Page 37 of Love By The Falls

“It’s me.” His fingers caress my bare arm, and I shiver despite the sheets over my body. My muscles are sore from last night. Neither of us slept as we desperately tried to enjoy every minute together until exhaustion set in.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mean to wake you, but I wanted to say goodbye one last time.”

We’d said our farewells last night in words, through kisses, and bated breaths, but I understand what he means. One more goodbye.

“This has been the best week of my life,” I say.

“Me, too, Freckles.”

“Freckles?”

“They’re the first thing I noticed about you when we first met, and I kiss them each night before bed.”

I smile. “I like that you gave me a pet name.”

“Yeah. First time for me.”

I smile. His admission makes my heart flutter. This was special for him, too. Even if it’s only a small thing, it means a lot to me. It’s sort of like we both experienced firsts on this trip.

“Take care, Caleb.”

His voice is hoarse, as though the words tunneled through grit and sand. “Goodbye, Charlotte.”

He squeezes my hand, and neither of us let go for a long time. Eventually, he pulls away and my hand falls onto the white sheet. I rub the spot where he slept last night. It’s still warm. I don’t move my hand from the spot until long after it turns cold.

Eventually, I stare up at the ceiling and if it wasn’t for the remnants of his cologne, proving that he’d been there, I’d have thought this was all a dream.

10

Charlotte

People fill the plane’s aisle, and I sit patiently staring out the window. Memories swirl in my mind as I reminisce about the week in St. Kitts.

“Miss, you must leave the plane now,” says a voice a distance away.

I shake the thoughts from my head and look up at a flight attendant standing at the end of the aisle. I’m the only one left on the plane.

“Sorry,” I mutter, and roll my suitcase down the aisle and through the tunnel.

There’s another long queue at customs until I finally reach the gray doors, and the fluorescent lighting of the airport terminal hits my eyes.

“Mom! Mom!”

Charlie’s voice sends a jolt through my body and immediately all my thoughts scatter and all I can think about is holding him in my arms.

“Charlie,” I cry and drop to one knee. He barrels into me, and I nearly fall over from the impact. “Oh, Charlie! It feels so good to hug you again.”

I run my fingers through his hair, and although there are knots in it, the familiarity soothes me. A kiss to the top of his head confirms his shampoo scent, and the happiness of smelling the familiar fragrance is so unexpected tears press behind my eyes.

Jane stands behind Charlie, her arms open. “Welcome back.”

I smile and get up to hug her. “Thank you.”

Sage sidles up next to me and bumps me with her hip. “That tan looks smoking on you, Char.” She crosses her arms, assessing my face. “Can’t wait to hear all about that bartender.”

I laugh. “There was no bartender, Sage.”

She pouts and purses her lips. “Why do you have to kill the dream so soon?”

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