by HMD
“I know, I know,” I shake my head at myself. “But in my defense, I didn’t expect to come home find someone that I want to spend every waking moment with. This was so unexpected.”
“The most amazing gifts are,” He smiles and I can’t help but smile back. He looks behind him briefly before turning back to me. “I’ve got to go, Em.”
“No,” I shake my head. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t worry,” He stands, smiling softly. “I’m always around.” He leans down, kissing me on my forehead. “You’re never alone, okay?” I sniffle, nodding my head. “Go, tell your girl before it’s too late and she doesn’t forgive you for the bombshell you’re about to drop on her. And Em…”
“Yeah?” I look up.
“Tell her I’m sorry okay?” I narrow my eyes, confused.
“Sorry for what?” He closes his eyes and as quickly as he appeared he’s gone. “George, wait!” I shout. “Sorry for what?” I open my eyes, looking around. There’s no use, he’s gone. I sigh dropping my head in my hands. I have no idea what that was but I know what I have to do now.
--
As I knock on her door, I gather myself. She’s either gonna understand or completely hate me. And the latter is what scares me the most.
“Oh hello, Emma,” Mr. Cassidy greets me. I look down to see Doc staring up at me expectantly.
“Hello Mr. Cassidy,” I give him a warm smile before bending down to rub behind Docs ears. “Hey boy, how you been?” He wags his tail and licks my face.
“He really likes you,” Mr. Cassidy chuckles, opening the door wider. “Come on in. I’ll let Grace know you’re here.”
“Thanks,” I smile, glancing up at him. I rub Doc a little more before standing up, closing the door behind me. Mr. Cassidy disappears into the kitchen and reappears with Grace.
“Come on boy,” He calls Doc. Grace smiles and engulfs me in a hug.
“What are you doing here? I thought we were going out a little later,” She kisses me sweetly and I can’t help but feel guiltier.
“Can we talk?” I thumb towards the front door.
“Sure,” Her smile fades a little as she shouts to her mom and dad that she’s stepping out with me for a moment. Her mother yells a ‘hello, Emma.’ I decide not to shout and opt to poke my head briefly into the kitchen to say a proper hello. “So… what’s up?” Grace asks a little timidly. I think she senses my mood right now. We take a seat on the curb as I try to figure out the best way to tell her this. Should I just rip off the band aid? “Emma you’re kinda freaking me out,” Grace says, pulling me from my thoughts. I nod and apologize.
“Well you know that I’m in the army and that well… we have times where we get to come home from tours and things like that. Of course you know, your dad was in the army,” I shake my head at my rambling. “Well basically, what I’m trying to say is that I--“
“You’re on leave and you’re not gonna be here for much longer?” She pops a brow.
“Basically,” I nod. “The thing is I didn’t expect to come here and find someone. Honestly, I didn’t come here to do anything,” I glance down at my hands, finding them interesting at the moment. “I just… I promised my parent’s that on my next leave I would visit and so I did and then I went to the graveyard and you were there and then I went to your party and we hit it off and I just, I don’t know what happened. I started falling for you and I didn’t know how to tell you that I was leaving because I didn’t want you to be mad at me but then I realized that the longer I waited the more angry you would end up being with me, so I’m here now telling you because I don’t want you to be mad at me.” I tell her. I don’t think I took one breath during that monologue. I look up to see Grace smiling. I’m confused. I don’t know what I said that was funny.
“Are you done?” She questions, smirking at me. I nod quickly. She turns to face me completely, taking my hands in hers. “Emma, you’re so cute,” She says and I have to look away briefly to hide the blush. “I knew you were leaving. I mean, I didn’t know, but I kind of figured. You know because my dad was in the army and all when I was kid. I’m not upset with you and I definitely don’t hate you. I’m so happy that you allowed me into your life even though you didn’t plan on it. I thank God every day that you allowed yourself to open up to me,” She moves impossibly closer. “I don’t care that you have to leave, as long as you promise me that you leaving won’t change anything. That we’ll still be us,” She looks at me, waiting for an answer.
