****
Karis was released the next day, and I carefully chauffeured her home.
I got her all settled into bed.
“Do you need anything else?”
“Nope.” She still hadn’t opened up. “Where’s my bear?”
“In the closet.”
“You didn’t have to hide it.”
“I know. But he I had a bit of a disagreement last night.”
“Oh.” Her lips trembled and she closed her eyes, trying to fight back another onslaught of tears. “I can’t do anything right.”
“What do you mean?” I dropped down on the bed beside her, then gathered her into my arms.
“I lost our baby.” She sniffled.
“That was not your fault. There was nothing anyone could have done, Kare. I guess it wasn’t meant to be for us. At least not right now.”
“It’s so strange, Call.” Her voice shook. “I was so undecided about the timing of this baby, unwanted and unplanned. And everything that’s going on with school and us. I know we only knew for sure that I was carrying your baby for a couple of days, but now that it’s gone, I feel...” Tears rolled unchecked down her cheeks as she trailed off.
“Unplanned, but not unwanted, Kare. I didn't see it as a bad thing. We'd have to do some readjusting. I guess I'd already started thinking and maybe even planning for things with us as a family. The three of us. I feel the loss, too. But I was so scared for you, though. Look at me.”
When she did, I said, “As long as you’re all right, that’s all that matters right now. We can try again. When we’re ready.”
Her gaze darted as she searched my eyes.
Her forehead wrinkled. “Really?”
“I love you, Karis. We’re gonna do this right.” I pulled her into my arms and held her as we cried. And after we’d both calmed, I shared Dad’s grand plan.
Epilogue
Three months later
“Well, that’s the last of it. I think,” I said, setting the cardboard box into the back of my truck.
Karis turned and gave me the same sympathetic look she’d been sending me every time I mentioned leaving my house. Our new house was already being built along with the new offices and warehouses for the expansion of the business. This store branch was going to have my name on the front of it. And maybe someday soon Barstow and sons or daughters. I was cool with either.
I walked around and hugged her. “I’m really okay with it. Our new house is going to be even better than this one. And you know why?”
She leaned back to look at me.
“Because it will have you in it.”
She smiled softly. “And maybe someone new, too…someday?”
I grinned as my stomach did flips. She hadn’t said anything yet, but I’d noticed she wasn’t feeling all that great. And it wasn’t like we’d been careful. We hadn’t discussed it, but I was pretty sure we were in agreement that if it happened, we were both okay with it. More than okay.
“Maybe several someones someday,” I said, excited at the prospect. “Saddle up there, my beautiful wild thing.”
“What do you say we take a ride out to the peer one more time before you head out of town as permanent resident, Call?”
“Sounds good.”
She smiled and hopped into the passenger’s side, then slid over next to me on the bench seat.
“I think Val is looking forward to you staying with us until our new place is built.”
I started the truck then drove down the driveway. I didn’t look back.
“Oh? I thought she’d be counting the days until we get out.”
“No, she loves you, but she has a list of things she wants you to fix.”
I chuckled. “I see. Need to pay for my board, eh? How is her job hunt going?”
“About as lucrative as mine, so far. I guess we’ll both be working at the restaurant fulltime until we get something more permanent.”
“Yeah, I guess I was pretty lucky after graduation, I had a job lined up and waiting for me.”
“Mm, lucky little rich boy,” she razzed me.
We skirted the city limits and I put my foot down, speeding along the back roads as Karis bumped up the volume on the stereo.
“Hey, take it easy.” She laughed, slanting a look out the back. “You might lose your boxes back there.”
“Oh shit, totally forgot. I get out here, my foot goes down. I got my girl at my side, music pounding, and I forget I’m not eighteen anymore.”
She slid even closer and put her head on my shoulder and to no one’s surprise she began to rub my dick. I slung my arm around her and shifted down in the seat to give her better access.
“It’s so beautiful this time of year,” Karis said, watching out the window off my shoulder. It was early autumn and the leaves had begun to change color.
As we drove up the straight stretch of road heading to the peer, the lights came into view.
“Oh wow, look at all the paper lanterns.” The entire promenade was lined with colorful lamps.”
“Oh, how beautiful. Is there some event going on out here today?”
