Page 26 of Soaring and Steadfast

“Not at all,” he said simply, smiling. “If I minded, I wouldn’t have offered.”

She smiled as he started the car.

Thirty minutes later, they were sitting in the sand, her slacks rolled up, and he did the same with his jeans. They were sitting on the edge of the water, just out of reach of the surf for now… with a small six-inch carrot cake between them that looked like a toddler had mangled it. Both were eating, taking bites, savoring the taste, and making small talk once again.

“Okay,” he chuckled shyly, his cheeks turning slightly red as he glanced at her. “This is officially the best date-that-is-not-a-date that I’ve ever been on. Carrot cake intro should be a law somewhere…”

She laughed easily, pushing her hair back from her face as she scooped up another bite, not answering him, before pointing at him with her dirty fork – “Drink some water so you don’t guzzle it…”

“Mmm,” he nodded, swallowing his own bite. “Good idea.”

The seagulls were circling nearby, looking for a chance to swoop in and steal a bite, a morsel, or the entire remnants of the cake, and honestly, this was probably the best moment she’d had in forever. It was like the sunshine and sea breeze off the ocean were soothing her soul in a way she never expected.

“This is amazing…” she began softly, not bothering to look at him as he lowered the large jug of water he’d purchased with the cake. “I look out there, and there’s nothing, but instead of feeling alone or hopeless… I feel wonder, amazement, curiosity and it’s nice.”

“I love the ocean,” he replied quietly beside her. “I could watch the waves for hours and every time we go to a new port, a new location, I always try to put my feet in the water. Does that sound silly? Water is water, but there is a difference in my mind, my heart, and my soul. I feel like I’m connecting with the world by doing something so simple.”

“No, I like it – and I understand,” she said, digging up another bite of cake. “When I was a little girl, my parents used to take us to the park with paper grocery sacks and we’d pick up pecans off the ground, then spread a blanket, and just lie there in the shade. It was just you, the breeze, and the sunshine.”

“I bet it was nice.”

“It was, Louis,” she admitted, glancing at him. “Where did you grow up? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you.”

“Just outside of Alexandria,” he tossed her a small smile and dug at another bite. “My family is originally from Canada, but my mom wanted to relocate when I was younger. I had an aunt down in Louisiana who’d married, cousins, and it wasnice to grow up in a small town, but time gets away from you, you know? You lose touch sometimes. My cousin lives in Texas now with her husband and kids. Trophy is from there, too. We went on leave once about a year ago, me, Ohio, and Trophy – and man, it’s not like I remember it. My parent’s house, which I thought was so nice growing up, is actually a small little thing with clapboard siding,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Mom insists on letting these mimosa trees grow and those pink fluffballs stick to everything when they start to fall…”

He rolled his eyes, chuckling.

“Trophy has this younger sister who was annoying as could be – with the biggest crush on Ohio, but the man is not interested in the slightest. He would rather keep the peace with his friend than ruin things.”

“I get that. I’d want peace, too. Relationships are hard. They bring out the best and worst of people, and usually fall apart…”

“I don’t think that is true,” he said quietly, looking at her. “My parents have been married for thirty-five years and adore each other. I think when it’s the right person, and someone is ready, you find a way to make it work because you can’t imagine life without that other person.”

Lila couldn’t look at him, and the bite of cake in her mouth was awfully hard to swallow as her throat tightened.

“My parents are best friends and do everything together… and I guess that’s what I’m hoping for myself someday,” he said quietly. “I never dated much because I didn’t feel that friendship, that bond, and it’s hard to explain. I know not every friendship turns into more because I’ve got friends on the ship, and we’re pretty easy together, but I hope someday that I find my person.”

And Lila looked at his profile, a little stunned at how he just casually lumped her in with his group of friends on the ship – but wasn’t that what she wanted? She didn’t want this to beromantic because she told herself she was never falling in love again.

“My parents fought a lot,” she breathed, turning to face the water once more. “I remember growing up, and they argued all the time over money. We were pretty poor when I was younger, and I was clueless just like any other child…”

“Oh, I get that…” he laughed softly.

“I wanted a new Barbie, a new bike, braces, a car… and I look back now realizing that they did everything for me, gave me everything, and I don’t know how they did it truthfully…”

“I think a parent finds a way somehow – and I think it’s amazing that Trophy and Stephanie are going to get to experience that.”

“Me too.”

“We should do this again before you leave for wherever you live at in Louisville,” he tossed out easily, looking at her carefully, but a smirk touched his lips. “Don’t tell me because we have to keep some secrets, right?”

“Wrong,” she replied quietly, meeting his eyes. “I think I can trust you.”

“I hope so,” he said in a hushed voice, holding her gaze. “If I ever bother you, just tell me to back off, and we’re good.”

She nodded and pointed at the cake, frowning.

“I think I’m done.”

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