“Wow, Carlee,” he replied with a grin. “I’ve wanted to do that for weeks.”
“What took you so long?” she asked, leaning in for another one.
They sat for a while in the quiet of the evening and shared another kiss before walking back to the hotel, hand in hand.
Andy wasn
’t snooping. He just happened to pass the window and looked out. He saw them on the bench and smiled,
young love
, he thought. When they reached the room Carlee excused herself for a minute, leaving Matthew and Andy alone.
“
I’d like to take Carlee on a date tomorrow,” Matthew said when she left them. “If it’s alright with you, if you don’t already have plans,” he stammered.
“
Is it alright with her?” Andy asked with a smile.
“
I haven’t asked yet, but I sure hope so,” Matthew laughed.
“
Where will you take her?”
“
I have connections at one of the finest restaurants in town,” he laughed.
“
Then, you should ask her.”
Carlee came out of her room and sat on the sofa beside Matthew.
“It’s getting late,” Andy said, “I think I’ll say good night. Matthew, thank you for a nice evening, we’ll see you tomorrow after your class. Carlee, I love you.”
“
Right back at ya, Papa,” she said and rose for a hug.
Alone, they sat quietly for a few minutes. Matthew took her hand and brought it to his lips. Leaning toward her ear, he snuck a kiss on her neck before he whispered to her, “I already asked Andy if it was OK to ask you, and he said ‘yes.’ I’d like to take you on a date tomorrow night.”
“
I’d like that, a lot.” She paused a moment and asked, “like a casual kind of date, or a dress kind of date?”
“
Oh, definitely a dress,” Matthew laughed knowing that no matter where he took her he’d choose the dress. “I’ll look forward to it.”
“
Me too,” Carlee said and leaned into his arms.
He kissed her
and said, “I don’t want to, but I should go. It’s late and I have class early.” Before he left, he gave her a kiss that she knew would be in her mind until she saw him again.
Carlee knocked on Andy’s door. “He’s gone, you can come out now,” she laughed lightly.
“
Well?” Andy chuckled.
But before she responded her phone rang. The display read
‘Sister Chick.’ It was Jenna.
“
I miss you! Are you having a great time,” she asked when Carlee answered.
“
I am! Actually, the best time ever! I have a date with Matthew tomorrow evening! He’s a really good kisser,” she laughed.
“
Too much information!” Andy yelled and Carlee and Jenna both laughed.
“
Are you sitting down?” Jenna asked, excitedly.
“
I don’t need to sit down!” Carlee said, jumping up and down as she did. “I already know, don’t I?”
“
Maxx and I are getting married! I can’t wait 'til you get home so you can see my ring!”
“
Take a picture, silly! I can’t wait ‘til I get home to see it!”
“
We’ve already set the date, and Mom is freaking out!” Jenna laughed. “We are pulling it together quick! I don’t want the whole big wedding thing. Maxx and I’ve been living together so long we just want something small, just our family and good friends. Mom isn’t gonna let us get away with nothing, so we are getting married Labor Day weekend in the gazebo. She’s already kicked in high-gear getting things ready. Nanny is making my dress and as soon as you land she’ll be measuring you for yours, maid of honor!”
“
Yay!” Carlee yelled, delighted. “Papa! There’s gonna be a wedding!”
Matthew stopped by the kitchen before he left to see Cook. “I have a date tomorrow evening,” he said. “And you’re cooking, my friend!”
“
And your date’s dinner shall be the evening’s special! So tell me what it will be,” Cook replied.
“
I think she would like those chicken breasts with spinach and bacon that you make. The ones I like with the goat cheese.”
“
Then, that’s what we’ll prepare, Stuffed Chicken Breasts for my friend Matthew!” Cook replied jovially. He liked Matthew and would have made anything he asked for.
The next morning was a lazy one. When room service delivered the coffee Andy ordered, there was a surprise on the tray, a bundle of daisies with a note, and a plate of warm brown sugar scones.
