Entanglement, p.7
Entanglement, page 7
Their walk eventually looped around, bringing them back to the front of the restaurant. Once there, their gazes lifted to find each other's, hands still clasped, hanging loosely between the small gap of their bodies.
Her smile hadn't faded, hadn't faltered once she saw the look in his eyes. His right hand released hers, moving along her hip, his left lifting to the side of her face. His finger slowly brushed a stray hair behind her ear before lowering to her waist. Her eyes closed briefly at his gentle touch, opening to meet his again, her heart beginning to beat faster.
Placing her hands on his forearms, Emmy stood still, the water brushing over their bare feet. The beating of her heart nearly drowned out the crash of the waves. Slowly, he leaned forward, her body remaining still as the gap between them began to fade. Her hands gradually moved up his strong arms, along his shoulders, wrapping around his neck as their lips connected.
It was as though she was standing on a cloud, floating from the earth without a tether. Their lips moved gently, the kiss a light offering of acceptance. Pulling her against him, his palms shifted to rest securely on the small of her back as he held her. No words. No second thoughts. No worry or dread. No nervousness. No awkwardness. The moment was simply…serenity.
Chapter Six
Again the seasons changed, winter falling over their small town. Normally, winters were nothing to worry about, a couple chilly days followed by twice as many moderately warm ones. At times, there would be flurries of snow, yet the perfectly shaped flakes would melt the second they hit the ground. Hoodies and sweaters, that was the typical attire for winter in Baycliff, regardless of what the surrounding towns were experiencing.
It became a running joke that Baycliff was in a protective bubble, on a plane by itself. Severe storms never hit the town directly. Baycliff had always been the relief destination during storms. Even in winter, the town would find themselves more populated from people up north.
Winter this year was something different for Emmy though, more special. Not only was she spending her first Christmas with Nate, but she was being included with his family, a family she had grown very close to since the night of their first date, just as Maria had predicted. When Emmy was not at home, out with Nate or at work, she could be found at the Hawkins property.
She loved being with Nate’s family, they were the most welcoming family she had ever met. In fact, she'd thought Nate paid them to act so cheerful and positive. The first time Emmy met them, she was welcomed with a hug from Nate’s sister Carolyn, his mother Gracie and father, Nathaniel Senior. The house provided you with a warmth instantly, helping you forget the chilly weather waiting for you beyond the threshold.
Emmy was welcomed instantly, by both his family and his best friend, Brandon. Nate lived on the same property, but he had a small house of his own built some acres away from the main residence. It gave him the privacy he needed but kept him close to his family.
The Hawkins were anything but short on wealth. They were one of the first families to settle in Baycliff and with that came large farmland, along with a couple of businesses in the town. Emmy found it amusing that she had shopped many times in the stores the family owned, one being the clothing store Maria worked at.
The main house was always cozy, feeling lived in. Pictures of family members were scattered along the walls, placed on shelves as if to tell the story of the family from the birth of each child, until what looked like late teens. The pictures quickly changed to more of Carolyn and Nate than of the eldest, Gabriel. Their graduation pictures, everyone was there but Gabriel. As the years moved on, so did the pictures, yet none were of the entire family.
Emmy wanted to change that, to help bring Gabriel home for an updated family picture. She had asked about him a few times, been told stories, but all ended up finishing the same way. He was a mover, he never remained in the same place for long and when he was here, pictures were the last thing anyone thought about. Gracie was always left broken with regret, realizing she let him go.
Gracie was amazing in Emmy's mind. She was loving, sensitive, compassionate. A wonderful cook and baker. She was able to make clothing look like it came from a runway show. She had a green thumb when it came to flowers, the house filled with many vases containing well-maintained displays. She was everyone’s friend, welcoming all into her home, always there to lend a hand to someone in need. It was easy to see where Nate and Carolyn got their hearts of gold.
“Gracie,” Emmy spoke softly as she sat across from the middle-aged woman. Gracie, searching for the place her puzzle piece went, made a humming sound in response.
“Yes, dear?”
Snapping her piece in place, she immediately picked up another, starting a new search. Emmy spun the piece she held between her fingers. “I was wondering, you wouldn’t happen to know a way to get a hold of Gabriel, would you?”
Gracie glanced up quickly, a concerned look on her face at the question. “Why on Earth would you need that?”
“I… I was going to call and introduce myself,” Emmy lied. “Feels strange I’ve never met him or even spoken to him and I’m here with his family so often.”
Gracie chuckled, placing her palm over Emmy’s hand. “Oh dear, don’t you worry about that. You will meet him someday, he finds his way home eventually.”
“Don’t you miss him?” Emmy asked.
