Whispers from the Deep

Part 4

Thomas was the one who suggested we come here. Over the years, we'd visited occasionally—mostly in summer—and every time we arrived, we'd stayed for a few months and had such a lovely time that we promised to do it again. If there was ever a moment when we both needed that kind of peace, it was now. I was determined to savour every second of it.

Still, I reminded myself that whatever Thomas decided would be best. He never rushed into things or made impulsive choices, which was one of the qualities I adored about him, even if it sometimes drove me mad. I thought I'd bring it up again later, perhaps over a cup of his favourite tea. That way, we could discuss it with clear minds, without the rush of excitement clouding our judgment.

The rest of the day unfolded as beautifully as the morning had. We wandered through the charming streets of Portalban, stopping at quaint boutiques and admiring the old stone buildings. We treated ourselves to a long, well-deserved lunch at a family-run bistro where the pasta was homemade and the wine was exquisite. Afterwards, we meandered along the shore, watching sailboats bob in the distance, with their white sails catching the golden afternoon light.

The beaches here were stunning, too—some rocky, others covered in soft golden sand. I wondered what it would be like to experience them year-round, waking up in the mornings to take a dip in the lake, or to end our days watching the sunset from the deck of our very own boat.

It was at one of these beaches that Thomas slowed his pace, his hand still clasped in mine as we dragged our feet through the warm sand. That was when I felt Thomas shift beside me. I glanced up just in time to catch his blue eyes flickering towards me, the corners of his mouth threatening to curve into a smile. He tried to suppress and maintain that neutral, unreadable expression, but I knew him too well. My heart quickened just a little.

"So, I've been thinking..." he began, deliberately dragging out the words. He knew how impatient I was, and he was taking full advantage of every second of it.

I squeezed his hand gently, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at his teasing. "Oh? And what, exactly, have you been thinking about?" I muttered, my lips twitching as I fought back a smile of my own.

Thomas exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting towards the horizon momentarily before returning to me.

"I like it here," he said, squeezing my hand. "And you're right. Things have been tough lately, and after everything we've been through, we deserve something that brings us joy. You especially. I know how hard this has been for you, and I don't want us to miss out on the chance to do something that makes us happy." My heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat. At first, I thought I must have misheard him, but he didn't correct himself. He truly meant every word that had just escaped his lips. "So, let's call them," he continued, his lips finally curving into that small, knowing smile. "Let's make it official. We're buying the My Sunshine." The name of the boat was fitting, too. Amidst the storm that had taken over our lives, that boat would provide a few rays of sunshine.

A small gasp escaped me, and I stared at him, momentarily frozen in sheer shock. It was amusing—I had spent the last twenty-four hours hoping for this exact moment, and yet, now that it was happening, my body didn't know how to process it. I had convinced myself this was the outcome I wanted, that I knew was coming, but hearing him say it out loud was something entirely different.

"A-are you sure?" I stammered, barely able to form the words.

Thomas chuckled, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "We've worked hard for this," he reminded me. "It's time we treat ourselves. It's time we create the memories we've always discussed. If we don't take this chance now, we may never get another one like it."

"I know, but... That's a big amount of money from the settlement, and I don't want you to regret such an investment later on."

"Aubrey, I've made up my mind," he said, calm but firm.

I let go of his hand only to throw my arms around him, pressing my face against his chest as a rush of emotion crashed over me. Tears welled in my eyes—tears of happiness, the kind I hadn't shed in far too long. There were days I'd wondered if I ever would again... if hope had packed up and left for good. I was wrong, though. Completely, blissfully wrong.

Thomas held me tighter, his chin resting lightly on the top of my head. "You've earned this," he whispered. "Now let's build something new together."

I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing in the scent of the lake air and his aftershave—fresh, familiar, grounding. When I opened them again, in the far distance, My Sunshine swayed gently at the dock, the water around it shimmering in the afternoon light. It was waiting for us. For the life we hadn't planned so soon—but maybe the one we needed all along.

"Let's do it," I confirmed.

I felt him shift slightly, and then his hand left my back, reaching into his pocket. He was already pulling out his phone, not wasting a second, as he found the number Marcel had given us the previous day. I expected him to make the call himself. But instead, he held the phone out to me.

I blinked up at him, my vision still slightly blurred by tears. "You want me to do it?"

Thomas smirked. "You found it," he said. "It's only fair you make the call."

My heart pounded as I took the phone, pressing it to my ear as the first ring sounded. My palms were slightly sweaty, my fingers trembling with excitement. Then, on the other end of the line, Marcel's familiar voice answered.

"Hello?"

I swallowed hard, my lips curling into a grin I couldn't suppress. "Hi, Marcel," I said, sniffling slightly. "We're buying the boat!"