“I don’t really know, but whatever it is, they’ve really gone all out, eh?” I pulled the truck into a vacant parking spot and stopped.
We got out. I took her hand and the minute we stepped from grass to sand, she popped off her sandals and walked barefoot.
“Mmm, smells like barbeque and corn roasting,” she said, filling her lungs with the aromas. “Like old times.”
The entire beach was set with tables draped in the fancy cloths. The crowd was all people we knew.
It wasn’t until I saw the banner We’ll miss you, Call and the familiar man standing under it that I realized something was up.
I turned to the beaming woman at my side. “What did you do?”
“I felt so sad about you leaving your house and your parents and your job. All for me. I thought you deserved a great send off.”
My parents joined us and handed us each a flute of champagne. Karis accepted hers graciously, but I noted she didn’t even take a small sip. Another sign, maybe that she was expecting? Excitement hummed low in my stomach.
“Hey look over there, musicians and everything.”
A line of performers walked out on the landing and soft music filled the night air.
“This is amazing, everyone, thank you,” I said, looking around at all the sights and sounds. “You guys went all out.”
“Nuthin’s too good for my boy,” my dad said and clinked his glass against mine.
“How many of those have ya had, old man?” I grinned, noting how rosy his cheeks were.
“I’ve had a few.” He chuckled.
We got caught up in the festivities and well wishes. We enjoyed a night of good food and seeing faces and friends I hadn’t seen in ages.
When I was finally able to catch Karis alone again, she stood by herself facing the water. The wind blew her long blonde hair back. For a moment I simply watched her. My chest flooded with emotion, my stomach tightening with excitement for our future. She gripped the rail in front of her and took several deep breaths. She blew out slowly. I’d witnessed her do the same ritual once before.
I moved in behind her and wound my arms around her, making sure to flatten my palms over her flat stomach.
“Is there something you wanna tell me?” I whispered right before I kissed her neck.
She turned into me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “No, not yet. But when I’m sure, you’ll be the first to know.”
That was confirmation for me. I chuckled. “Good deal.” I ran my lips over her cheek. “You sure know how to throw a great party.”
“I am the party, Call.” She grinned at me.
I kissed her cheek. “Yeah, baby, my wild party. I hate to cut things off, but we still have a drive ahead of us.” She nodded.
We found my parents and Karis’ folks sitting at the same table. We said our farewells. At the last minute, my dad whis
pered in my ear. I looked up at him and grinned. We made a quick exchange, then Karis and I headed for the truck.
“I think you’re gonna have to drive, Kare,” I said as we reached the truck.
“Too much free bubbly?”
“Mm, the best kind.” I patted my belly.
We got going down the road when I realized I’d lost my cell.
“Are you freaking kidding me, Call? I swear to God I am going to permanently attach the damn thing to you somehow,” she said, as she turned the truck around and headed back to the beach.
Once we got back, she got out of the truck, irritated with me. With purpose she strode back over the sand, heading for the table we’d vacated. I followed much more slowly. The guests had thinned out some.
“I hope somebody didn’t pick it up. Or what if you dropped it in the sand? We’ll never find it.”
“I think I set it on the table where our folks were seated.”
Karis turned and gave me a frustrated look.
“Phone it, baby. Maybe we’ll see it light up in the dark or hear it.”
She fished out her cell and thumbed my number.
The unmistakable tune of her favorite song began to play. I could see the illumination from where I stood.
“Oh. Thankfully,” she said, looking all over the table. There it was hiding behind a large vase of flowers and an empty champagne bottle.
She reached to pick it up, then her mouth dropped open slightly.
Dad had set the ring on the screen right next to where I’d programmed her name in as my beautiful wife.
I’d confided in the old man that I was going to ask Karis to marry me. But I hadn’t quite planned out how or when. Always ready to impart some advice, he told me to keep the ring on me at all times, that way if the perfect setting or opportunity presented itself, I’d be prepared. Master manipulator that he was.
Karis placed her fingers over the ring as she almost reverently picked up the phone. She stared at the screen then she turned back to look at me. Her lovely eyes glistened. Her lips were slightly parted as she gazed at me questioning.
“I thought that this was the best place. The place where I’m pretty sure I first fell in love with you.”