“I do, every day. He is my first born, I will always want him close to me. Life, however, had other plans it seems.”
“I think Nate misses him but won’t admit it.”
“Nate and Gabriel, those two have a scarred relationship.”
Emmy nodded, returning her attention to the puzzle, looking for her piece. “Yeah, I heard of the rumors and childhood fights. I'm glad they moved past those.”
“Who said they did? My sons are wonderful men, I love them without limits and I know they love one another. However, I fear this silent competition between them will explode into something more damaging than we are able to prepare for one day.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing dear, there is nothing to worry about.”
“Is Gabriel a danger to Nate?”
“Darling, some could ask the same question to Gabriel about Nate. The past has been unkind to my sons, it has shown them their darkest moments within themselves. They have a complex relationship, nothing like Carolyn’s with the boys.”
“What do you mean, complex?”
“They compete over just about everything, from toys, to women to cars. Always have. Yet, they do love one another. It speaks to how they were raised, I made sure to install values of family above all other. They might want to kill each other sometimes, but for one another, they would kill every time.”
“They have a love-hate relationship.”
Gracie smiled with a nod of agreement. “I actually think as long as Nate has you in his life, only happiness and joy will find him.”
Emmy smiled. “May I ask a question? If you had one wish this holiday season, anything at all, what would it be?”
Gracie sat in silence as though she had to think of her answer, before giving a simple reply. “I wish my children happiness. That, to me, is the most important thing in this world. Even if it means I miss one or fear for another, if they are happy, I am fulfilled. You make my son happy. I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen him so hopeful for the future.”
“Really? I love being with him, he’s unlike any man I’ve ever met. My mother and father would have loved him, they would be planning the wedding already. You might be a bit behind on that compared to them,” Emmy teased, grinning at Gracie's light giggle in response.
“All in due time dear, all in due time.” She gave Emmy an exaggerated wink with her words. “I often worried he would never find love again. I sent up many silent prayers wishing for someone to come along and swoop him from his feet for a change, to show him love still existed.”
“He’s the one that did the swooping, ma’am.”
“Oh no, dear. You captivated him long ago. When he looks at you, my own heart swoons seeing the love shining from his eyes. My son is looking at the future and moving away from the damnations of the past. It’s you we have to thank for that, you’ve saved my son with your heart.”
Emmy didn’t know what to say. She'd never thought Nate had fallen for her in such a strong way. Her heart instantly felt full at the thought. She had fallen in love with Nate just after their first date. To her it was unavoidable, he was everything she could wish for. He looked at her as though she was all there was in the world, like having her on his arm made him the luckiest man in the town instead of vice versa.
Yet, through all their time together so far, Emmy would never have imagined he envisioned a future specifically with her. She always believed his words, that he lived in the now, refusing to plan too far ahead as things could change. Just then the door opened, Emmy and Gracie both looking over to Nate as he stepped through.
“What?” he asked, as he saw both their stares.
“Nothing, sweetheart,” Gracie replied. “Did you get the pecans?” Nate pulled a bag from his jacket pocket before he moved behind Emmy, putting his hands on her shoulders as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head softly.
“Hey baby.”
Gracie smiled as Nate moved behind the chair when she stood to go to the kitchen. Emmy noted the slick smile she was getting. Grabbing another piece, her cheeks changing to light pink, Emmy returned to the puzzle, her heart swelling three sizes larger. This is what true love felt like.
Two weeks before Christmas, Emmy sat on the floor of the Hawkins living room putting the final touches on a gift for a local charity. Placing it next to her, she grabbed another as her eyes slowly lifted to scan her surroundings, a smile curving her lips. Gracie and her husband, Nathaniel Senior, worked together on a large gift, both laughing at the other as they moved in different directions.
Emmy’s eyes drifted to the far end of the room, a light laugh escaping as she saw Carolyn and her boyfriend, Carter, making popcorn strings to hang around the community tree. Carter would quickly reach out, snatching the pieces Carolyn reached for to steal them for himself. Their laughter was contagious as she tossed a handful at him, the young man trying to catch a few in his mouth and failing every time.
Shaking her head at the young couple, Emmy glanced at Nate who knelt next to the fireplace to place a fresh log inside. Her smile faltered. She knew in that second that she loved him. He was the first thing she thought of when waking and the last before falling into slumber. Nate was everything she had dreamed and wished for her entire life, a man she would be honored to take home and meet her family.
Her smile came back as his head turned and their glances connected. Dusting off his hands, he moved from the front of the fire to kneel behind her. She could smell his cologne, feel the warmth of his body as he surrounded her. His breath brushed along her neck as he moved her hair to drape over the opposite shoulder. Placing a light kiss on her cheek, his chin rested on her shoulder, one hand pressed to the floor for support while the other teased along her waist.
