Her Purpose | ✓

Chapter Nineteen

The exhilaration of skydiving still thrummed through my veins as we pulled into the car park near the beach. The day had been so extraordinary that none of us were quite ready for it to end. When Dad suggested we stop by the seaside on our way home, we all eagerly agreed.

As we climbed out of the cars, the salty breeze ruffled my hair, carrying with it the distant cries of seagulls. Families were packing up after a day on the sand, a few determined sunbathers squeezing out the last rays of warmth, and the ever-present queue at the ice cream van.

"Oh, look!" Meri exclaimed, pointing towards a colourful burger van parked at the edge of the car park. "Can we get something to eat? I'm starving after skydiving."

Mum laughed. "You didn't even jump out of the plane, love."

"No, but watching did work up quite an appetite," Meri retorted with a grin.

Dad rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Well, I could certainly go for a burger. What do you say, Beth? Nathan?"

I nodded, suddenly realising how hungry I was. "A burger sounds perfect."

"I'm in," Nathan agreed.

We made our way over to the van, joining the short queue. The smell of grilling meat and onions made my stomach growl. As we waited, I leaned into Nathan's side, feeling a contented warmth that had nothing to do with the sunshine.

"What a day," I murmured.

Nathan wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "It's been pretty spectacular, hasn't it?"

I nodded, thinking back to our conversation in the car earlier. About leaving a mark on the world, about making every moment count. This day – the exhilaration of the skydive, the simple pleasure of an evening with my family – felt like exactly what I'd been talking about.

Once we'd all got our food, Mum, Dad, and Meri headed down to find a spot on the beach. Nathan and I, however, decided to climb up to the grassy hill overlooking the shore.

"We'll join you in a bit," I called to the others as Nathan and I made our way up the gentle slope.

We found a perfect spot with a view of the entire bay. The sea stretched out before us, a deep blue fading to silver where it met the horizon. We sat down, unwrapping our burgers and settling in to enjoy the view.

For a while, we sat there and ate, simply taking in the beauty around us. The burger was deliciously greasy, exactly what you want from van food. As I licked a bit of ketchup from my thumb, I caught Nathan watching me with a soft smile.

"What?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

He shook his head, still smiling. "Nothing. Just... you look happy."

I considered this for a moment, then nodded. "I am happy," I said. "Really, happy."

"Good," Nathan said simply. "That's all I ever want for you, you know."