I fumbled with the sand dollar pendant that hung on the silver chain around my neck and found myself thinking about the events of this summer. I was thankful for everything that happened, and I was glad I was patient in finding the one for me.
There was no doubt in my mind that Alex and I were meant to be together, but I had the strange sense that something unexpected was about to happen. And I had no idea if it would happen to us or someone we loved. I just hope It's a pleasant surprise and not a bad one.
"I'm back!" Nova's familiar arrival jolted me from my thoughts and towards the front door, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Hey, oh nothing," I breathed, tucking a fallen strand of hair out of my eyes, "I was just lost in thought."
"Oh, well, are you ready to go?" She asked, plopping down next to me.
"Go where?" I inquired, turning towards her.
"Are you serious? Our double date, remember."
My eyes widened as I remembered what day it was, "Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot."
She laughed and shook her head, "Come on, we still have time. Where's Alex?"
"He's at the beach teaching Scuba lessons. He should be back in twenty minutes. I'll text him and let him know."
She shook her head, "No, I'll text him. You still need to take a shower, get dressed, and put on makeup." I glared at her, "Okay, no makeup."
"Here, I'll be right back."
After a quick shower, Nova picked out a purple dress for me to wear just as Alex got home.
"What happened? What's the emergency?" He was out of breath, and I noticed that droplets of saltwater fell down his face like he didn't bother to dry his hair before leaving.
Confused, I asked, "What do you mean emergency? Nova, what did you send him?"
"Well, he's here, isn't he?" She paused, "Now, go and take a shower and get dressed before we lose our reservation!"
*
By the time we got to the restaurant, it was nearly four. It was colder than yesterday, and I found myself longing for the warmer weather. Of course, it could always be snowing, and I knew I definitely didn't miss that. We found our table and sat together as the waiter gave us a loaf of bread to share.
"So, how are things?" I asked as soon as the waiter left, "How is Emmy?"
"Things are going great," Josh said as he sliced the bread and handed everyone a plate, "Nova and Emmy are both healthy, and the doctor says they're both doing great."
"Oh, we were going to tell you, we're going to stay in a nice little cottage in Charleston for our anniversary." Nova beamed, clasping her hands together.
"Oh, really? When do you leave?
"A few days before you two do for your trip." She responded, taking a bite of her bread, "You tell your mother I say hi!"
"Alright, we will." Alex and I say as our waiter came back with our drinks.
"How are things going with you two?" Josh asks, looking between us with knowing eyes.
"Things are going great actually," Alex said, grabbing my hand from underneath the table.
"Just great? You already live together, when are you getting married?" Nova pressed, her eyes gleaming at the thought of my wedding day.
"I – Well, I mean, I don't think we're quite there yet." I stumbled, looking over at Alex for help.
"Yeah, we're still getting to know each other." Alex agreed.
I nodded, "That's an important life decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Maybe after we've been together for a bit, we can discuss marriage and children, but I think until then, we're going to get to know each other more."
Josh and Nova nodded in agreement, and I watched as they knowingly looked at each other. What were they thinking?
After our food arrived, we ate and laughed together as if we didn't just discuss marriage between Alex and I. I wouldn't mind being married to Alex, but I think It's too soon for us. And I definitely don't want to rush things. And I knew in my heart that Alex felt the same way.
*
"Do you have everything?" Alex asked after I zipped up my suitcase.
We were running a few minutes late, and Alex had already put everything in the car. It was a two-hour drive from Tybee Island to Summerville, and I was ready – at least in my head, I was, but outwardly, I was not.
"Yeah, I just need to grab my purse, and then we can leave," I said, handing him my bag, and he smiled at me. "Are you nervous?"
"Why would I be nervous?" He asked, stopping at the front door.
"I don't know, your girlfriend is going to meet your mom for the first time, and you want her to like her." I paused, "I know I am."
"Yeah," He agreed, "I think I am just a little, but I have no doubt she'll love you just as much as I do." He smiled, leaving me to grab my purse and follow him out the door so I can lock it.
Just as I was about to get in the passenger seat, my phone rang, picking it up I answered Nova's call who enthusiastically told me she loved and missed me. "Nova, we're going to be thirty minutes away, and I'll see you on Monday."
"I know, but," She began to sob, and I wasn't too sure what to say, "I love you so much, and I just want you to know that. Why am I crying?"
"I know Nova, and I love you too. And I think it's just from the hormones."
"Okay," She sniffed, "I'll see you in a few days."
"Bye, Nova, have fun, okay?" I said, hanging up the call and shaking my head.
"What was that about?" Alex asked, grinning as he started the car, "Did she call you just to tell you she loved you?
"Yeah, I think it's just hormones from the baby." I replied, as we backed up and drove towards the highway.
Alex fumbled with the radio as I looked out the window, deep in thought. The rest of the drive was spent listening to each other speak of our past. I learned that his mother is an author and that she had a room entirely dedicated to her writing, though she doesn't do much anymore. His aunt and uncle moved to Summerville to be close to his mom a few years ago, and they would be dining with us on Thanksgiving.
It was nearly four by the time we pulled up to the small cottage overlooking the sea. Flowers adorned every window box, and I felt as if I was going to a house from a magazine. Alex parked the car and came around to open the door for me just as I was going to open it for myself.