I nod. “I promise,” I can’t help but smile because I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky. “Where did you come from?” I question her as I pull her into a hug.
“Well when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much—“
I shriek out a laugh, lightly slapping her on the arm. “You know what I mean,” I shake my head and continue to chuckle at her.
Her face turns serious as she says, “I ask myself the same question about you every day. You think you’ve done nothing for me Emma. That this relationship is one sided,” She shakes her head. “You’ve done more for me than you will ever know.” I smile and drop my head. She lifts my head by my chin. “You’re so amazing,” I try to drop my head again but Grace’s not having it. She leans in, kissing me sweetly. I whimper when she goes to pull away. She chuckles and reconnects our lips.
I’m not sure what I did to deserve this amazingly beautiful girl…but no amount of words could begin to tell you how happy I am that I have her.
Chapter 14- Green Grass and High Tides
I smile as each foot hits the pavement. I never expected my trip home to be so… amazing. I’ve reconnected with everyone in my life that matters and it’s all thanks to a certain blonde.
As the cool morning air hits my skin it takes me back to yesterday, the whole ‘George and McKenzie’ thing.
I still don’t know what George meant when he told me to apologize to Grace for him. What’d he do to her?
I shake the thoughts from my head as I turn down my street, finishing up my fifth mile. After Grace and I talked last night we headed for a late dinner and then a walk. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so… complete.
My heart is so full of love, a feeling I thought I’d never feel again. It’s a welcomed one though.
I slow down as I approach my front door, jogging in place for a moment before going inside.
“Well good morning, Emma,” My mother greets me at the door with a bottle of water. Creepy much?
“Hey mom,” I reply, taking the bottle of water from her hand and taking a big gulp. “How’d you know I was back?” I pop a brow as I twist the cap back on the bottle.
“I heard you coming,” She shrugs and turns around to head back into the kitchen.
I scrunch my face. What the hell does that mean? “What am I, an elephant?”
My mother chuckles and throws up her hands. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant a mother can always sense the presence of their child,” I stare at her with raised brows. She rolls her eyes, “I was sitting at the table and saw you running up to the house.”
I nod once. “Mhm,” I grab a plum from the fruit bowl and turn to head upstairs. “Grace and I are gonna spend the day at the beach so we can’t really make it to your full day of Daniels fun,” I tell her, trying to muster up as much fake regret as I can.
“Oooh, the beach! Sounds good,” She nods, turning around to grab something from the cabinet. What? No!
“I wasn’t really inviting you guys, mom. Didn’t we have this discussion yesterday?” I ask in a tone that causes her to turn around and look at me.
“Yes,” She nods then scoffs. “But I didn’t think you were serious,” She lightly chuckles. I keep my face as serious as possible to let her know I wasn’t kidding. “Oh Emma, be serious.” She waves me off. “We’re not as bad as you make us out to be,” She rolls her eyes and turns back to the cabinet.
“You’re right mom,” I sigh in defeat. I don’t want to hurt my mom’s feelings. �
��You guys aren’t that bad, but I’d like to spend the day with Grace alone if that’s okay?” I ask, like she really has a choice in the matter.
“Okay honey, whatever you say,” She replies, not bothering to turn around.
“Okay,” I mumble to myself before turning and leaving to head up and shower.
I don’t think a shower has ever felt so good. I get dressed, text Grace to let her know I’m on the way before heading down stairs to grab something quick to eat from the kitchen because the plum I had did absolutely nothing for my hunger.
“Emma,” My little brother greets me with a hug. I smile down at him, taking in his outfit.
“What’s up buddy? Where you headed?” I question.
“To the beach,” He says cutely. Wait what?
“Mom!” I shout a bit angrily because I know what she’s doing. She’s using my little brother to get what she wants right now.
