Keeping Claire

Chapter Thirty Eight

                Chapter Thirty Eight

Cody’s POV-

                We walked along the beach in silence, a comfortable silence. We didn’t get too close to the water because it was so cold. Claire’s hand was freezing, I squeezed it. She squeezed back then smiled at me. She looked better now than she did ten minutes ago. Its funny how one little question could bring up so many emotions. But Claire was still fragile and, even though she has improved, will be fragile for a while. The good thing, however, is that she’s pretty tough when it comes right down to it.

                I thought about the past couple of days as I stared out at the water. I was so glad that Claire seemed to be getting along with my family. From the minute we got here, she and my mom were acting as best friends. Claire was also great with kids, which to me was one more characteristic that made her perfect. Before we got here, I was worried about how she would react to meeting a lot of people at one time, but she handled it well.

                I felt Claire’s Christmas present move around in my pocket. For months I stressed over what to get her, my mom and I both did. I had already given her the arrow necklace and she adored it. I haven’t noticed her take it off since the night I put it around her neck. I loved the way the little silver arrow looked around her petite neck against her olive skin tone. Topping that was really hard, but I figured it out. I just hope it isn’t too much at one time. We are about to be near the other half of her present. I turned her around before she could see it. A surprised expression crossed her face. I smiled, then she did too. It wasn’t a weak or forced grin, just a happy, content one.

                “So, I’ve been stressing for about a month now about what to get you for Christmas. I couldn’t really think of anything that could top your necklace,” I paused and fiddled with the chain around her neck, “But I think that I’ve figured it out.”

                I searched around in my pocket then held up a little silver key. She smiled then a puzzled expression appeared on her face. “A key?” She asked. Then she smiled, “What does it open?”

                It was going well so far. I turned her around to see a little, white beach house. Its bright frame stood out against the cloudy, gray sky. It used to be my parents’ house when they were younger and didn’t have any kids. When they had to get a bigger house, they kept the beach house since it was right down the beach and already paid off. It was ours now.

                Claire turned around with a bewildered look on her face, key still in hand. I laughed at her expression. But then I got worried. Was it too much at one time? “It isn’t too much is it?” I asked her.

                She laughed then jumped into my arms. I laughed and twirled her around, causing her to laugh harder. When I put her down, she reached up and kissed me. “No, I love it. Actually, love is an understatement. I can’t even put it into words.”

                Relief flooded through me as I chased after her. She ran up the porch and unlocked the door then stepped inside. I followed her and watched her reaction to the inside of the little structure. Claire explored every room and smiled the whole time. When we got back to the front door, she turned around and wrapped her arms around me, burying her head into my chest. “Thank you.” She murmured.

                I put my hand under her chin and lifted her head up so that she would look at me. “No need to thank me. I love you, and this is how we’re going to start our new lives.” I kissed her forehead, then her nose, then landed on her lips, lingering there for a minute. She smiled, then hugged me even harder.

Claire’s POV-

                Cody’s present to me was incredible. I had never had anyone, not even my mother when she was alive, do as much for me as Cody has done. I was grateful that he had found me. He was the keeper of my heart, and my sanity. I stopped and faced him.

                He smiled that adorable smile and laughed. “What is it?”

                I smiled, then blushed a little at the thought of his Christmas present. I had already gotten him a few small gifts, but this one was the best. I went on my tiptoes so that I could whisper into his ear. “I want to give you your Christmas present after you gave me mine, but that would be impossible.” Because Cody is indeed a guy, it didn’t take long for my present to register in his mind, but before he could react, I pecked him on the lips and walked ahead.

I looked back to see what his reaction would be. He smirked at my words, which was expected. But in his eyes there was a different emotion. His eyes reflected love. Not the average love, but a love that vowed to take care of me for the rest of my life and then some. That was what I needed to know.

Perhaps I knew it all along, but now I was certain that whatever life threw at us, we could handle it, together.