand that.
I followed her through the living room. Beck had forgotten to mention that his parents lived in an apartment that had a stunning view of the bay. I wandered out onto the balcony to join him and enjoy that view. It wasn't huge, just enough space for a table and chairs. But as I rested my forearms against the cool metal railing the view was more than big enough. Fishing boats painted blue and yellow and green bobbed on the turquoise sea of the bay. And across the way, high-rise buildings and hotels littered the beach. I could smell the sea. That ozone-y fresh flavour and the occasional whiff of fish.
When Beck's dad joined us with a stack of plates and cutlery in his hands, I left them both outside to find Beck's mum to see if I could help with dinner. She handed me a cold bottle of wine and glasses and shooed me out of the kitchen. Apparently making her son happy was more than she could ever ask from me.
I poured us each a glass of wine as we took a seat out on the balcony. Watched as the sea slowly darkened as the sun slipped towards the horizon. Beck's hand found mine beneath the table as his mum and Alicia came to join us.
The others cleared up after dinner, leaving Beck and me alone. I was drawn back to the view of the harbour as I leaned against the railing. Beck's arm slid around me to rest his hands on either side of my arms. Warm lips pressed against the skin of my neck above the vest top I had changed into. “It's so beautiful,” I said. His lips lifted up into a smile I could feel against my skin.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Turning away from the bay, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He broke the kiss and leaned away from me, hand dropping from my waist and into his pocket. My eyes widened as the image of Beck down on one knee, ring held out, flitted through my mind. No, it was far too soon for that, wasn't it? Yet the idea didn't scare me as much as I thought it would.
He pulled his hand out of his pocket fingers curled around a black velvet pouch and drawn together at the top with a silver ribbon.
“Hold out your hand.”
I did as he untied the pouch and a silver bracelet slid out onto my open palm. Two flat curved pieces of silver connected by little hoops. A large hoop at the end that a bar fastened through. A charm hung from each hoop. One was a cupcake. I touched my fingertip to the plane charm and smiled. Surrounded by the beautiful scenery and Beck's welcoming parents, I thought back to Beck telling me his reasons for visiting Malta when we first met. How I'd wished that I'd known I'd be welcomed with open arms to spend a week relaxing with my parents. Yet here I was with Beck's parents welcoming me into their home as one of their family, and waiting for me this time. I'd had my family on the plane because that was Beck now. I still missed my parents, but learning to trust again meant I didn't have to be alone anymore.
I brushed my fingertips over the silver heart that was attached to the largest hoop and engraved with the date we met. I glanced up to meet his gaze.
“Now you'll always have a piece of me with you. I love you.”
My eyes blurred and my chest felt so…full. Like my heart was trying to break free to get to Beck. “I love it. I love you. So much. More than I thought it was possible to love someone.”
He fastened the bracelet around my wrist. I lifted my hands to his jaw, watching as the charms swayed with the movement. Then wrapped my arms around his neck, my lips meeting his.
THE END