by K. A. Linde
The second she put her toes in the sand though, she knew Lucas had been right. No matter how much time they spent together in DC, they needed this retreat. A chance to get away, just the two of them.
“Putting your feet in the sand without me I see,” Lucas said, stepping out onto the deck.
She whirled around with a smile. “Priorities.”
He kicked his shoes off and walked down the few steps to stand at her side. “I love this place.”
She reached for his hand and laced their fingers together. “Me too.”
“Come on. Let’s dip our toes in the water.”
She laughed. “Nuh-uh. I know better.”
He pulled her toward the waterline. “Come on. Just like old times.”
“Lucas Atwood, you let me go right now.”
“Just a quick dip. Just our toes.”
She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. “I know all your tricks.”
He laughed and dragged her in for a kiss. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
“What about this one?” he asked and then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
She screamed as he darted down toward the ocean. “Lucas, put me down!”
But she was laughing. Even as she beat on his back to get him to stop.
“It’ll be fun,” he said as he stepped his toes into the water for the first time.
And still, he didn’t stop.
“Oh my God, what are you doing?” she shrieked.
Then, he tumbled forward, throwing both of them into the water. She went under, fully dressed, still in the jean shorts and white tank she’d worn to the airport. She came up, sputtering. Her clothes soaked through. Her hair a wet, salty mess. God only knew what her makeup looked like.
Then, Lucas launched himself at her, pulling her above the next wave that crested.
“You asshole,” she said with a glimmer in her eye.
Then, she was laughing and laughing and laughing. She didn’t remember the last time she had laughed this hard. Her stomach hurt as she doubled over to try to catch her breath.
“I cannot believe you just did that.”
He winked. “Can’t you though?”
“Fine. I can, but you are so going to pay for that later.”
“I look forward to it.”
He pulled her hard against him and crushed their lips together. She opened herself to him, letting their tongues meet in the middle. And just then, another wave crashed over her head.
She coughed as salt water filled her mouth and gagged as it clogged her nose and stung her eyes. Then, it was Lucas’s turn to laugh hysterically as he spat up the water.
“I guess we had that one coming,” he said.
“You had that one coming.”
She splashed him. And he dove for her. They both went under again. Her laughter was contagious. She felt so free out here with Lucas, acting like children. They had no one to impress. And though she was definitely going to get him back for throwing her in the ocean, she was kind of glad they’d started out this weekend on a silly note. Rather than a serious one.
“I’m going to need a shower,” she said sometime later when they hauled themselves out of the water.
“You do that. Take your time, getting ready. I have a surprise for you.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”
He winked and smacked her butt. “Go on. Get ready. When you’re done, I’ll show you.”
“You know waiting is agony.”
He snorted. “You’ll live.”
She kissed him one more time and then dashed upstairs. She peeled off her sopping wet clothes and then took a long, steaming shower. It took her forever to blow out her long hair, and then she went with soft, beachy makeup—a hint of mascara, blush, and a pink lipstick. She pulled on a teal sundress that hit just above her knees and came downstairs to find Lucas in khakis and a linen button-up, holding a box in his hand.
“Well, don’t you look nice?” she said with a smile.
He grinned back at her. “You look gorgeous.”
She glanced at the box in his hand. “Is that my surprise?”
“Yes, and no.” He held out his hand. “I’ll show you.”
She was too curious not to take his hand, and she let him lead her back outside. The air was crisp with a slight breeze that softened the early September temperatures. She shivered a little, and Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
They left their shoes on the deck before continuing on into the sand. As they walked, she noticed candlelight in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized where they were walking toward…and what that candlelight signified.
“Our sand dune?” she asked a little breathlessly.
He grinned. “It’s where it all started.”
This was the place they had first been together after high school graduation. The place that belonged to them. So many memories were attached to it. And she could just see all the new memories they could make here.
They stopped in front of their sand dune. Lucas must have come out here when she was showering and set up. There were a few dozen candles around a quilted blanket that she’d seen in the house before. A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket next to a small picnic basket.
“You didn’t have to do this,” she whispered, swallowing back the emotions threatening her.
“No, I did,” he assured her.
He gestured for her to take a seat, and she sank down against the blanket. He followed her, pouring each of them a glass of champagne and then pulling out a makeshift charcuterie board with meat, assorted cheeses, and grapes. They nibbled on the fare before them for a few silent minutes before Lucas passed her the small box he’d been carrying with him.
She carefully set her champagne down before ripping open the wrapping paper. She laughed when she saw what it was. The same red frame that he had given her at graduation. With the ticket to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from high school on one side and a picture of her and Lucas from that night with his arm over her shoulders while she held a giant bouquet that he’d given her.
She held it to her chest. “Thank you. I wanted to keep it the first time.”
