She pauses for a moment, studying me. Then she wraps her arms around my neck. Tears flow down my cheeks, and I hold her close.
“Here.” She takes my hand. I feel something cold. “It’s for you.”
“She wants you to have it. It’s one of the few things we have left of Nathan,” Crystal says.
Lying in my hand is a pretty shell pendant attached to a silver chain. Examining it closer, I recognize the heart shape—Nathan’s sketch.
Crystal wipes tears away. “Nathan found the shell on the beach in Belize. He gave one-half of it to me the first time he told me he loved me.” She takes in a deep breath. “I promise Natalie will know her father. As much as it’s possible, she’ll know how much he loved her.” Neither one of us can stop the flood of tears now.
“I want to give you something, too.” I take Nathan’s poem from my purse. I’ve kept it there all these months. Until now, it was the most special thing I owned.
“Nathan wrote this for you.” I give her the poem.
Her eyes sweep over it. “I just wish—”
“It’s okay. He’s still alive… in here.” I place my hand over my heart.
Crystal and I sit together the rest of the afternoon, sharing stories about Nathan’s nerdy quirks, dreams, and boundless love for the ocean. We promise each other we’ll raise his little family together.
After Crystal and Natalie leave, Scott grabs my hand. His grip is warm and firm.
“Come on.” A secretive smile plays across his lips.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Scott takes theAdelineinto the open water. The waves shimmer beneath the afternoon sunlight as we cruise from the shore, and golden reflections dance across the surface. The wind smells of evergreen, like the air after a lightning storm, as if we’re the first and last to experience it. We stop and anchorabove Carter’s Drop. The polished water reflects the sun, sky, and our hearts like a mirror. He cuts the engine, turns to face me with a serious expression, and sits beside me on the deck couch. I refrain from asking questions, content to let the moment’s beauty wash over me.
We left the dogs at home and are enjoying companionable silence. Scott pulls me close, his familiar scent washing over me. As the sun warms our skin, he turns to me with a mischievous grin.
“Maddie.” He clears his throat. “I’ve been through a lot in my life, have seen and done things I thought would define me.” He pauses and wipes his eye. “Sweetheart, none of those things compares to you. I’m crazy about you.”
I take his hand, and he continues. “Remember that first day we met at the inn? You stood before me in that sexy bikini, blazing like the sun over the desert. A goddess. Stunning and stubborn as hell. It was like boom. Surprise. All my prayers were answered. Here she is, the woman for you.” I giggle at the memory. I’d had a different experience, standing there, wearing next to nothing. I was mortified, with three hot strangers and Margaret and Denver staring at me. But my future also changed that day.
“I want to share the rest of my life with you. If you’ll have me.” I catch my breath, and my heart thunders in my chest. He slips a ring on my finger and leans in and kisses my lips. Maverick Key, Carter’s Drop, and everything else falls away.
“It looks like I’m the one that’s surprised you speechless this time.” He tickles my nose. His grin widens as he waits for myanswer.
I look at the beautiful ring—a simple round diamond.
“God—” I put my arms around him. “I love you… yes! yes!”
He leans down and kisses me deeply. The day couldn’t be more perfect. We sit there chatting about the dive shop and our wedding plans when it dawns on us that we don’t want to wait.
“Let’s call Daniels. He’ll get someone lined up, and we’ll be married before the night is over.”
After calling all our friends to tell them the news and have them haul their butts up to the courthouse, my stomach drops. In all the excitement, I almost forgot to tell him.
“Uh, Scott?”
“Sweetheart?”
“Before we get married, I’ve got some news.”
His eyes flash with concern.
“Oh?”
