darling. Sometimes you find that one perfect thing and then it becomes yours, forever. Know what I mean?”
She swallowed and nodded.
Of course, she knew what he meant. These last several weeks with him had been her perfect thing. And the memory of their time together would live on in her heart forever.
“Where are you going?” Charity asked into her pillow, when she felt her mattress shift as Miles got up. He had made tender love to her for hours after the party last night. Worshiping her with his body, hands, and mouth. Lavishing her with praise and endearments.
It had been perfect…but now he appeared to be sneaking out of bed and tiptoeing to the door like a thief in the night. She pushed herself up onto her elbow and glared at him in the dim predawn light.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, coming back to sit down on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Where are you going?” Charity repeated and reached over to switch on the bedside lamp.
“Charity…last night was my farewell to you. I don’t think I can watch you leave. I couldn’t stand it.”
“You were just going to sneak out without a word?” She sat up, tucking the bedsheet under her arms.
He sighed and cupped her jaw between his palms.
“Be happy, my love.” He gave her sweetest, gentlest kiss.
And left before she could reply.
Miles and Stormy were on the beach when he heard the engine of the SUV start up. Despite his conviction not to watch her leave, he couldn’t prevent himself from turning around to track the progress of the vehicle with his own eyes. He watched it shakily traverse the dirt road toward the bridge. He was too far to see her face…but he was more than passingly familiar with the elegant shape of her head. She was in the back seat. And judging from the tilt of that head, she had spotted him on the misty beach.
Her body language changed, and he saw her press a palm to the window. He made a tortured sound, something between a keen and a moan and lifted his own hand in response.
I see you, darling. I love you.
The vehicle disappeared around the bend, and the sound of the engine gradually grew fainter and fainter, until all he could hear were the sounds of the birds chirping, the wind rustling through the trees and grass, the waves gently slapping against the shore, and his jagged breathing as he battled to keep the emergent, harsh sobs at bay.
In the end, the anguish of loss was just too unbearable, and he sank down onto the sand, clutched his knees to his chest and grieved.
Three months later
“Are you happy, Charity?”
Faith’s unexpected question threw Charity for a loop. They were in a bustling coffee shop, having their weekly brunch. Catching up on gossip. And suddenly this.
Why was she asking? Did Charity not seem happy? Did her family catch occasional glimpses of the loneliness and yearning she still felt for something she could no longer have?
When they had started family therapy, it had been with the understanding that there would be no more life-altering secrets among them. But Charity didn’t feel like she was keeping secrets. Her family knew about Miles. Knew how much he meant to her. Knew that she had to be missing him.
So technically there were no real secrets here. Just unspoken truths.
“Why do you ask?”
“I have it penciled into my schedule,” Faith informed her somberly. “The first day of every third month, ask Charity about happiness.”
Charity’s eyes widened. “What? Seriously?”
“Of course not, you ditz,” her sister laughed, taking a sip from her chocolate latte, before elaborating. “But I have decided that it’s something I need to ask you more often. To allow you space to…I dunno, talk. If you want to.”
“I’m fine, sis,” Charity said, offering Faith a small smile. “I’m doing well, I’m content. But…” She sighed and shook her head. “No. I’m not happy.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
“I m-miss him so much,” she confessed, stumbling over the words in her haste to get them out.
Faith wrapped her palms around her cup of coffee and sucked her upper lip into her mouth as she scrutinized Charity’s face.
“It’s funny,” she began, her tone of voice almost wondering, as she continued to stare at Charity like she had never seen her before.
“What is?”
“After Blaine died, I thought you were sad. Missing him. The usual things, you know? Grieving. But with the gift of hindsight, and seeing you as