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All of that comes up right now, publicly spewing out, my wails loud and ragged. Cole stays and holds me, rocking gently from side to side. He’s not put off when my crying lasts a minute, three minutes, five minutes.
He just makes soft, encouraging sounds and lets me feel all my feelings. I feel torn up inside… but also, strangely liberated. When my sobs finally fade away, he’s still holding me. I feel limp, as see-through as a jellyfish, and completely wrung out.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “My old saying is–.”
“Girls should be cleaner than sunshine and sweeter than honey. I know.” He tips my face back and searches my expression with solemn eyes. “That old saying doesn’t mention not crying or expressing perfectly ordinary negative emotions. I think you are clean and sweet. But you’re a human, too.”
I offer him a paltry smile. “I feel like a dirty dishrag right now.”
“Well, you’re not.” He shrugs. “Facts are facts.”
Cole stands up and helps me to my feet.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he tells me. “Will you forgive me? Will you move in with me and Charlie? Will you help my family’s company transition the community center?”
I don’t want to cry anymore, so I just nod.
“I will,” I whisper.
“I love you, Savannah. With all my heart, all my soul, and all my bossy attitude. Thank you for reminding me that I can love again.”
“Oh god. I love you too. So much I don’t think I can hold it all inside my head.”
He kisses me, tender and sweet. There is an undercurrent of spiciness in it. But Charlie is watching us the whole time. I make it a point to pull back from Cole’s kiss. I walk over to Charlie and start to ask him a question. Maybe offer him a hug.
But Charlie doesn’t really do normal hugs. He climbs up and takes a flying leap at me. My eyes bug out as I try to catch him. My arms fasten around his waist and my heart ends up in my throat.
“Oh god,” I squawk. I hug him against my body. “Charlie! You could’ve fallen, you crazy kid.”
Charlie beams at me. “You caught me!”
I wipe away a tear and bounce him on my hip.
“That’s right, Charlie. I always will.”
Cole comes up behind me and gently pries his son from my arms, taking on Charlie’s weight.
“Just the three musketeers, living together on the beach. How does that sound?”
“I love that plan!” Charlie shouts.
I wince, reaching out to tickle him.
“That’s the kind of enthusiasm I like to see.”
Charlie grins. Before he can respond though, Meg creeps out onto the stage.
“Hey guys? We still have a play to put on. The audience is queued up outside, waiting to be let in.”
“Oh my god.” I blush. “Sorry, Meg!”
“It’s not a big deal. Glad you got your happy ever after fairytale thing. But we have a bunch of seriously antsy kids back here.”
“Thanks for helping me out, Meg,” Cole calls. “We’re sending Charlie back to get dressed. The Wizard of Oz waits for no man!”
After he helps his son climb onstage, he turns back to me. I go to him, my body snapping to his like a magnet. Our lips find each other as if we’ve been kissing like this forever. It feels so god damn good.
It feels like home.
