by Kelly Risser
***
We gathered in the Mitchells’ living room. Lydia asked Evan to help her in the kitchen. She came out with a beautiful cake for Katie and me. Evan followed her with coffee service. I was touched that she went to the trouble of making the cake. Katie and I posed for more pictures before it was sliced and served.
I barely finished my last bite when Evan took the plate out of my hands. “If you don’t mind,” he said, “Meara and I are going to go out.” He pulled me off the couch. My dad frowned slightly, and I wondered if he worried that I was bailing on him.
I kissed my grandparents on the cheek as I held back tears. This could be the last time I saw them. I kissed my dad’s cheek as well and whispered, “We’ll see you at the lighthouse later.” He nodded and visibly relaxed. Taking Evan’s hand and feeling like a fraud, I smiled brightly at everyone once last time. “See you later!”
Once outside, I broke apart. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Evan handed me a tissue. “I’m sorry,” I said between sobs. “I’ve got to pull it together. This is our last night, after all.”
Evan smiled sadly and touched my cheek. “All the more reason to cry, right?”
We got in his car. I wasn’t sure where we were going. He’d been pretty secretive about our final evening together, but I trusted him. I sat back and looked out the window, not paying attention until we stopped.
“I used to come here a lot.” Evan stared ahead. “When I wanted to think or just be alone.”
“Where are we?” I asked as I opened my door. Though the ocean roared nearby, trees and tall grasses obscured the view.
He grinned at me suddenly. “Let’s check it out.”
He got out and pulled a couple of blankets from his car’s trunk, along with a picnic basket. I stood next to the car and watched. He shut the truck and grabbed my hand with his free one.
“Evan.” I eyed the basket warily. “I am so full I couldn’t possibly eat anything else.”
He laughed. “That’s good, then. I don’t have food in here.”
We walked through the tall grasses to a small beach area surrounded by large rocks. The waves lapped lightly on the shore, calm tonight. The moon turned the water black and the sand silver. “It’s beautiful,” I said.
Evan found the perfect space to set down the basket and lay out one of the blankets. He patted a spot for me to sit, and I did. Then he opened the basket and took out a bottle of champagne. “I thought we should celebrate.”
“Oh.” I was surprised and touched. He handed me two glasses to hold while he opened the bottle. I laughed when the cork flew off into the grass. He poured the champagne, placed the bottle back in the basket, and then took one of the glasses from me.
He lifted his glass to mine. “Here’s to new beginnings and new adventures. May you find everything you’re looking for.”
I lowered my glass. “That’s sounds so sad,” I complained. “So final.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. I guess I don’t know what to say.”
“Let me try.” I raised my glass. “I’ll keep it short and sweet. Here’s to us.”
I touched my glass to his, then raised it to my lips and drank slowly. The bubbles tickled my throat. Evan slammed his, twirling the empty glass in his fingers.
“What is it?” The more he fidgeted, the more I knew he wanted to tell me something.
“What if I can see you before next February?” He watched me carefully.
I lowered my glass and held his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“Professor Nolan offered me an internship this summer.”
“That’s great!” I hugged him before sitting back down. “I don’t know what this has to do with—”
“It’s in Scotland,” he interrupted. “Aberdeen.”
My heart leapt. I didn’t know where Aberdeen was, but Scotland wasn’t that big. He’d be close—close enough that I could see him. I whooped and threw my arms around his neck. Knocking him off balance, he fell back with me lying across his chest.
“I take it you’re okay with it?” He gave me a lopsided grin.
I kissed him and laughed. “I’m more than okay with it. I’ll be able to see you!” I would, wouldn’t I? I let the thought slide away as quickly as it came. Of course I would. We’d find a way. Dad didn’t say I couldn’t leave the island. I lowered my head until I was just a fraction away from his mouth.
“I don’t deserve you,” I whispered. “But I love you.”
Our lips met. The kiss was slow and tender. I wanted to remember our last time together when I was just a girl. A human girl. He wrapped his arms around me and brought me closer. I sighed, savoring the feel of his lips on mine, his arms secure around my waist. The champagne was forgotten, left to go flat.
