Today for the Romantic Friday Writers the theme is Smooth Sailing. This scene takes place on a boat, a very special one built as a wedding present from James to his fiancé, Rain. What follows is the aftermath of the tragedy that tore them apart...
Moonlight glinted off the water and cast quivering blue reflection across the polished deck. James leaned against the railing and let his gaze follow the slivers of moonlight dance across the surface.
He heard movement behind him and then his sister was next to him. She leaned against his shoulder like she’d done since their dual birth. She whispered next to him her voice as full of sorrow as his had been.
“What are you going to do?”
James shrugged.
“Nothing I can do, now. Rain said, 'No.' She sent me away. I think...I think she's slipped too far for me to...”
Grief and frustration burned in his chest and he blew his breath out slowly. He rubbed the silver key in his hand. This couldn't be real, couldn't be happening.
His sister wiped her cheek and James realized she was crying, had been crying, also. He hugged her with his left arm and they stood watching the waves lick at the hull.
His sister wiped her cheek and James realized she was crying, had been crying, also. He hugged her with his left arm and they stood watching the waves lick at the hull.
Finally she asked, “Are you going to keep her, the boat?”
James closed his eyes and then nodded.
“What about Rain?” His sister’s voice broke. “I mean, this isn’t the end, is it?”
Hearing her name made the hollow in his chest ache and James grit his teeth.
“I can’t give up on her,” he said softly. “I know in my bones that we’re supposed to be together.”
His sister made a murmuring noise.
“Then we wait,” she said finally. “I mean, she’s the one, right?”
James swallowed against the lump in his throat. His voice was hoarse when he answered.
“Yeah,” he said and rubbed the silver key again. “My one and only.”
I'm so happy I got to share a small portion of what is one of my favorite romances. If you'd like to check out the other entries in the Romantic Friday Writers challenge for this week, then hop on over. Or if you'd like to join, then enter your blog address in the linky on the RFW home page.