Page 91 of Love in Tandem
“Oh.” Her brow wrinkled.
“That’s not . . . I mean, I was willing to wait forty years if that’s what it took. But I’m really glad that’s not what it took. Because you’re here. Now. And it’s only been six weeks. Even if it has felt like forty years.”
The lines on her forehead smoothed and a smile danced on the edge of her mouth. “So shall we continue on with the interview?”
He’d rather kiss that smile dancing on the edge of her mouth. But he supposed there were a few questions to be answered first. “How do you feel about kayaking?”
“Oh, about the same way I feel about canoeing.”
“How comfortable are you with hiking?”
“Very. As long as I don’t encounter any wildlife. Especially bees.”
“Reasonable.” Zach smiled, then held her gaze as he took a step closer. Now for the real question. “What are you doing here?”
“Other than interviewing for a job I’m obviously way overqualified for?” She played with the zipper on her light blue hoodie, suddenly looking unsure.
“What about the music program?” He edged forward another step.
She ran the zipper up and down the bottom of her sweatshirt a few times, then let go with a sigh. “I’ve started seeing someone.”
Zach’s feet froze. “What?”
“No. Sorry. That didn’t come out right. A counselor. I meant I’ve started seeing a counselor.”
Zach released a shaky breath. “Good clarification.”
“Rick connected me with someone he knows. And it’s been good. Turns out there’s been a lot of tough issues in my life I’ve never talked through. With anyone. Including God. No wonder my faith crumbled, right?”
“Your faith didn’t crumble, Charlotte. It just stumbled a bit. Believe me when I say I know a thing or two about that. But I’m guessing you regained your footing a lot quicker than I did.”
She offered a soft hopeful smile, playing with her hoodie zipper again. “Rick says you two have been talking a lot lately.”
“Yeah, turns out there’s a few issues I’ve been needing to talk through too. Issues I’ve been avoiding for years because . . . I don’t know. I guess I never felt ready.”
“Sometimes it’s not about feeling ready. It’s about finding something you don’t want to lose, then vowing to never stop going after it no matter how many setbacks you have along the way.”
“Those sound like some pretty wise words.”
“I thought so too, when Will said them the other week.”
Zach groaned. “That punk. He really has changed, hasn’t he? And here I was planning to pummel him next time we met.”
“Well, if our little bike trip taught me anything, it’s that our plans don’t always play out like we think they will. And thank God for that.”
Zach wanted nothing more than to erase the space between them with a crushing embrace, but he forced himself to remain still. He could do that. Not for forty years, but maybe forty more seconds. Long enough for Charlotte to answer his initial question. “And your music program? What about that?”
“Maybe I was just meant to plant the seeds for a music program. Maybe I was never meant to do the growing. Ty’s already found a couple of great candidates interested in the job. I know without a doubt the program will be in good hands.”
Zach slid a step closer and tipped up his hands. “And your mom?”
Charlotte slipped her hands into his like he’d hoped she would. “Oh, she’s an emotional wreck. No doubt about that. But she’s a happy emotional wreck. She was more excited than anyone, I think, when I said I was ready to move on with my life. I think part of her was just so relieved knowing my social life wouldn’t revolve around watching Frankie Avalon movies anymore.”
“Well, I can guarantee you my mother will be equally as thrilled. But I do have to ask. Do you really see yourself being happy? Here? Outdoors? With me?”
“If you can see yourself being happy doing the occasional presentation and fundraiser indoors with me.” She released his hands and circled her arms around his waist. “Truth is . . . well, I love you. And I don’t want to ride tandem through this life with anybody but you. For better or worse. Richer or poorer. Shoot, Zach. We don’t always have to be on the same page. Just as long as we’re on the same bike, right? And we both promise to keep pedaling no matter how many setbacks we have along the way?”
She reached up, running a hand through his hair down to where it ended past his ear. He smiled, pressing his cheek into her palm. “I can promise to keep pedaling. But I can’t make any promises about never encountering wildlife—especially bees.”
