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This time, getting out of her car in the early morning sunshine, Maeve was feeling a little less hesitant than she had a couple months ago. Back then, she’d been determined to conquer her fears and show Ethan that she had everything under control.
This time, she was already working her way through her emotional struggles and the surfing lesson was merely an activity that she was going to enjoy with her boyfriend.
“Morning, beautiful,” Ethan said, jogging up to her side. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, his smile wide. “Ready to tackle a few waves?”
“As long as they don’t tackle me back,” Maeve muttered, rubbing the tiny white scar she had from her stitches.
“Bad luck, is all,” Ethan said breezily. He took her hand and began guiding her toward the shop. The shop which had gone through a major renovation in the last few months. The front retail area was basically the same, but the amount of board orders Ethan was getting were keeping him booked months in advance.
Maeve was so proud of him, but this morning her nerves were getting the best of her.
Ethan squeezed her shaking hand as he led her inside. “Let’s grab you a board and then I’ll show you my world.”
Maeve fought the urge to make a sarcastic comment. She wanted to be a part of the world he was offering. She really did. But oh-for-two was terrible odds and even with the help of a therapist over the last few months, she was struggling to keep her composure.
Without warning, Ethan tugged on her hand and gave her a searing kiss. Maeve felt some of the tension leave her shoulders and she returned the affection whole heartedly. Oh, yeah...this was definitely something she could get behind. It was way better than trying to surf.
To her disappointment, Ethan pulled back. “Better?” he whispered.
Maeve stuck her tongue out at him. “Yes, but I don’t like admitting it.”
He chuckled and tugged her farther back. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “I promise.” The words were said with a heavy conviction and Maeve almost felt bad that he needed to reiterate the power behind them
“I know,” she responded. “You’ve proven yourself over and over again. It’s myself I’m worried about. Maybe I’m just not coordinated enough to be a surfer. Maybe I’ll just always cheer from the beach.”
“No can do, sweetheart,” he said, his eyes going to a rack of surfboards. “If I can sit through you showing me all the ins and outs of my retail taxes, you can certainly give this another try.”
“Taxes are safe, though,” Maeve muttered.
“That’s one opinion,” he quipped.
Maeve rolled her eyes. “Fine. They say the third time’s the charm, right? Guess we’ll see if we can prove it.” They’d already proved it with their relationship. Hopefully the same luck would work out for surfing.
Ethan pulled out the board he wanted and presented it to her. “What do you think?”
Maeve hesitated. “It looks like...” Her eyes widened. “Ethan...did you make me a ‘Maeve’ board?”
“I couldn’t let the muse surf without the real deal.”
Another chunk of her anxiety dissipated and she reached out, letting her fingers glide along the fiery sunrise of colors. “It’s perfect,” she whispered.
“Just like you.” He handed her the board, then kissed her cheek again. “Come on. Daylight’s wasting.”
Nerves still danced in her belly, but Maeve knew she couldn’t back down now. Reason after reason just kept piling up as to why she needed to see this through. But first and foremost was because she desperately wanted to give something back to Ethan.
He’d worked his tail off to show her he was trustworthy as she got professional help for her long-held trauma. He was adapting to his booming business and spoiled her every step of the way, excitedly sharing milestones with her like a little boy with his favorite toy.
Maeve felt like she’d had so little to offer. She cheered him on, and she taught him about his taxes, numbers and growth potential. She helped out everywhere she could, but none of it felt like enough. She wanted to show him that she trusted him. That she was overcoming the incident that had led to their original separation.
That she was healing.
And how better than to share in the very thing that brought Ethan to life? The activity that had once been a source of contention could now be a way to come together. So though Maeve was doing a bit of grumbling, she really did want to conquer this. And even better, this time she wouldn’t have to try to conquer it alone.
He held the door of the shop open for her. “Here we go.”
Maeve tucked the board under her arm and walked into the light. Her flip flops quickly became filled with sand as they marched across the beach to the point of the ocean.
Pausing just long enough to zip up wetsuits and talk a little about rules, Maeve all too soon found herself wading out into the icy waters.
“Geez.” she gasped. “Maybe we should come back in June.”
Ethan laughed. “A full-body wetsuit isn’t enough for you? Where are the booties?”
“Forgot them.” Maeve shook her head, trying to block out the freezing cold water. “Besides, I should be able to grip the board better, right? Toe to wood?”
