“You also made another truth happen. The most important one.”
While I remember what he said, what he’s referencing, I need to hear him say it now, and I choke back sobs and lightly hit my hands against his chest until he is able to speak. “Tell me again.”
“I told you that I’d never fall so deeply in love with you that I wouldn’t know where I stop and where you begin. That I wouldn’t want to be in a place where I couldn’t come back from that.”
“Yes.” It’s all I can manage.
“You made that happen.”
“No.Wemade that happen.”
He leans in to kiss me, but I cut him off when I am finally able to lift up and smile wryly. I’m going to ask him what he asked me. The questions that helped me heal.
“What color do you see when you think about me?”
It’s only seconds before he holds eye contact and answers, “Pearl ruby red.”
My mouth grazes his neck. “And when we make love?”
He groans but laughs lightly. “Sapphire blue. Because it’s both so calming and so hot. Just as you are. Asweare.”
Danny and his colors are back.
I walk him to the end of the dock and continue replaying his words. “You’ve got family here, whether you know it or not.”
“You’re using my words against me in the best way.” He tightly wraps an arm around my waist and looks out at the lake that means so much to both of us. “I do know that. I feel it now, understand it in a way that I didn’t before. My biological mother didn’t mean to, but she accidentally gave me a family most people could only dream of. I had to take some time away to understand how lucky I am.”
“So, tell me you’re staying.” I again ask him to be as truthful as I’ve had to. “Tell me that this is your home.”
“Of course I’m staying. Of course this is my home.”
“Leaving Wake is now off the table for good?”
“For good,” he agrees. “This is our forever home.”
Suddenly, he lowers his touch until he’s gripping my hand. There’s no time to hesitate or laugh or even fall more in love as he yells, “Ready?”
Together, we run and jump and call out, “One, two, three, coffee!”
We sink together, and we break the surface together, and the palette that we will create together promises to be spectacular.
I cannot wait.