He swept a lock of hair behind her ear. “I know you did. I wanted things to be different then, but I see now that they couldn’t be. Not yet. I’m glad you gave it back…so that I could give it to you now. I remember that night so well.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “You love performing. You were bursting with energy. There was hope in that night. When I hugged you after this picture was taken, I thought about kissing you. Both of us were single for the first time in a while. And you looked up at me, so happy, so expectant. I thought, Damn, I’m finally going to do it.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Nope. Chickened out,” he said with a laugh. “But it was the first time I thought maybe you’d let me.”
Savannah stared down at the younger version of herself. “I would have let you,” she told him. “Even though I thought it was a bad idea.”
“Well, I didn’t know that then.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “But I do now.”
“I’m glad we did this. You were right. We needed this fresh start.”
“I actually think I was wrong.”
She laughed. “How so?”
“We didn’t need a fresh start. We needed to be reminded of who we once had been before we screwed it all up. Because those are the people who are going to make it last. As the one who treasured you so much, I didn’t risk a kiss because I couldn’t lose you.” He looked deep into her eyes. The flames from the candles igniting his irises. “But I want to change one thing, if that’s all right with you?”
“And what is that?”
“Four years ago, we sat on this beach and decided to risk it all. Then, we left, went to separate cities and separate lives. Neither of us were bold enough then to ask for what we wanted. But I am now, Savannah,” he told her bluntl
y. “I want you. And I want to make all those promises I should have made four years ago.”
Savannah touched his hand. Her throat closed up at his declaration. She wanted to reach out and kiss him. How long had she wanted to hear those words? And now, they were finally here, in this moment. It almost felt too good to be true.
“I promise to cherish you above all others,” he told her. He pressed a kiss onto her hand. “I promise to come to you first with my fears. I promise to listen to yours…to listen to you. I promise that I won’t be perfect, but I’ll try to be perfect for you.”
She laughed, more of a hiccup through the happy tears that were coming to her eyes. “Lucas…”
“I promise to spend the rest of my days with you. If you’ll have me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I promise to love you forever.”
She choked on her tears, pushing forward to cup his jaw and press a kiss against his lips. “I promise to love you forever,” she repeated.
He smiled. “I promise you forever.”
She closed her eyes and smiled. Forever. It was quite a promise. But it was also somehow perfect. What they should have promised each other all those years ago. It was a blessing that they were here now…prepared to make these promises. Not an engagement, no ring…they weren’t ready for that. But still…a promise to work together, to be together, and to love together. The best promise she could have asked for.
His hands went up into her hair as their kiss intensified. As the promises they’d made washed over them. They lay back against the blanket on the sand dune where it had all started and took their time reacquainting themselves with each other. Their clothes fell to the side. Lips and hands were greedy with want. She stroked him, begged him, wanted him. They came together seamlessly, him fitting inside her as if they had been made for this very moment. He was slow, painfully, achingly slow. Pulling back to wondrously watch her face as he began to move within her.
“Please,” she pleaded, wanting more, so much more.
But he was content to hear her beg and still take his time. Drawing out her pleasure in a way she never could have imagined before tonight. As their promises drove this moment onward and onward. Her heart raced, and she felt her climax was so close. She could almost reach out and grab it.
Then, they were hitting that point together. Coming undone and unraveling back into the sand. Becoming altogether something new from the force of their declarations.
And she knew then that some promises would be harder than others to maintain. Their problems wouldn’t disappear overnight after all. But others would be so easy. So damn easy.
Like loving him forever.
She lay back in the sand with a sigh and stared into his beautiful eyes.
Oh yes, she could keep that promise with ease.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Savannah rushed forward into the waiting room. “Did you hear anything? Is my nephew here?”
Lucas ran into the room after her. “News?”
Savannah’s mother, Marilyn, just calmly shook her head. “Nothing yet.”
“You could have texted,” Andrea said from the corner where she was hunched over a worn romance novel.
“We did. No one answered,” Lucas said. He shucked off his peacoat, brushing errant snow off the shoulders.
“Cell service is shit,” Clay said. He was positioned against the opposite wall of Andrea with a bored expression on his face. “We’ve been here all day. Gigi keeps getting pissed that I won’t respond to her.”
“Clay Alexander,” Marilyn said with a huff. “Can you not with the language?”
Clay smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Sure, Mom.”
“Oh Lord, we all know that smile,” Savannah said, passing off her jacket to Lucas. “He’s going to say every French word he knows in the next hour just to irritate you.”
“I did give birth to him. You’d think I’d learn.”
Her father, Jeff, stood with a laugh. “That does sound like our son.” He pulled Savannah in for a hug. “Good to see you, sweetheart.”
“You too.”
He moved to shake hands with Lucas while Savannah settled into a seat between her mother and Andrea.
“So seriously, nothing from Brady or anything?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Marilyn said.