He shrugged. “Booties help prevent cold and any possible cuts or bruises. We really should make sure you have some next time.” He paused. “But we won’t stay too long today. Just a short lesson and we’ll go get you some hot chocolate. I have some in the back of the shop.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she muttered, her teeth beginning to chatter.
“Alright, cold lady. Climb on and let’s start swimming. It’ll warm you up in no time.”
Maeve took a deep fortifying breath. This was it. This was the moment she’d been dreading and waiting for all at the same time. This time it wasn’t about her...it was for him.
Swallowing down her desire to throw up, she clambered onto the board and began swinging her arms. It was time to give Ethan a gift he wouldn’t forget.
*****
ETHAN WAS GOING TO throw up. He just knew it. “You’re amazing!” he gushed, trying to hide his nervousness.
Maeve laughed and shook out her hair, flinging water droplets all over him.
The icy cold water felt good on his heated skin.
“Well, I managed to stay on my feet for a whole thirty seconds. We’ll count that as a win.”
He flung an arm around her neck and kissed her wet temple. “It’ll only get better from here. Thank you for being willing to try again.” He’d been so excited to share this with her. She’d had such bad experiences with one of his favorite parts of life and he’d been praying for weeks that he’d manage to change all that.
From the smile on her face, Ethan was guessing it hadn’t turned out too bad.
She shivered. “I think you promised me hot chocolate.”
“It’s in the shop. Come on.” Stepping back so they could walk better, he took her hand and led the way. The closer they got, the more his nerves began to dance. Life had been so good lately. Christmas had been the best year ever, having spent it with the Harrisons. The addition to the house had proved to be a huge blessing to Tony and the tension at the house had lessened some with the improvements. Ethan’s business was better than ever and for the first winter ever, he hadn’t gone to work construction, except to help resign and extend his workshop on the back of the surf shop.
But all of those life wins paled in comparison to the one he was hoping to win today. Right now. Just as soon as they got inside...
“Here. Let’s let the boards dry off.” Ethan set aside the equipment, leaning them against the shop. He’d gather them later.
His stiff hand could barely grip the door handle, but somehow Ethan managed to pull it open. He stepped back, allowing Maeve to go inside first.
“Thanks,” she said, beaming at him. Her caramel eyes flashed his way before she walked over the threshold.
Warily, Ethan came in behind her, the door bouncing against his back. Maeve had stopped and he barely had enough room to stand inside.
“What’s...going on?” Maeve asked.
A massive crowd stood in the shop, and every friend and relative they had in the small town of Seagull Cove was smiling like lunatics as they watched Ethan and Maeve.
Tox, who was being held by Mama Em, barked, causing a chuckle to go throughout the room.
Maeve shook her head, then turned, looking questioningly at Ethan. “Eeks?”
Taking her arms, Ethan pushed her back ever so slightly. They were too close for him to do this properly. His heart was beating against his sternum so hard, he was sure it would escape any minute. Despite the icy chill of the water they’d just emerged from, sweat trickled down his spine, giving further evidence to his nerves.
As soon as Maeve had stepped back enough, Ethan dropped to one knee.
Maeve gasped, her hands covering her mouth.
Reaching out, he took her arms and brought her hands down so he could clutch them in his own. “Maeve Linlee Harrison,” he croaked, then cleared his throat. “Maeve...we’ve known each other...a long time.”
More chuckles resounded.
“For the first few years of our life, you were simply another girl next door. Then you became my best friend’s little sister. But eventually, we grew up a little and your beauty captured me in a way very few things ever have.”
Her bottom lip began to tremble.
“But being confident and stupid, like most teenage boys, I tried to take the leap from neighbor to boyfriend and I went about it all wrong.”
She shook her head. “No...it wasn’t wrong.”
He held up a hand. “It was wrong because I was more concerned with showing off than taking care of you and fulfilling my promises.” He squeezed her hands and smiled. “But luckily, we don’t stay teenagers and I like to think that for the most part, I’ve matured.”
A couple of coughs made the group laugh as some of Ethan’s friends disputed his claim.
“Our relationship has been,” he ticked his head back and forth, “rocky.”
She laughed softly.
“And I’ve made more stupid mistakes, but I’m still learning and I’m still becoming. And now, I’ve figured out that I’d only like to continue to become more, if you’re by my side.”
Tears began trickling down her cheeks.
“I love you. So much more than I could ever have imagined. Would you do me the greatest honor I could ever imagine by shifting from being my neighbor, my sweet, beautiful neighbor...to becoming my wife? My stunning, gorgeous, brilliant wife, who surfs with me on the weekends and does my taxes in the evenings? Will you let me hold you when the sun rises on the ocean, forever and always reminding me of the design that provided me with the opportunity to even have a life to share with you at all?” He held his breath as she took a couple of shuddering ones of her own.
