Beautifully written and illustrated, a story about how tradition can help us hold those we’ve lost in our hearts, even when life is forever changed.
Every Thursday night, a girl and her papa go to their secret fishing spot in the middle of the city. Now it’s just the two of them―there used to be three. The girl’s mother had found this place, and they’d all fished there when the girl was small as peas. Even though it’s different now, it’s still tradition. The girl and her papa don’t talk much; instead, they listen to the waves lapping against the shore as they fish. Sometimes they talk about Mama and the big walleye that always got away. As they head home, the city sparkling in the moonlight, the girl is content, ready for a night of dreaming about Mama and the fish.
Thank you to @amazonpublishingfor sending me a copy of the book.
Purple washed into yellow before they both washed into the Blue of the sea in the distance, it felt poetic that Lewis’ colours should be surrounding you as you looked for him, your eyes searching for the man you loved, just as they always did.
The waves were calming, as if they were aware of the fast approach of night and knew that they too should soften, creating a soft hum all around as you spotted him in the distance.
‘I’ll be waiting for you at our spot, L x’
The note that was placed on your pillow read words written in handwriting you had soon grown to love most, Lewis often left you little notes, words of his love spilled into an ink display.
It was rare that Lewis was home before you, but today he was. He had paid for you to be pampered at a spa all day with your friends as he travelled home from a race. He always hated the idea of you waiting for him at home alone, he hated the idea that he may ever be a burden to you, and despite your insistence always that he wasn’t, he made sure that he would never leave you with nothing to do as he travelled.
You held your breath as you got closer to him, completely without intention. It was very easy to forget how to function in his presence, and as you could do nothing but admire the beautiful silhouette of the God-like man up on the small hill, you accepted the fact that until he kissed you, a kiss that always brought you back down to earth softly, breathing just simply would not be an option.
“There you are...”
Lewis stretched out his hand for you to take it, helping you up the final few steps unnecessarily, he could never resist helping you, even when you didn’t need it, he was determined to imprint on you the fact that he would always be there to support you, even with little gestures like this.
“This is...wow, Lewis...this is beautiful.”
The little grassy hill that you had both labelled as your spot, titled that when Lewis took you here on your first date just to show you how beautiful the sunset looked in the distance, was decorated with a blanket for you both to sit on, rose petals to frame it, and Tupperware containing your favourite take out. He had covered all bases for your happiness, yet little did he know, all it took was his presence.
“It’s not much, if I had more time I would have cooked, and then also-”
You stopped his sentence short by pulling him into your lips, knowing the power you held over him with just a kiss, knowing that he would feel nothing but content in that moment and forget any worrying he had left to do.
“It’s perfect, truly perfect.”
Lewis’ smile hit his eyes and that’s how you knew he really meant it, those crinkles that decorated the brown pearls that sparkled always, told you he meant his happiness displayed, his eyes held no lies.
“Happy Birthday, baby…”
He took out a box that was hidden in the depths of his short pockets and for a moment you wondered if he was about to be so bold as to propose a lifetime with you, until he opened it and revealed something that to you, in that moment, was far better.
“I love it, thank you!”
A petite silver chain that held the initials ‘LH’ in cursive at the end of it, was laid at the bottom of your throat by the same fingers that found that place often. He was so delicate as he put the necklace on you, so careful, you wondered if it was because of how fragile the jewellery was or was it your fragility he was more concerned with?
“For when I’m away, you will always carry something of me with you…”
You couldn’t help but play with the initials, twirling the metal between your finger and thumb, as Lewis wrapped his arms around you, kissing you hair as you both stood watching the sunset in the distance.
“Now I need to give you something, to remind you of me too.”
He chuckled almost expectantly, like he knew that you would say those words and as he unwrapped you, turning you to face him once more, you soon learnt just how well he knew you.
“I already have that…”
Holding out his left wrist, he revealed a more permanent gift. In small but significant writing, Lewis had tattooed your initials on his skin in the spot that held his pulse point, a placement so very intentional, you would later learn.
“Lewis…that’s so…permanent.”
As if he had anticipated your reaction to the tattoo as well, he chuckled some more, pulling you into his chest, his hand cradling your head.
“The moment I met you I knew there would not be a day that I would be able to forget you, no matter what happened, you’re permanently in my heart. A little tattoo on my skin means nothing in comparison, you’re permanent, this is just so everyone else knows that too.”
Once the moment had passed, you both sat down on the blanket he had carefully laid out for you, you slotted between his thighs, resting up against his chest as he relayed the race to you as if you hadn’t watched it on television, as if you hadn’t had the run down from him already.
You loved it, you loved every moment he spoke about racing as it was the only time you heard him speak so enamoured, so full of love, so full of joy, so full of pride, the only other time he sounded like that was when he spoke about you.
“That thing you thought the box was…”
Your heart stopped, he had seen and read your reaction so well, he always did. Embarrassment washed over you, you felt stupid for even considering it.
“Lewis, it’s fine, I-“
“Stop…let me finish. The thing you thought the box was, the ring, I just want you to know that it’s coming…sooner than you think.”
Never had you met a man so free with both his thoughts and his emotions, yet hearing him tell you he was going to propose to you soon felt natural, it felt normal, and as you watched the sunset into complete darkness, laid back with the man you loved as you both pointed out the stars and all the shapes they formed, you were so thankful for how healthy your relationship was, and how special your man was too.
There was not a star in the sky that would be able to grant you a wish as powerful as the one that would have brought Lewis to you, instead you had fate to thank for that, fate mixed with chance, but none of that mattered now, you had him and there was not a moment that passed by that you didn’t appreciate just how lucky you were to be loved by the man who could do nothing but love.
Also that is our spot. 😅😂 didn’t they only go there once?? But then again it is where they had their first date ever so it kind of could be their spot.