"Oh, you wanted to open it for me?" I asked, eyes twinkling with laughter.
"Yes, what did you think I was doing?"
"I don't know," I laughed, "Let's just get the bags."
"Alex, is that you?" A woman said as I left to grab the bags, "Oh, I've missed you so much! Where is that beautiful girlfriend of yours?"
Coming around the back of the car, I saw her. Her ebony colored hair was streaked in grey, and her blue eyes were filled with so much emotion; it was hard to tell what exactly she was feeling. She smiled as soon as she saw me and I wondered what I should do.
"Oh, there she is! Alex, have I taught you nothing? Go help her with her bags!" She scolded but came over to greet me with an all too familiar hug. "It's so good to meet you, Elsie. I'm Loretta, Alex's mother."
I grinned, "It's nice to meet you too, Loretta."
"Oh, please, dear, call me Mom." She paused, "Now, how about we get inside."
By the time we had gotten inside, Loretta had already asked what I do for a living and what my intentions were with her son.
"Well," I said, "I work at the same aquarium that Alex does; I'm the head conservationist. I organize beach clean-ups and take samples of the debris in the ocean. And as far as my relationship with Alex goes, I would love to be his wife, but I don't think we're quite ready for that."
"But you do love him," She paused, grasping my hand in a soft loving nature, "Don't you?"
"I do," I confessed, "But what if it doesn't work out? What if we get married, and we grow tired of each other?"
"Oh honey, you can't live your life worrying about what-ifs. When you commit, sometimes things don't work out, but that's why you stick with it and work together on making it work.
"Marriage is all about commitment and helping your partner out. You listen and talk to them, and they should show you the same courtesy."
"Okay," I said, unsure of what to say, "Thank you for your advice."
"Your welcome, dear. Now, where is that son of mine?" She asked as she stood in search of him.
"Maybe he's in the guest bedroom," I suggested, following after her, "Alex?"
"I'm in the bedroom!" He exclaimed as Loretta opened the door to find Alex unpacking. "There you are, I was beginning to wonder where you wandered off to." He laughed, and Loretta hushed him.
"You stop teasing the poor girl before she snaps and buries your body in the sand."
"That's morbid." Alex and I both said, grinning at our shared thoughts.
"Well," She sighed, "I think I'm gonna start on dinner. Elsie, if you'd like to come in and help after you unpack, feel free to join me."
"Okay," I said, grinning, "I would love to.
"I told you she'd love you." Alex said after she left us to unpack, "What were you talking about?"
I looked up from my bag, watching him as I tried to decide what to say to him, "She asked me what I had in mind with a relationship with you." I paused, "I told her I wanted to marry you."
I half expected to see shock written across his face, but I was confused when all I saw was understanding, "But I don't want to rush things because If we do that, it will cause resentment and a lack of commitment from going in it like that. We should be going in it at a steady, well thought out pace." I looked up, my knuckles were white from stress, and I felt my nails digging into the palm of my hand, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I was going to wait to ask you, but you beat me to it. I've known we were meant to be together since Buddy ran you over all those months ago, and you don't have to say yes," He said, fishing in his bag, "I want to work on our relationship Elsie, I want to grow old with you. I want to have children with you and teach them how to read, how to ride a bike." He paused just long enough to open what I knew was an engagement ring. "I want to learn about you and everything with you because I love you. Will you marry me, Elsie Renee Andrews?"
I felt the tears welling up before I could stop them as I looked at my mother's wedding and the man who proclaimed his heart to me. And at this moment, there was no fear, no doubts about what could happen, and only the pure joy and realization that I did love Alex Walsh and I did want to marry him and live with him until I died. Choking on a sob, I managed to speak the one word that would change my life more than it already was, "Yes!"
I watched as he gently placed the ring on my left ring finger. By now, we were both an emotional mess, and I wrapped my arms around him as we held each other for a few minutes. Everything felt right in this moment as we held each other, our emotions swirling.
"I love you," I said, looking up at him.
"I love you too." He said, cupping my cheek in his hand, "You should help Mom with dinner. I'll put away your clothes."
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit." I grinned, getting up and making my way towards the kitchen.
"Hey, sweetie, did you get your unpacking done?" She asked before turning to me and noticing the ring on my finger, "He proposed? I'm so happy for you!" Her eyes lit up as she pulled me in for a gigantic hug before cupping my cheek in a loving nature, "You two were meant to be together."
"Thank you. I'm not sure what to say," I confessed, smiling all the same.
"Be honest, dear." She said matter-of-factly, "Now, let's work on dinner. Can you grab the salad from the fridge?"
"Sure!"
After dinner, I helped Loretta clear the table while Alex put the food in the fridge.
"So Elsie, is this your first time being in Summerville, South Carolina?"
"Yes, actually it is," I replied, smiling over at her.
"Well, tomorrow, Alex will have to show you around town." She said, putting the last of the dishes into the sink.
"Why don't you come with us," I suggested.
"I have my own date, dear." She replied, lightly patting me on the cheek, "Okay, I'm going to bed. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight." Alex and I chorus back.
After we finished the dishes, Alex and I got ready for bed a little after seven. It was an early night, but an emotional one. And as we crawled into bed together, I knew that I had many more days like this with Alex.