Laughing, Sara said, “It’s not. There’s the movies, the beach, shopping…uh…food but I’m not really hungry right now. Um…”
After she had trailed off, Deacon said, “All that, huh?”
Sara nodded and said, “Let’s go walk on the beach. There’s not much in the way of medical waste. Surely that’s a selling point.”
After a minute, he said, “I don’t know if I’m gonna like it as much without the medical waste, but okay.”
Snorting, Sara moved to the other room to brush her teeth and hair.
Grabbing her purse, and sliding on a pair of flip-flops, she waited for Deacon to put on his tennis shoes. Eyeing them, she said, “You’re gonna regret wearing those.”
“Well, I didn’t think we’d be going to the beach, so…”
Leaving the hotel, they made the quick drive to Fort Myers Beach. It was a little more crowded than Sara remembered it, but mostly the same.
They parked in the pay lot by the bridge and walked down to the shore line. Deacon had pulled his shoes and socks off already and carried them. The second he’d set foot in the sand, his feet sank down and sand had poured into his shoes.
Holding his other hand in hers, they walked for a while down the beach, letting the water lap over their feet. They didn’t speak for a long time. Sara finally said, “I know I said it earlier, but thank you for coming with me. I don’t know if I could have done this without you.”
Tugging her hand, he pulled her close to him and wrapped his arm around her.
“You’re welcome. I couldn’t let you come here alone. Not to do this. Nobody should ever have to do this alone.”
Stopping, Sara moved around, standing in front of him, and pulled his head down for a kiss.
When he lifted his head again, she said, “I am so freaking lucky.”
Deacon smiled but didn’t say anything.
Giving him a pointed stare, she said, “Just say ‘Thank you, Sara.’”
Smirking at her now, he said, “Thank you, Sara.”
They continued to walk for another thirty minutes, before the breeze got a little chilly. They decided to head back to the hotel.
When they got back to the hotel, Sara took a quick shower to wash off the sand, then changed into a tank top and boxer shorts while Deacon rinsed off. She was lying in bed reading a book when Deacon emerged. He grabbed a pair of gym shorts and slid into bed next to her.
Putting her book down, she rested her head on Deacon’s shoulder. He switched the lamp off, then tucked her close, and stroked his hand down her spine.
They lay there in the dark for a long time, both of them awake, but neither of them saying anything.
After a while, Sara said, “It kind of felt like I lost them both when Mom died. She left, and he just went crazy. I just don’t know how to reconcile the man I remember with the man who would pack up his house so I didn’t have to.”
“I dunno, baby. I didn’t know the man at all, but maybe he regretted the way things went down with you guys. I’d like to hope that maybe he understood how wrong he was about things.”
On a shuddering sigh, Sara said, “Maybe. I hope. I don’t know when I’m going to be
able to go through those boxes. I don’t think I’m going to be ready any time soon.”
Deacon squeezed her again and said, “Well, you can just put them in your spare room and deal with them when you’re ready. None of that stuff is going anywhere.”
Sara kissed the spot above his heart on his chest and snuggled in.
“Sorry I was such a mess before.”
She felt him tense and then shift under her, then he said, “Don’t worry about it. You’re entitled. This is a shitty situation, and it would have been strange if you hadn’t been a mess.”
“You’re the best.”