‘
I can’t wait until this evening, Matthew’,
the note read. Carlee folded it and went in the other room to put it in her bag, and Andy smiled.
They had seen what they wanted to see, and decided they would just relax. They talked, mostly Carlee talked, and Andy listened.
Everything that was happening excited her, the date with Matthew, the next few weeks, Jenna’s wedding, Matthew coming, camp, college… she chattered on and on.
Matthew called after class, “Hey there,” he said when Carlee answered. “I was thinking I would pick you up at six.”
“
Papa said come when you can and we can share a glass of wine before we go,” she said, “if that’s OK with you.”
“
I’d like that. I’ll see you soon.” The idea of an evening alone with her excited him. He showered, dressed in his ‘nice’ jeans, a freshly ironed blue chambray shirt and added a sports jacket. They’d been together plenty. Not enough, but enough that he felt like he knew her. Now he was ready to show her a special time.
He arrived at their room and Andy opened the door. “Good evening,” he said. “She’s still primping. Have a seat.”
Matthew did and Andy offered him a glass of his favorite Chenin Blanc.
The chilled wine tasted good to Matthew, and it felt good, he was a little nervous. He and Andy talked while they waited. Finally, the door to Carlee’s room opened. When she emerged, Matthew liked what he saw.
She was wearing a long copper
-colored sundress, and girlie-sandals with heels. The dress was a halter style that tied around her neck, and Matthew noticed every visible freckle. She had bracelets lined up her arm and colorful beads around her neck in varying lengths. Her hair was down and the earthy color of the dress made the red in her hair stand out. She had a bright colorful wrap draped around her shoulders.
“
Wow, Carlee…” Matthew said.
“
Wow, Matthew!” she laughed.
Andy poured her a glass of the wine and she sat beside him on the sofa with Matthew across from her in the chair.
Andy watched Matthew and smiled. He glanced at Carlee too, when he knew she wasn’t looking. She was beautiful.
They drank the wine and chatted a few minutes. Finally, Matthew asked Carlee if she was ready. She rose and kissed Andy
’s cheek.
“
Have fun,” he told them.
Matthew placed a hand on her bare
back and ushered her out the door.
“
Where are you taking me?” she asked when they were in the elevator. “I’m starving!”
“
I have a reservation at one of the finest restaurants in London. I reserved their best table and, I happen to know the chef personally, and he has prepared one of his specialties just for us,” he laughed.
“
Six,” she smiled.
“
Carlee… my goodness,” he whispered in her ear as his hand lightly caressed her back, “You smell so good…And you look so beautiful.”
“
You look pretty beautiful yourself,” she laughed easily. The doors opened and he took her hand as they entered the restaurant. He’d reserved a booth in the back corner. Carlee slid in and Matthew followed.
Matthew introduced the waiter who came to the table;
“Carlee, this is my friend Derek.”
“
It’s nice to meet you,” he said.
Carlee liked that Matthew was beside her. She liked that he was so close, and she liked that he took her hand and held it in his lap while they waited.
“
I am going to hate you not being around,” he said.
“
I’ll see you in two weeks,” she said, but knew she was going to hate it too.
“
I already can’t wait,” Matthew said pulling her close for a kiss.
Cook personally delivered their meal. He wanted to meet the young woman who had stolen Matthew
’s heart.
“
Carlee Stevens, this is my good friend Peter Cook. ‘Cook’,” Matthew said.
“
Hope you find the meal to your liking,” he said. He took her hand and kissed it.
“
It smells incredible. Thank you, sir. Thank you for the yummy scones this morning too,” she said with that southern drawl, and a sweet smile.
Cook watched Matthew watch her.
She was a beautiful girl and he smiled.
“
Enjoy,” he said as he left them.
Matthew filled their glasses and raised his
, “To the first of what I hope to be many ‘first’ dates with you.”
After their meal, they strolled through Green’s Park, and Matthew held her hand. It was a beautiful evening and Carlee loved it all. When he walked her back to the room he stopped her before she opened the door.
“
Wait,” he said, softly. “Just a minute, please…” He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. His ran his fingers through her hair and his lips found hers.