Much later, our skin cooled in the evening air as we lay on the blanket. Evan covered us with the other throw and pulled me close. I’ll always love you, I promised him silently. In my heart, I knew it was true. No matter what happened.
He stroked his hand through my hair and down my back. Neither of us spoke. What words could we say in these few, final moments? Evan sighed and kissed my head. “I better get you to the lighthouse, Meara. Your dad’s waiting.”
We dressed quickly and gathered the blankets and basket. His eyes were devastatingly sad, but I held onto the hope that we’d see each other soon.
“When does your internship begin?” I asked as he started the car.
“July. I’ll be there for five weeks.” He smiled at me, reaching for my hand across the seat. I tried to look as optimistic, but I failed. I didn’t let go of his hand.
We arrived at the lighthouse in record time. How did we get here so fast? I thought shakily. I couldn’t bring myself to open the door. Evan came around the car and opened it for me. I didn’t move.
“Are you okay?” He crouched down to my eye level.
“Okay? Okay?” I heard the hysteria in my voice. I didn’t care. I started to breathe rapidly—quick, shallow bursts.
“Slow, Meara,” Evan commanded quietly. “Take a deep breath.” Just as he had at Mom’s funeral, he gently pushed my head down.
I found my breath, but I couldn’t swallow. How was I going to do this? What was about to happen to me? Relax, I told myself. “All right,” I said to Evan. “I’m okay now.”
He straightened and backed up, offering me his hand. I took it and stood. The lighthouse cast a glow on the surrounding area. I didn’t see my dad. Evan held my hand and walked with me. As we approached the lighthouse, he asked, “Where’s David?”
“I’m here.” My dad stepped out of the shadows. One look at my face made him ask, “Are you nervous?” I swallowed hard and nodded. He looked sympathetic. “Don’t be. You’ll be fine. I’ll take care of you.”
“Will it hurt?” I asked in a small voice.
“No. It doesn’t hurt at all.” He looked off in the distance. “Sometimes, at least for me, it’s harder to take a human form.” He smiled apologetically at Evan. “Sorry, but it’s true.”
Evan nodded curtly. He hadn’t released my hand. I turned, placing my other hand on his cheek. My father walked toward the rocks, giving us some privacy.
“See you soon?” I whispered, meeting his eyes.
“Not soon enough,” he said before he bent his head and kissed me breathless. When our kiss ended, he hugged me fiercely. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
My dad cleared his throat. It was time. No amount of goodbyes would be long enough anyway. I stepped back. “I have to go.”
Evan nodded, but didn’t say anything. I walked to the large, flat boulder on the water’s edge where my father stood. Together, we watched the waves break rhythmically against the rocks. The air, though cool, was calm.
I looked at my dad. “I just jump?”
He nodded with encouragement. “I’ll be right behind you.”
I didn’t turn back to look at Evan, but I felt his eyes on m
e. For a moment, I was torn, but then I breathed deeply and closed my eyes. The sea air cleared my head. There was only one option.
I dove in.
The End
To John, Dori and Nate, I love you with all my heart. To my friends at Allwriters’ Workplace and Workshop, especially Michael and the Thursday night group, your support and feedback helped make Meara’s story into something better than I could imagine alone. To my wonderful publisher and fellow authors, I haven’t just found a place for my book, I’ve found a home. Thank you for everything! And last, to my friends and family who believed in me all these years and knew it was just a matter of time until I published a book. The time is now, and I hope you enjoy the story.
Kelly Risser knew at a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. Unfortunately, Fairytale Princess was not a lucrative career. Leaving the castle and wand behind, she entered the world of creative business writing where she worked in advertising, marketing, and training at various companies.
She’s often found lamenting, “It’s hard to write when there’s so many good books to read!” So, when she’s not immersed in the middle of someone else’s fantasy world, she’s busy creating one of her own. This world is introduced in her first novel, Never Forgotten. Never Forgotten, a YA/NA Fantasy, will be released by Clean Teen Publishing in the Summer of 2014.
Kelly lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children. They share their home with Clyde the Whoodle and a school of fish.