“Yes dear?” She appears in the kitchen with my dad close on her heels. Oh that innocent look is not gonna work on me Cathy.
“Mom I thought we discussed this.”
“Morning sweetie,” My dad kisses my cheek. I smile at him then turn back angrily to my mother.
“We did.” She nods. “And we’re not going to bother you guys. I just decided that it’s a really nice day out and we shouldn’t spend it inside,” I roll my eyes. Yeah right mom!
“Catherine what are you doing?” My dad asks her, looking back between the two of us.
“Nothing Ryan,” She says sweetly to my dad, putting on her best innocent smile.
“She’s hijacking my date dad!” I shout, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
“Oh don’t be so dramatic Emma. I’m doing nothing of the sort. I’m simply trying to enjoy a day at the beach with my family,” She shrugs.
“Oh yeah right mom,” I shake my head at her.
“Emma dear we don’t have to go if you’re uncomfortable with it,” My dad says. I scan the faces of all my family members. Oh that sneaky, sneaky woman. This was her plan all along! I sigh, dropping my shoulder in defeat.
“No, it’s fine dad. I’ll just meet you guys there.”
“Yay!” Ty shouts, running over and hugging my waist.
“Kay, see you later sweetheart,” He kisses me on the forehead. I give my mother an intense stare before I turn and leave.
–
“I’m really sorry about this Grace,” I roll my eyes as I park the car. I explained to Grace on the way here that it would no longer be just us. She took it really well actually. She says that she loves my family and that she’s honored to be able to spend the day with us; that when I leave she wants to visit and hang with them often anyways.
See! She’s perfect right.
“It’s really okay, Em,” She smiles, grabbing my hand. I turn to look at her. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that. I’m happy to be anywhere with you, even if I have to share you with your family,” I shake my head.
“More like I’m gonna have to share you,” I scoff and roll my eyes.
“It’s not gonna be that bad,” She places a soft kiss on the back of my hand and I can’t help but smile. “Come on,” She instructs me and I comply quickly.
We both get out of the car and move towards the trunk. She pulls out her board and then a spare that she lent me.
I’m not entirely sure why I agreed to this it’s not like some kind of contact sport that will allow me to have her on me. Like basketball or cheerleading or something along the lines of her hands being on my body, or her body being very close to mine. She’s going to be on her own board floating away from me and to make things even worse my family will be observing the goings-on between me and Grace.
We both carry our own boards, wet suits hanging around our waits. Flip flops are hitting the bottom of our feet with every step we take and I’m brought back to the memory she told me about the morning we had coffee. That was only several days ago but it feels like so much time has passed.
I see my family has already arrived and I try to distract Grace so she won't see them, but my little brother has shouted for our attention. Very rarely do I dislike my little brother but in this moment he’s not my favorite little person.
We reach the three of them and Grace digs her surfboard in the sand and I’m looking kind of helpless. She does it with such ease and every time I try I have to have quick hands and grab it before it falls over. She giggles and comes to my aid.
“Here let me help,” She slams it in the sand and my mother is the first to say something.
“I didn’t know you could surf Grace?”
I’m not sure why my mother would know so many details about Grace but okay. I try not to have a sour face while she tells my mother the history behind her love of surfing. My dad and Tyler are just watching the exchange and absorbing the awesomeness that is Grace.
“So I’m teaching Emma here to surf,” She turns to me and my scowl easily turns into a smile. Oh she’s good this one.
My mother snorts and I glare at her. Why is she snorting?
“My daughter is not a friend of the ocean.”
I grit my teeth and force out the word “mother” begging her to stop embarrassing me. She’s going tell the story I know she is.
“Ever since she was a little girl she didn’t like that the ocean came up and touched you. Every time she went close to the water she’d scream that the water was chasing her and run away.”
“For the love of…Ma!”
Tyler falls back laughing and I glare at him. He shrieks and urges my dad to go with him to dig a hole by the shore. He better run.
