Page 33 of Paradise West
“How do you want to handle this?” He asked gently. “Do you want to spread the ashes now? Or would you like to explore the fort first and do it at the end?”
Charli’s face fell and Jack felt the change in his chest.
Way to go, Jack...could you be a bigger jackass?
Charli sniffed and her eyes dropped to the sand, her response quiet but her voice thick with emotion. “I’d rather do it now and then enjoy the rest of the day.”
Jack mentally cringed and pressed his lips shut, determined not to make any other blunders on this trip. He gestured over her shoulder. “Then we’d better grab the box.”
“Oh, shoot!” She scrambled back onto the step and leaned into the plane to grab the box that she had placed on the floor between the seats. This gave Jack a perfect view of her ass and long, lovely legs, and generated an even bigger mental cringe for his ham-handed question.
Jesus, Jack...could you be any more insensitive? Pull it together man! Take a deep breath and make sure that from here on out everything is perfect.
When she climbed back out, he cleared his throat. “One other thing I forgot to ask you,” Jack started then paused.
Charli’s face was pinched and she clutched the white box protectively to her chest. “Yeah?”
He motioned toward the old brick fort. “Was there any particular section that Dottie wanted her ashes spread?”
Her face fell again and Jack felt like kicking himself in the ass. But Charli took a deep breath and peered out over the island. “She mentioned the far western moat, that we could stand over it at the top of the fort.” She shrugged. “I didn’t bring her letter with me. Sorry.”
He reached down and grabbed her hand, his thumb lightly rubbing across the top. “Don’t be sorry. I know right where she meant. I just want to make sure we get this right so you don’t have any regrets afterward.” He turned and pulled on her hand. “Come on, let’s get inside Fort Jefferson. There’s a lot to see here.”
Jack glanced at her as they walked. “Do you know anything about the history of this place?” At the shake of her head, he put on his historian hat and began from the beginning, pointing out areas of interest, including how the group of islands got their name and why a fort surrounded by water would have a moat around it.
“Because this was such a remote prison, most inmates who were brought here knew they’d most likely never leave,” he commented as they crossed the bridge over the moat and walked through the main entrance. He motioned to the sign above the gateway. “Once they read this, they usually gave up any optimism that they’d get out of here alive.”
He nearly grinned as Charli scrunched up her nose and read,“Whoso entereth here leaveth all hopes behind.”She rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s one hell of a motivational tool,” she snarked.
Jack chuckled. “Yeah, well the men who were brought here were soldiers who had been found guiltyof treason, horse theft, or something along those lines. They took that stuff pretty seriously back then.” He motioned around them and they walked through the gate and into the large inner courtyard. “There’s no way they could escape and many of them died of disease within a few years.”
As they slowly made their way across the inner grounds to the fort’s far western wall, Jack continued to tell her stories, trying to take her mind off their task. He knew it was nearly impossible, but it was heartwarming to see her smile occasionally.
When they got to the wall, he ushered her inside the large brick facade and pointed her toward the curved stone staircase. “That’s how we’ll get to the top. Come on.”
Charli followed him up slowly and gasped when she got to the top. “Oh, Jack! This is incredible!” Just as she said that, a huge wave hit the brick wall that bordered the moat sending up a huge spray of seawater. “Ahhhhh,” she shrieked and spun away from the water, putting her face right into Jack’s chest.
Jack smiled and wrapped his arms around her reflexively, enjoying the physical contact. It was all happening naturally—a little touch here, a hand-hold there. He didn’t have to create reasons to touch her or be near her. Holding her in his arms as she burrowedher face into his chest felt right in a way that he’d never experienced, like it was where she belonged.
Jack took a deep breath and put his hands on her arms, pulling back from her. He gave her a gentle smile, knowing this part of their adventure would be difficult for her. Hell, it was difficult for him. Dottie had been like an aunt to him, and he missed her like crazy.
“You ready to do this?” he asked softly.
Charli visibly considered that for a moment, then firmed her lips and gave him a shaky nod. “Yeah. It’s time to say goodbye.”
“That’s my girl.” He ran his hands down her arms. “Do you want to say anything? Like a prayer or a statement—anything like that?”
She frowned, her brows dipping down between her eyes. Then she peered up at him, her eyes wide and slightly moist as unshed tears began to form. She seemed so fragile at that moment and he just wanted to hold her and reassure her that everything would be alright.
“I didn’t even think about that. Would you do it?” she whispered, her voice quivering.
He gave her another reassuring smile and stepped beside her as she turned once again toward the water. His right arm snaked across her shoulders and pulled her into him. He began talking as if Dottie werestanding directly in front of them, assuring her spirit that both he and Charli would fulfill her wishes, thanking her for putting her trust in both of them, and wishing her peace.
When he glanced down at Charli, he wasn’t surprised to see tears streaking down her face. “Do you want to say anything else?”
She sniffed and gave a quick shake of her head. “That was perfect. Thank you.”
His own eyes watered as he gently grabbed the box from her hands. “Let me hold this for you.” He held the box firmly as she slowly removed the securing tape and opened it. She released a rough sob as she took out the full bag of ashes, her hands shaking. She glanced up at him. “Will you help me?”