“And he had to be born in a snowstorm,” she said with a sigh.
“At least it’s a weekend that I’m in town. I would have hated to miss this,” Lucas said, crossing to shake hands with Clay.
“A miracle that he actually came on his due date,” Andrea agreed.
“It’s like he really is Brady’s kid,” Clay said sarcastically.
“Punctual?” Savannah teased.
Clay raised an eyebrow. “Goody-goody.”
“Jealous?”
He laughed. “Every family needs a black sheep.”
“Oh look, you’ve finally accepted your place.”
“You two,” Marilyn said with an eye roll. “Jeff, say something.”
“Let them fight. It’s more interesting than the silence,” Jeff said.
Lucas snorted. “And it’s good-natured. I’ve seen Clay fight dirty.”
Savannah raised her eyebrows at him. “And you think Clay would win this fight?”
“Oh no. Now, you’re in the doghouse,” Clay said, nudging his shoulder.
Lucas just grinned. “We all know you’re feisty. But Clay is a scoundrel.”
“True story,” Andrea said.
Clay shrugged. “I take no offense to this.”
Her mother looked like she was about to say something again when the door finally opened. Everyone launched to their feet as Brady appeared in the open doorway. He looked sleep-deprived yet elated. His heart was on his sleeve, and a smile lit up his face.
“We have a baby boy!” Brady said. “Brady Jefferson Maxwell IV. We’re calling him Jefferson.”
Everyone jumped to their feet at once. A string of congratulations went around the room. Hugs were given. Her mother began to cry in earnest.
“Our first grandchild,” she kept saying over and over again to her husband.
He put his arm around her and tugged her close.
“When can we meet him?” Savannah asked.
“Now,” Brady said with a smile. “We’ve had some time together. They just moved Liz into a room with him. They said it’s time everyone could come meet him.”
Together, they walked down the hallway through the labor and delivery department of Sibley Memorial Hospital in downtown DC. Lucas reached out and took her hand in his as they entered the private suite that had been set up for Liz. There was joy on his face too. Joy for a new baby in their life. Joy that they’d made it to this moment. Joy for the ring on her finger that said he was finally joining her family.
He twirled the ring in a circle absentmindedly. He’d taken to doing that. And she liked it.
The day he’d proposed, he’d flown her into Charlotte while he was there for a game. Then, they drove back home to Chapel Hill. While her family came together where they’d grown up, Lucas took her on the back deck. They sat on the porch swing, huddled together against the cold. Then, he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.
“Yes,” was the only word she’d had for him.
And it felt like another promise.
The real promise they’d been speaking about all those months before. So, six weeks, six months, six years…it didn’t matter how long it had taken to get to this moment. All that mattered was that they were there, and they’d kept their promises.
She followed him into the room and found a groggy-looking Liz holding the tiniest little bundle against her chest. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair was askew, she was still wearing hospital clothing—and she was the most beautiful Savannah had ever seen her. She just glowed as she held her son.
Marilyn began to cry as she leaned over Liz to look at Jefferson. “Oh my goodness, the mos
t precious gift in the world.”
“Do you want to hold him?” Liz asked.
Marilyn nodded. “Yes, very much so.”
Liz deftly passed Jefferson into Marilyn’s arms, and then they all just stared at the little baby.
Liz laughed, breaking the spell. “I think I need a shower.”
Brady chuckled. “That seems fair.”
Savannah sat around with her family as Liz went to shower. Jefferson was passed from person to person. A little bundle of hot potato. And when he landed in her arms, she held him as gently as possible. Not that he seemed to mind a bit. He barely even moved, as tightly swaddled as he was. He just slept on, oblivious to the big world around him. Just new and fresh and ready for anything.
She glanced up when Liz finally reappeared in clean clothes with her wet hair piled high on her head. Then, she stood and passed Jefferson off to his mother.
A stillness came over the room. A sense of calm like Savannah had never experienced before. A baby changed something…everything.
It made Savannah look at it all differently. Not that she was ready to have children by any means. She wanted to become a badass journalist before then. But still…he was a miracle. And beyond that, he made her look around her, at her own beautiful family, and she realized how damn lucky she was.
She had spent so long trying to escape being a Maxwell. Run away from the thing that made her different from everyone else. That made her special or important for no other reason than the family she had been born into.
But this was the life she had been given. It was a damn good one. And she didn’t want to run away from it anymore. She was lucky to be a Maxwell. Whatever privileges that afforded was not the summation of her name. It was just the most public part of it all.
This, this right here, was what being a Maxwell meant. It meant family.
Lucas pulled her tight into his side as she gazed around at her family. At her mother and father, Clay and Andrea, Brady and Liz and baby Jefferson…and Lucas, the person she planned to spend the rest of her life with.
And she knew right where she belonged.
The End
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