Her eyes filled as she gaped at me.
“That last summer we spent here was amazing, wasn’t it? Fun and the sun. You and me. I just didn’t know, Kare, what it was that I was feeling until you came back into my life.” My throat tightened as the weight of this moment closed in on us.
“You always knew though didn’t you, that we were meant to be together? I feel like I’ve wasted so much time. I don’t want to waste another day, another second without you. I love you, Karis. So much that…” I had to pause and take a breath. I teared up. “That I can’t even put it all into words. So, sweet and simple, just like me, will you marry me, Kare? I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you what I can’t say.”
I dropped down to one knee with our family and friends watching.
“Oh, Call,” she breathed.
I looked up at her and held out the ring, hopefully.
In true Karis fashion, she didn’t merely accept and let me put the ring on her finger. She went with her emotion.
She dropped to her knees then threw her arms around my neck.
“Is that a yes?” I laughed.
She eased back and she kissed me, one of those all-consuming kisses that made me weak and stupid. Even with all the guests watching on, we ended up flat in the sand, making out like two love-starved teenagers.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she breathed into my mouth and I swallowed her acceptance.
I threw my head back, raised my arms in the air, and gave a country boy ye-haw that would have made the cheer team proud back in the day.
The musicians started playing that classic wedding march recessional from Mendelssohn, the tune traditionally played after a couple is married and are proceeding back up the aisle.
We chuckled. She laid her head down on my chest and I held her. This was the best moment of my life so far, and we had so much more good stuff ahead.
“Ring, Kare.” I reminded her lightly, holding it out. She presented her hand and I slipped it on her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“Oh my God, Call, it’s beautiful.”
I’d known the minute I saw it, it was the one.
I helped Kare to her feet and she hugged me.
My dad was the first one to reach us and he beamed before throwing his big arms around us both, pulling us into a bear hug.
“Somehow, I feel as though I’ve been played, Mr. Barstow,” Karis said into his chest. “This party was supposed to be for Call.”
“I am industrious man, Karis. If I can merge two big events into one, I feel productive.”
I snorted.
My dad then kissed Karis’ forehead. “Welcome to the family, my dear.”
“Thank you,” she whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.
“It’s about damn time, June-bug.”
When Dad let us go, we were inundated with well wishes.
I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned and was surprised to find Trey standing there with his arm wrapped around Val, Karis’ roommate.
Trey stuck out his hand. “Congratulations.” I accepted his offering.
We hadn’t spoken since the fiasco at the hospital. “Thanks, Trey.”
He released his hold then embraced Karis.
“Congrats, little girl. You finally bagged him, huh?”
He grunted when Karis punched him in the ribs while at the same time raising one knee, which he blocked. “I’m gonna bag you, big brother.”
“I’m just foolin’.” He laughed and stepped back. “I really am happy for both of you,” he said, taking hold of Val’s hand.
“So, how and when did this happen?” I asked, indicating the two of them. Confused, I hazarded a look at Karis.
Seemingly baffled, she shrugged. “This is news to me, too.”
“We’ve been seeing each other for a while,” Val replied.
“Yeah, we bonded after Call decked me.”
“Call decked you?” Karis asked, raising a perfect eyebrow.
“Yeah, didn’t he tell you?”
“No, I must have missed that one. But knowing you, you deserved it.”
“Oh, completely, I did.” Trey chortled. “But it was worth it. Val’s nothing if not an attentive nurse.”
“Trey…” Val admonished.
We all chuckled. I pulled Karis against me, her back touching my chest, and placed my arms around her. I listened vaguely as the three of them caught up. I was in a zone all my own, in a place of contentment and excited anticipation of what was to come.
When I thought back over my life thus far, there probably wasn’t a time when at least something didn’t lead back to Karis. She drove me crazy. She pissed me off. She ruled my world. Then I’d missed her when she wasn’t a part of it. And now she was it. It was true, I couldn’t have handled Karis when we were younger. I wasn’t equipped. The arguments, the near misses, the fun, and the not so good times, but behind it all was mutual caring. I guess we had to go through all of it to reach a place where we could both manage the irresistible feelings we had for one another. Now I couldn’t wait to fill a lifetime with more memories of us.
The End
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