The Shore of Forever by Elora Maxwell

Author:Elora Maxwell [Maxwell, Elora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-25T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Eloisa

July 25, 1956

SS Andrea Doria, Atlantic Ocean

When I wake before Leo, I’m torn between jumping up in a panic and quietly slipping out the door. If my parents found me here, they would be absolutely aghast. I’m sweating with nerves, expecting a knock at the door any second. I suck in a deep breath, along with all the fear. Glancing around the room, I try to figure out what to do through the haze left over from sleep.

Leo lays on the other bed, which he moved to late last night so as not to break any vows between us and God. In just a few weeks we’ll be living together, and he’ll never have to leave my bed again. He lays there peacefully; thankfully my rude awakening was not enough to disturb his heavy sleep.

Seeing my sketches on the wall where he affectionately hung them calms me, and observing the tranquil space creates a need for me to capture it. I don’t have my sketchbook, but I do have an unused napkin from last night’s meal and an ink pen. Slipping across the small aisle between the beds, I sit beside him and draw. I always want to remember him like this; lips gently parted, hair ruffled in tight curls behind his ears, and his chest going up and down in even breaths.

In between glances at my work, I see his eyes flutter open. His mouth immediately curls up into a smile; he reaches for me before letting his tired arm flop down into the empty space next to him. His first thought isn’t about what people will say, it’s about why I’m not closer to him.

Setting my improvised drawing on the nightstand, I bend back into him as if he never left my side. He hugs me tightly. “I thought you might be gone when I woke up this morning,” he says as his fingers run through my hair.

“I thought about it, but I’m happier here. Happier than I could be anywhere else.” I let my eyes close as I completely melt into him.

“I love hearing that,” he yawns.

“I love you,” I say, forcing him to lock his arms around me tighter.

“I love you too.” We sit for a moment, eyes closed, taking in the moment. His fingers tickle circles on the palm of my hand as we breathe each other in.

“What should we do today amore mio?” He asks after a bit.

“What haven’t we done yet?” I laugh, thinking of everything we’ve crammed into our journey so far.

“Oh, a lifetime’s worth.”

“Well, we better get started then,” I say, moving to the edge of the bed. I don’t get far at all before he pulls me back to him and kisses me slowly.

“We’ve got plenty of time,” he says against my lips. I kick my head back with a laugh but return to him in an instant, already missing his lips on mine.

?

My parents were at breakfast, but they didn’t say a word to me. My mother gave

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.