Page 34 of Between Two Shores

They cuddled for a few minutes, then he pulled back. “I need to get back to the ship. I’ll walk you to your car, and if you could drop me off at the port, that’d be great.”

“Okay. We can video call later, before you go to sleep.”

“I’ll talk on deck and use my headphones. It’s not private in my shared room, so I can’t talk all gushy with my fiancée.”

“I look forward to our love-sappy conversation then.” She slipped her hands over his shoulders, claimed his lips, and weakened his knees.

BETH

Beth jiggled the Lipton teabag, staring into space, dreaming of Nick. The stereo in the Youth Connect kitchen crackled out some tunes, but the words seemed to fade as Beth lost concentration on what she should be doing.

The squeak of a cupboard door jolted her to the present. “Oh, Cassie. You scared me.” Her hand flew to her throat.

“Scared you?” Cassie’s scrunched her forehead, then her eyes bulged as they focused on Beth’s hand. “It is true!” She rushed over and took Beth’s wrist. “Melissa texted me this morning. Said I should talk to you.”

She wilted her hand like a posh lady. “Isn’t the ring spectacular? Nick didn’t hold back in spoiling me.”

Cassie dropped her hand, mouth ajar. “Beth. It’s been two weeks. How can you say yes to a proposal this soon?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but he leaves Australia in four weeks.” She shrugged. “We want to get married here so my family can come.”

Cassie placed her palms to her cheeks. Chris had bought her a solid rock too. Maybe not as big as hers. “What did your dad say?”

“He’s all for it. Dad adores Nick.”

Cassie rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath as she went to the fridge and grabbed the milk. She slapped the carton on the counter, and the white liquid spluttered from the cardboard spout. “I’m in shock.” Cassie continued to fuss around the kitchen, making herself an instant coffee.

Beth squeezed the excess tea from its bag, then popped it in the bin below the counter. “I’m getting older. Time is running out. I need to get on with life and start a family. Nick’s the kind of person that together we could make a difference in this world.”

Cassie shot daggers with her eyes. “What have you been doing here then?” She flapped her hand in the direction of the offices down the hall. “Wasting your time? You help kids at Youth Connect and your homeless center. You do have a large family already and a busy life.” Cassie raked her fingers through her wavy hair. “I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes for two beats. “I’m concerned for you, that’s all. I’ve been divorced, so I see through a filter. Not all marriages go well. How can you know enough about him in such a short time?”

Cassie walked to the white melamine table and gestured for Beth to join her.

Beth added a teaspoon of sugar, stirred, then sat at the table with the cup in hand.

“Have you had an opportunity to see Nick mad? Frustrated? Under pressure?”

Beth lifted the corner of her mouth. “No.”

“How is he with money, responsibility, or commitments?” Cassie raised a brow.

Beth huffed out a sigh and stared into her tea. The cup’s warmth offered no comfort, while Cassie gave her a lecture.

Cassie crossed her arms. “What’s his past, family background, future ideals?”

“Okay, okay. I get your point. I know hardly anything about him.” She shook her head. “I was just trusting my instinct. It seems like it was meant to be. Nick and Dad think so too.”

“You thought that about Braydon once.”

Beth felt a stab to her pride. Why did Cassie have to mention Braydon? “I may have been happily married with children if I’d forgiven him at the time.”

Cassie straightened. “Huh?”

“Well, he did the right thing when he got Nina pregnant. He married her. If I hadn’t put off having sex with him in the first place, he might not have ended up with her.”

Cassie placed a reassuring hand on hers. “Beth, he shouldn’t have pressured you. You told Braydon clearly in the beginning that you wanted him to wait.”

“True.” Beth took a sip of her tea, somehow bitter more than sweet.

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