“Ethan, you have always been so much more than a neighbor to me. Even when I was hurting and struggling, I could never keep you in that neat little category. I always wanted you to be more, and if moving from the title of boyfriend to fiance and surf partner is a possibility, then I’m all in. Even on cold, early mornings when you’re teaching me how to share in the activity that makes you who you are.” She pulled loose of his hands and cupped his face, leaning down for a soft, lingering kiss. “Thank you for not giving up and for helping me see all the world had to offer. I’m the luckiest girl alive to get to experience it with you at my side,” she whispered thickly.
Ethan was done waiting. He jumped to his feet and gathered Maeve close, kissing her soundly as family and friends shouted their congratulations. When her arms wrapped around his neck, he realized he’d made a tactical error in inviting anyone to join with them at all. He’d thought it would be nice to have them there since so many of them had been instrumental in helping get them back together. Rookie mistake.
“Alright, son,” Tony said with a laugh, slapping Ethan on the shoulder. “There’ll be enough time for that later.”
Ethan reluctantly pulled back, but he was amused at the disappointment echoed in Maeve’s face. She apparently would have been fine with a quiet proposal as well.
“Is it our turn?”
Ethan turned. “Oh, yeah. Guess we better do this right.” He held out his hand and Riley dropped a ring box into it. He couldn't very well have held onto it in his wetsuit, so he’d assigned Riley the job, promising to finally forgive her for all her teasing and snarky comments during his time with Maeve. “This is for you, sweetheart,” Ethan whispered, gently pushing the three-diamond ring onto her finger. “One diamond for every chance until we got it right.”
Maeve gasped at it. “It’s so beautiful.”
He kissed her forehead. “Just like you,” he murmured against her skin.
Riley cleared her throat, then raised her eyebrows when Ethan looked her way.
“Go ahead,” he instructed.
Rubbing her hands in glee, Riley turned and grabbed something off the ground.
“What in the world?” Maeve asked, holding out her arms.
“We can’t name her Tox,” Ethan said as Maeve cuddled the fluffball Riley had brought. “But I thought it would be good if we had someone to play with Tox when we go visit your parents.”
Maeve laughed. “She’s perfect.” Looking at her dad, she teased, “Want to meet your grandpuppy?”
Tony pointed a shaky finger at Ethan. “That doesn’t count.”
Ethan shrugged. “Guess we’ll see, huh?”
Mama Em pushed her way up and wrapped her arms around Maeve and the puppy. “He’s right,” she said to Ethan over Maeve’s shoulder. “It doesn’t count.” She pulled back and scratched the dog’s head. “Though she is darling.”
“We’re not even married yet, Mom,” Maeve whined. “You can’t complain about kids yet.”
“Watch me,” Tony argued, causing yet more laughter and chatter through the room.
“What about Aspen? She’s been married for a while. Talk to her about it,” Maeve said, waving her arm toward her sister.
Austin’s face drained of all color when the eyes of the room landed on him and he stepped behind his wife.
Aspen rolled her eyes at his dramatics. “Come on, everyone. I made an engagement cake.” She grinned. “Who wants the giant chocolate surfboard decorating the top?”
As the mass of bodies began moving toward the back, Ethan held Maeve behind, wanting just a moment alone with her.
“Well?” he asked when it had quieted down. “Is this going to be an okay start to our lives?”
Maeve tucked the puppy to one side and reached up with her other hand, letting her fingers sift through his wet hair. “It’s more than I could have ever imagined. It was perfect.” She glanced down with a laugh. “Though I have to admit the puppy was a surprise.”
Ethan chuckled. “You always seemed to have a good time with Tox and Riley had another litter she was struggling to get rid of.”
Maeve laughed. “You’re such a sucker.”
He leaned in. “I was a sucker for you back when we were only neighbors.”
Maeve rose up to meet him. “You were never ‘only the neighbor’. But calling you husband is going to be the best thing ever.”
Being a husband was going to be great, but Ethan knew the best thing ever was the woman in his arms. They’d finally gotten it right. With a little help, a lot of luck and the interference of far too many family members, they’d managed to figure out exactly what would bring them the most happiness in life. He made a vow then and there to never take it for granted again. They’d worked too hard to get to this point and Ethan had promises to keep. Promises that would keep the love of his life by his side forever and always.