Page 105 of The Last Time

It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Daddy say you love strawberries,” she says as she points to her outfit.

I smile at her as her chubby little finger starts pointing to several different strawberries along the way. “I do love strawberries! And I love your shirt.”

She hands me the flowers that are halfway to the ground since they are almost as big as her body.

“These are so beautiful. Thank you,” I reply.

Brie opens her arms and jumps into me. I almost fall backward, but luckily catch myself as I wrap my arms around her.

I stand up with her in my arms, as I finally meet his eyes. He’s looking at the two of us together with such admiration it feels like there’s no air for me to breathe.

“Care to sit?” he asks as he motions to the chairs.

“Oh, sure,” I say as I walk back to the end of the dock.

He pulls a blanket out of his bag and sets up a spot for Brie to sit between our chairs with a snack.

I put her down and she plops onto the blanket as she almost dives for her snack. I chuckle as I watch.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, not sure I can hold back any longer. I need to know.

He looks slightly nervous as he adjusts himself in his seat. He takes a deep breath, like he’s preparing himself to speak.

Then he looks at me. “Brie and I have missed you every second of every day that we’ve been apart.”

I didn’t expect him to be so direct right off the bat. I don’t know how to respond, but my emotions bubble up in my chest, threatening to spill out.

“I couldn’t think of a way to say what I wanted to say or do something as big as you deserve,” he starts, then he looks out at the water, “then I decided…the only thing that matters was the meaning behind it. And this place, the water, the dock, your house…it holds so much meaning. It’s what brought us together again.”

He adjusts Brie’s water cup that tipped over, ever the multi-tasking father he is. Then he continues, “I used to pass by this dock the last summer you were here on my father’s boat, and I remember always looking for you. There was a comfort I would feel when I would spot you sitting out here. I think my body knew even then that you were destined for me. I think part of me loved you back then, I just didn’t know it.”

Well, now I’m frickin’ ugly crying. I try to wipe my tears, but there’s no use, and the sounds coming from me must sound terrible. But how could I not when the man I’ve loved from a distance for so long is telling me he felt the same? That he noticed me at such a deep level even back then.

“These last two months have been so hard to be away from you, even if I knew it was for the best. Still, I couldn’t stay away. I would drive my boat by your dock every weekend so I could get a glimpse of you out here. For a brief moment, we were together. Just like it felt all those years ago.”

I choke on my tears. “Asher,” I whisper.

“I worked really hard with my therapist. And now I’m here hoping, fucking desperately praying, that it’s not too late. I’m an open book for you. Ask me anything. I’ll tell you anything. My heart is yours. If you’ll still have it.”

“Daddy loves you,” Brie joins in.

I chuckle as tears run down my cheeks. Her interruption was perfect. It’s exactly how I pictured my life with him. Never taking life too seriously. “I love your daddy, too,” I say.

Brie doesn’t seem to hear. She’s back to focusing on her food.

But Asher, his attention is all on me. “You still love me?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Of course, I still love you. I’ve missed you two like crazy.”

His smile takes up his entire face. It’s like the old Asher is back. I can feel it. His energy is different, he seems calm and happy.

“Care to take a ride with us?” Asher asks as he motions toward his boat. “We packed a little breakfast, hoping you would take us back.”

“I’d love that.”

I lift Brie while Asher packs everything up. I leave my coffee cup behind on the dock, and we jump into the boat. After Brie has her life jacket back on, she sits on my lap while Asher pulls the boat away.

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