the sea, heaven and everthing between [completed]

3. sand castles & deep talks

The next days were spent with Gracie and Sam. No matter what, it always happened that all of us ended up together. Gracie would eventually end up at my balcony as always or I got invited to their house. It didn't feel weird. More or less, it was comforting to know I had someone to be with instead of spending the summer alone and let my thoughts take over me.

The sun was setting slowly over the ocean and the cool breeze came shortly after. I looked at the big sand castle Gracie, Sam and I just made.

"Well, I just have to get myself cleaned up," Sam mumbled, dusting sand off himself and disappeared inside.

Gracie looked up at me, her blonde locks in front of her face. "Lia?"

"Yes?" I answered, turning my head away from the beautiful sunset.

"Do you know the song Can't Help Falling in Love?"

"By Elvis," I asked and she nodded. "Of course, I know that. It's a classic."

"Would you mind singing it?" She said all of a sudden.

I nodded and she sat down next to me.

"Wise men say
Only fools rush in," I started out.

By now Gracie joined in. "But I can't help falling in love with you."

"Shall I st-"

"Lia?" Both of us turned to Sam, who was now standing on the balcony with a look I couldn't completely comprehend.

"What is it?" I asked.

He sighed, not meeting my gaze. "Gracie, I think it's time for bed."

She simply nodded and stood up, brushing her hair away from her face. "Okay, daddy."

I followed her up to the balcony where Sam stood, the moment Gracie walked in, he shut the door.

"Did I do something?" I carefully asked, as I noticed the tension has changed and he avoided my gaze.

Still, he didn't look at me. Instead, he leaned his elbows on the railings of the balcony. "I would just prefer that you didn't sing that song to her."

"What? She asked me to," I said in defense, more or less curious.

"Lia, there are boundaries," his toned changed slightly and let out a heavy sigh.

"Sam, what are you talking about?" I said frustrated that he wouldn't get to the point.

This time he let out a long sigh, his head buried in the palms of his hands. "That was the song her mother used to sing to her every night."

Used to? I rested my hand on his back. "May I ask what happened?" I had always wondered where Gracie's mother was, I just didn't know how to ask.

There was a long silence before he finally spoke up. "Three years ago, Gracie's mother, my wife, Alice was diagnosed with leukemia. A year later, she died," he said with a low sad tone.

My arms wrapped around his neck from behind. "I'm so sorry," I whispered in between the sounds of the waves crashing into the shore.

"Hearing you sing it. It just- it just made the memories come back," he said.

I watched him. His gaze focused on the sea that resembled his eyes. The cool breeze flowing through his hair. "I'm sorry," I repeated. It was never my intention to do that."

"I know. It's hard. Whenever I look at Gracie, all I see is Alice and when she asks about her mother I don't want her to know the details yet. She is too young," he said, looking down on the ground.

"Maybe try opening up. Gracie is one of the most mature five year old I have ever met," I said.

He turned his head, our gaze met, his eyes filled with sadness. "Lia, it's not that easy."

"It wouldn't hurt to try. You don't want her to grow up wondering what happened."

He bit his lip and gaze hardened. "Don't you think I know that? I have been a single father for the last two years, it has been the two hardest years in my life," he snapped.

"I'm sorry, it's just-"

"Lia, I know you're just trying to help. But try to imagine yourself in my position. I loved Alice. I have loved her since the day I laid my eyes at her the first day of university. Do you even know how it feels to have that? I doubt that!" He said with his voice raised. The moment his last words left his mouth, I saw the regret.

I was taken back and slightly hurt as I remained silent.

Sam shut his eyes. "Lia, I am so sorry. I didn't mean that."

I stayed silent for a while.

"I had a fiancé," I spoke up and he looked at me. "His name is Ethan. We had been together for 5 years and 7 months before our wedding, I caught him in bed with somebody else."

Sam got closer and put his warm arm around me. "I'm so sorry."

I leaned my head in the crook of his neck, catching a whiff of his cologne. We sat down on the patio couch, Sam got a blanket and tucked it in for us.

The scenario was pretty breathtaking. The sunset was reaching its end. All there was, was the waves crashing into the shore and reflection of the moon on the ocean. And I was leaned in with Sam.

"When was the date set for the wedding?" He said softly.

"August," I said loud enough for him to hear.

"Oh, is that the reason why you decided to spend the summer here?"

"Something like that," I mumbled into his chest.

I don't know how long we stayed in that spot. After a while our body heat and blanket wasn't enough to keep us warm from the cold sea wind anymore. When we parted our ways, Sam gave me a kiss on lips. A kiss that still lingered on my lips when I got back to my place. His gentle touch, soft lips on mine under the moon light was all that I remembered.

Maybe Sam was more than just the neighbor guy next door.