When everyone was awake, we decided to order pizza and eat it at the house. We were blessed with good weather and ate it at the back table just before the sunset.
Ava didn’t pick up on it being our last night as she ran along the sand, but all of the adults were a little quiet. We didn’t want to go home, back to work, and responsibilities. We did want to see Gram. The girls put the leftovers away for breakfast, cleaning the kitchen up before we gathered outside again.
We lit the fire pit, keeping a close eye on Ava as we sipped beer. She went to bed after a quick bath, and Mari and Becca came back out holding hands. “Our last night,” they said as they sat in the cushioned chairs.
“I want to see Gram and my bed, but can we take this view with us?” Jackson asked, looking a bit reminiscent. Their old condo in Florida had a great beach view, but Jackson also thought that Seattle was gorgeous.
“We’re thinking of looking into a timeshare kind of deal. Did you like it here?” Jackson asked Amy as she smiled.
“Port Townsend is amazing. I could live here!” She replied as we all nodded. “I know that Gram is the glue that holds us all together. I’d never break that but down the line? I could live here.”
“I hate that she won’t be here forever, but it’s true. I just hold onto every moment I can.” I said as Hayden stroked my hair.
Jackson and Amy went to bed first, with Mari and Becca following shortly. I leaned back and looked at the stars as I listened to the waves, “This is perfection.”
“It is. I could almost sleep here, but that bed is calling my name,” Hayden told me with a chuckle. I knew exactly what he meant, grinning at him. We stayed out for a while before locking up the house and heading to bed.
I held onto every moment of that night as we lay in the dark after making love. I imagined our room in Hawaii for the wedding, and my heart surged with joy. We’d all be there together to celebrate, including Gram. I would marry the man of my dreams in paradise.
I fell asleep with that in my head, dreaming about it until the shriek of a toddler at our bedroom door woke us up.
“Jesus. She found the stairs.” Hayden mumbled as he turned into me.
“Ava, come back here. Let your uncles sleep!” Becca called out as I started to laugh.
“It’s eight. We should get up and have some food before we leave. I want one more walk on the beach.” I kissed Hayden’s hair as he murmured something unintelligible. I could smell coffee, and that got me to sit up in bed. “I’m going.”
Ava was gone as I slipped into sweats, pulling on a t-shirt before going downstairs. Everyone was there, eating pizza and drinking coffee as they lounged around the room. “Good morning,” Mari told me before handing me some coffee. “We’re going to take a long walk on the beach before we leave so that little Missy will sleep on the way home.”
“I love that idea. I need my fill.” I sipped the coffee and glanced around the room. “I need to drag Hayden out of bed, though. He won’t want to miss it.”
“I’m up. Give me coffee.” He stalked down the stairs, and Becca giggled as she poured him a cup. “What’s the plan?”
“Pizza for breakfast because we’re classy that way. Walk on the beach, come back and load up cars… maybe grab food on the way out of anyone is up for it.” Mari counted on one hand before she looked around. “Cool?”
“Very cool,” Amy said, stretching and rubbing her stomach. “I’m going to sleep hard in the car. I’ll even take a nap at home.”
“You’ve been busy here, Ames. I’m proud of you,” Jackson said as she smiled.
“I’m pregnant, not sick. Being active is good for me, and you’re so sweet to let me rest when I need it.” Amy kissed his cheek as Jackson grinned.
“Preach it, girl.” Becca handed them each a plate of pizza and plated some more for us.
We ate and went out to the beach. It was bright, and the air was crisp and clean. Ava ran ahead, as usual, making me a little sad that she wouldn’t be doing this tomorrow morning. “We’re coming back soon and bringing Gram with us.”
“We are.” We locked arms and walked forward through the wind. Everyone was quiet as they took more pictures, grabbing more shells to pocket as we all took in our last moments here.
“I don’t want to leave,” Amy said as she held onto Jackson’s hand. “Can we bring the baby here?”
“Of course, but the baby won’t be walking for well over a year.” He laughed at her.
“I don’t care. We need to show him the water early.” Her voice sounded dreamy, and Becca turned to look at her.
“I agree with you,” she called back, smiling.
We finished our walk, stalling until Becca told us we need to load up our cars. We were silent as we checked for things left behind, cleaning as we went. When the house was locked up, we all took a moment to look at it.
We decided not to eat out since we had a lot of pizza in the morning. Becca and Mari were hoping that Ava would sleep, while Amy was looking forward to a nap. We took the keys back to the office, thanking the woman for such a great house. We were likely the last ones on the ferry, getting out and watching as the town moved further away. “I loved it there.”
“So did I. Maybe someday we can move there.” I wrapped my arm around him, kissing his hair as I closed my eyes.
“Maybe.”
When we pulled up to the apartment, Hayden let out a long sigh. “Back to reality and work.”
“You love work,” I reminded him as he shrugged.
“I love Port Townsend more.”
We unloaded the bags and started some laundry before going to see Gram. She offered to cook dinner for us that night, telling us that everyone else said yes. None of us wanted to cook after the trip and that amazing grill. “Sounds perfect, Gram. What time?” I asked as she told us to be there at five.
We went home to settle in, assuming some people were taking naps. Hayden called to check on the theater, proving my theory that he loved work. I also checked emails and assured clients that I was back to work in the morning.
We showered before dinner, arriving to find everyone gathered around the living room. Gram made her white chicken chili, fresh rolls, and salad, which we ate seated all over the room. We told her all about the beaches and Port Townsend, telling her that she had to go the next time. She said it was beautiful when she saw the pictures, smiling as she saw how happy Ava was. “Look at her. She loves it.”
“She slept so well there,” Becca bragged as Mari laughed. “You have to come with us.”
“I’d like that. You are such a close family and take care of each other.” Ava took a bite of a roll, screaming as we all jumped.
“She does that now,” Mari said, leaning over to tell Ava to use her inside voice. We finished dinner, hugging before going to our homes for the night.
I missed Hayden the second he left for work the following morning. I missed the sound of Ava in the morning and just talking to my cousin on the deck as we overlooked the ocean. I killed time drinking lots of coffee and catching up on work, settling into the old routine. This last weekend made me want to plan the wedding even more.
Hayden walked in that evening, greeting me with a warm kiss. “I missed you today. I loved spending every day with you.”