“Okay.”
“Okay. God, I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Luke.”
EPILOGUE
LUKE
It’s the beginning of fall. In North Carolina, that means breathtaking views of colorful leaves on a sea of trees. The farm is flourishing, thanks to the Bells and Tommy.
I pull up to the farmhouse right around dinnertime, entering through the side door to the sound of laughter. Kate’s voice stands out to me above the others, and my steps quicken toward her.
The kitchen is bright, a bouquet of white and purple gardenias decorating the center. Tommy’s grin is stretched wide across his face while he stands in front of the group, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. Linnet and Walter are both sitting at the table with mugs of coffee, observing the scene.
Kate and her dad, Mark, are hunched over a sketchbook. Kate’s hand is flying across the paper, directed by Tommy and Mark alternating a story about sea turtles who run a farm on the bottom of the ocean, rescuing other sea creatures and giving them shelter.
I stand in the doorway for a few moments, listening to the tale. The turtles have magical healing powers, offering them to any who are in need. The other animals love the turtles, but thefarm is cursed, so they are all on a mission to help break the spell preventing the seaweed from flourishing.
Kate has a beautiful smile on her face, blonde hair up in a massive bun on top of her head. She doesn’t see me walk in, her attention down on the paper. I approach silently, not wanting to interrupt. I take a seat next to Linnet at the table, who smiles at me. Walter nods in my direction before all our eyes return to the trio.
“Okay, after Gilbert explores the flotsam and discovers the magical compass, who does he enlist to go on the journey with him?” Kate asks Mark and Tommy while still drawing.
Tommy taps his chin, thinking about his answer.
Mark pipes up a moment later. “I think he should ask Ruby. Even though her fin is wounded, she’d be the best companion for the task with her history of being so well traveled.”
Tommy nods in agreement. “Can’t Salem go too? She’s so much fun. An octopus’s legs will come in handy for carrying the map, food, and the compass too.”
Kate looks up to nod, eyes meeting mine as she does. The smile she’s already wearing brightens along with her blue eyes.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She stands. “I missed you.”
I envelop her in a hug, brushing a kiss across her pink lips. “I missed you more, baby.”
I went on a business trip to New York for three days, which felt like longer having to sleep in a bed without her.
Kate tugs on my hand, pulling me out onto the porch for a smidgen of privacy. Our lips crash together the moment we’re alone. She tastes like Linnet’s lemon pie, the tart sweetness melting over my tongue. She presses her hips into me, driving me wild. Her hands are wrapped around my neck, and mine crush her body closer to me.
“You smell like fresh flowers,” I whisper into her hair.
“I was out in the field, picking the gardenias.”
“How have things been while I was gone?”
She looks up at me, eyes shining in the light from inside. “Good. Dad is in and out with his memory, but he seems to love it here. Tommy and he are dead set on me submitting our turtle book to a publishing house, so...”
“You absolutely should, no doubt. You’re incredibly talented, Kate.”
She smiles shyly, dipping her head down. I tilt her head up by her chin so that she faces me again.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do. I want to. It’s scary though.” She changes the subject. “How was your trip?”
I don’t keep secrets from her anymore, but we’re careful about where we talk about things.
