A Summer Memory

-Part 6-

(Catherine)

It's funny how two worlds of seemingly opposite sides could collide. But stars aligned, many crossed fingers, prayers, and pure luck, we did it. A wishing dream finally became such an unreal reality. We found our way back to each other of which great times restarted, a lot like the memories over the summer, but this time, it was deeper. The week over spring break was too short to really get to know him. We knew the basics of each other's lives, but when I came back, our relationship grew into much more.

I found a little apartment near a little art studio I worked at with an older woman who taught me much more than I already knew. Charlie still lived with his dad in the beach house, he had no reason to move out. We both enjoyed our lives working on things we loved to do. I was able to see his competitions still and he'd occasionally surprise me at the studio. He was so sweet, kind, and adorable. I loved looking into those blue eyes that still had a hint of green that made them so full of love and laughter. I was the one who laughed, normally, but when he occasionally managed to do so, I had the pleasure of enjoying it.

We spent two wonderful years in a deep relationship. After those years, it was no surprise that Charlie proposed. The ring was simple and elegant, just the way I liked it. There was no doubt I said yes. We had a smaller wedding, but it was still memorable. Nessa, of course, was my maid of honor and helped me keep my head on straight.

Nessa and Luke got married a little over a year before Charlie and I. Nessa has always been like my older sister. We talked about anything and everything. "You two are two peas in a pod," my mom used to say to us. No one would disagree though because she was always right.

When I asked her to be my maid of honor, she, without hesitation, said yes, but that she had a secondary duty to attend to. She was pregnant with a baby boy. About four months after my wedding, I had received similar news, and, together, we would have babies.

Charlie and I needed a new house situation. I had dabbled in some architecture design back in early college. It has always been a dream to design my own house one day, and Charlie, being the good man he is, let me do just that. Our house was small, two stories, set right off the beach. The balcony oversaw the waves. Upstairs was our room and two smaller rooms. Our kitchen and living room were open with many windows and plants.

When I broke the news to Charlie about the baby, he was overly excited. Much more than I thought he would show. He believed we were having a boy so he decorated the nursery with grey-blue walls with a cute baby shark stuffed animal in the crib. I surprised him with some surfing decoration as well.

A couple of doctor's appointments in, we found out we were having twins of the opposite gender. We were surprised but overjoyed to receive the news. We'd need to accommodate the nursery for another baby soon enough.