“That’s so cute,” Grace comments sincerely, rubbing my arm. I blush and look away from her for a moment. The gentle squeeze she gives me causes me to turn back to her.
“Thanks,” I whisper not really fond of the memory. I’m not scared anymore…at least not much. The ocean is a dangerous place.
“See it’s cute, which was what I was going for. Thank you Grace,” My mother chimes in cheerfully. I grunt and point to the boards.
“So should we do this thing?”
“Yes but first we need to wax the boards,” Grace grabs the bag she carried from the car along with our boards. She drops her board flat in the sand.
I manage dropping the board without even trying so at least I’ve got that down packed. I mimic Grace’s motions and look down as she kneels beside her board and starts showing me how to wax it.
Her back flexes with every move she makes and I know I don’t need to say it but I think it’s necessary that I point it out; she’s got a hot body.
She tosses her hair up to look at me and makes sure that I understand just how to do the task.
I stop drooling for a moment to tell her. “I was too busy staring at you to follow what you were doing.”
She smirks and I bite my lip as my eyes scan her body. I hear my mother clear her throat as we try to imagine things you like to imagine if there wasn’t a chaperone. I whip my head to look at my mother.
“No one invited you ma,” I say plainly and she quirks a brow at me. I feel a gentle tap on my leg and look down at Grace.
“Be nice,” She says playfully.
“Yeah, listen to your girlfriend and be nice to your mother.”
My eyes shoot wide as I watch Grace stare at me for a minute and see what I say about the girlfriend comment. I just drop into the sand and kneel next to her.
“Only because Grace told me to, I’ll be nice,” I answer as I wax the board. We share a smile and finish off the work before the fun begins.
–
Okay I was wrong this is not fun.
“Grace I’m gonna die out here,” She giggles as I struggle to get back on my board. It slips out of my hands and pops out of the water landing close to me. I want to cry. “Shouldn’t I have started paddling in the sand or something?”
“That doesn’t work.” She answers as she paddles closer to me.
“It works in
all the movies,” I answer with a whimper and finally manage to get onto the board as Grace holds it in place.
“Do you really believe everything you see in the movies?” She asks once I’m fully situated on the board.
“Yes,” I answer in a faux serious tone. She snorts and points behind me.
“Shark!”
I whip so fast I fall off my board. She throws her head back in laughter. I pop out of the water and splash her.
“Grace Cassidy that was not funny.”
“I’m just reenacting Jaws,” She says through her fit and I lift myself onto the surf board for what feels like the twenty millionth time. Grace pulls my board close to hers. “I’m sorry, you’re just cute.”
I grunt and lift my head in mock anger. She skillfully leans towards me and manages to steal a kiss. I don’t fight her for much longer and kiss her back. She pulls back and smiles.
“I’m glad you’re not the kind of girlfriend to stay mad over little things,” She winks at me and this is the first time she’s mentioned the ‘g’ word since my mother said it. She nods her head in the direction behind me. “That’s all you babe, get it.”
She turns her board around and lays on it. I follow every movement as if my life depended on it. We’ve been out here for at least an hour and I’ve managed to drink more salt water than to surf it.
We are both looking behind us timing the water and Grace tells me to start paddling and I start. I dig my hands in the water like I’m trying to separate every particle from each other. I hear my girlfriend shout for me to stand and I grip the sides of the board, pop myself and slowly stand up. I keep my legs in the stance she’s shown me and I feel that my level is a bit higher than the flat surface of water. I smile widely as I stay up for the duration of the wave. The wave breaks and I’m still standing.
Grace cheers for me in the distance and I feel a rush of pride surge through me. I turn the board around and paddle my way back to her.
“You were awesome!”
I giggle as I pull up next to her. “I have a great teacher,” I tell honestly. She shrugs and her face turns serious for a moment. “You okay? Did I say something that upset you?”