“What’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?”
At his words, she felt a wave of emotions roll over her. Her eyes began to tear up, seemingly without reason. Jumping to her feet, she headed for the door, escaping the tight confines of the room. As she stepped outside, the chilly air instantly blanketed her. Crossing her arms in front of her body, Emmy brought her hands up, rubbing them against herself to keep warm. She stood on the front covered porch, looking out at the property that lay before her. Beauty, as far as the eye could see, the soft lights from the town miles away, just visible over the horizon.
“Baby, you’re going to get sick out here,” Nate spoke as he hurried from the house. Moving to her side, he wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. “What’s the matter? Did I do something?”
Emmy couldn’t move, her eyes closed as she fought to keep tears from falling, yet it was a wasted effort. She let out a little laugh as she felt the warm tears tracing paths along her cheeks. Turning towards him, she raised her eyes to meet his. She could see the worry in his expression, his confusion about why she was so upset. He didn't understand it.
“I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than fine.”
“Then why are you crying?” he asked as he lifted his hand, moving his thumb along her skin to wipe the tear away.
“I’m crying because I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this happy. Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy. I’ve gotten used to the idea of not having certain things, of losing the great things I did have. I know we haven't been together long, I know there's so much more that needs to be discovered, but I can’t help the way I feel right now.”
“You love me,” he spoke with a gentle smile.
“I do. I do love you, Nate. I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for you so quickly, fall for this picture of a perfect life but…I couldn’t help it. I just…”
“I love you, too,” he interrupted, stopping her thoughts.
“You do? Really?”
“I do,” he replied as he stepped toward her, his hands slipping under his jacket along her hips. “I love you, Emmy McKay.” She found herself fighting tears again, her stomach full of butterflies. Jumping into his arms, they both let out a laugh as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m scared,” she admitted, resting her forehead against his, her smile fading.
“You’ll never lose me, Emmy.” Her gaze returned to his at the statement. His words brought a sense of comfort to her, even if she knew he couldn’t predict the future. To lose him was now her greatest fear, the one thing that could destroy her. As dramatic it sounded, Nate was her only means of true happiness, she knew that the first time their lips connected.
Her fingers ran through his hair as she lifted up on the tips of her toes. His arms secured her safely between them as he leaned down, their lips connecting tenderly. This is where she wanted to be for the rest of her life, with this man, in his arms. There was nothing and no one that could destroy this. What is love? Does love at first sight happen? Are two souls brought together through time and space?
Emmy would normally laugh and brush these questions off as sappy. Things didn’t happen like that, at least not in her world. Yet, here she was living it. Living a life full of bliss and romance with a man she would never have thought to have as her own. Everyone had told her to have Nate would be something of a dream.
They might go on a few dates but that would probably be the most of it. Nate was in another league. They both came from different worlds, the romance wouldn’t last. They all couldn’t have been more wrong.
Emmy and Nate weren’t that couple that spent every waking moment together, in fact, they only saw one another three or four times a week. However, they spoke every single day. First thing in the morning, he would send her a text wishing her the best day she could have, telling her he missed her. When they weren't together, he would have her favorite flowers delivered to her, always daisies.
The nights they spent together, he would pick her up, right on time, always greeting her with a tight embrace and soft kiss. If they weren't planning to see one another, they would spend the entire night on the phone until sleep came over one or the other. That was what love was.
Near the end of December, Emmy moved along the bank of Jasper Pond with her head laying on the shoulder of the man she loved. His arm stretched around her, holding her close against his body to keep her warm. The scenery was beautiful with breezy air surrounding them and small animals scampering along their path. The smooth surface of the water in the hidden paradise brought a feeling of peace.
“This is so beautiful,” she spoke with her arm wrapped around the small of his back. As they walked, they ambled past the sandy bank, moving up along the wooden bridge that stretched across the center of the water.
“Emmy,” he spoke, stopping at the arched center of the structure. Turning to face him, her back against the railing, she frowned as she glanced at his expression.
He looked nervous, scared. It was a look she hadn't seen on him before. “You okay?” she asked, lifting her palm to rest against his cheek.
He nodded, hands resting on her hips. “I, uh, need to tell you something.” As he pulled her hand from his face, her stomach twisted, instantly falling back into her old way of thinking. This had all been a dream. She wasn’t with Nate, they weren’t in love, she wasn’t this happy. Everyone who warned her to take things slow was now proven to be right.
“Are you breaking up with me?” she asked.
He tilted his head, his signature grin curving his lips as his laugh echoed across the water. “No, why in the world would you even think that?”
“I’ve been waiting for it, the pinch.”
“The pinch?”