“
I’ll miss you,” he said against them.
“
Wow,” she whispered. “I’m going to miss you too,” she said as he kissed her again. It was a kiss she knew she would remember… forever.
CHAPTER ELEVEN ~ Back Home
The
y departed very early the next morning, and Carlee slept almost the whole flight back to the U.S. The past six weeks were fun, they were exciting and, they were life-changing. She went to Kimmy’s the next morning, meeting them to go over Jenna’s wedding plans. Nanny was there to measure Carlee for her dress, and they all talked excitedly about the wedding.
Finally, Carlee said
, “I’m excited for y’all to meet Matthew. I like him a lot, good family, good future, I don’t know where it will go, but for now…” she smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
Nanny smiled too. She heard Beth when Carlee spoke about her new young man.
“He’s coming here and then going to camp with Papa and me. When we get home from camp he’ll go home to his family in Jacksonville, but he’s coming back for the wedding. I can’t wait for you to meet him,” she said again.
Andy went to the studio for a while, and was surprised to find Adaleigh there with Marco.
“
Hey world traveler!” she said with a happy voice.
“
I didn’t know you were gonna be here,” Andy said and smiled.
“
Decided while you were away,
you were away
, no need to talk work, Addy and I are doing just fine!” Marco laughed.
Adaleigh went to the kitchen and came back with a cup f
or Andy and the coffee pot to pour fresh for Marco and her. “Was it awesome?”
“
What’s better than
awesome
?” Andy asked.
“
Oooh… this sounds interesting, spill the beans!” she laughed and took her usual spot on the floor.
“
Well,” Andy began as he took a big sip of coffee, “only part of my girl returned with me. I’m afraid she left her heart in London.”
“
Well then, we must be referring to ‘the guy’,” Marco laughed.
Adaleigh looked puzzled. Carlee had shared pictures but her notes were mostly about the trip.
“Wait, Carlee met a fella?”
“
She did, Addy, and I like him,” Andy replied. “Distance will be a factor, but what I saw blossom between them won’t be going away anytime soon.”
“
And the Papa Bear is OK with this?” she asked.
“
He is, like I said, I like him. He’s a nice young man and comes from a good family. Carlee is happy and that’s what I love. But,” he began and Marco saw the look on his face, “her papa is sad because this means my girl has grown up, and I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone and scanned through some pictures until he found one of Carlee the night they had dinner at the Eifel Tower.
“Look at her; she’s a beautiful young woman. That is
not
my little girl, where’d she go?” he asked. He scanned a few more and found one of Carlee and Matthew that he’d taken, to show them.
Adaleigh took the phone and looked closer
; she zoomed in and looked longer, and finally said, “Yep.”
“
Yep?” Andy laughed.
“
Yep, she’s got that ‘I’m in love look’ all over her face. And so does that fine-looking young man,” she added and laughed.
Andy grabbed for the phone and said,
“You are no help, get to work,” followed by a laugh from all of them.
Later, Andy looked at the picture closer and he knew Adaleigh was right.
Carlee was in love, and he suspected that Matthew was, as well.
~~~
A very busy two weeks followed. Carlee had to get everything settled before camp, before Matthew, before school. She packed and organized making what she called her piles of “stuff.” They were everywhere, school stuff… camp stuff… Matthew’s daily phone calls continued, exciting Carlee each time the phone rang and it was him.
He was coming straight t
o Carlee’s to go to camp with them. She wasn’t staying in a cabin with the kids this year. She requested a cabin for her, Andy, and Matthew. Even after all these years, each year she was more excited than the last.
Carlee and Andy
were waiting at the airport in Orlando when Matthew exited the terminal and Carlee jumped from the car, and into his arms. Andy loved witnessing the exchanged greeting between them as they hugged.
Friday morning was departure to camp. Andy dropped Carlee off at the Cancer Foundation office early. She always went early to help get things ready before the gathering. When Andy and Matthew arrived at the embarking party, the kids were wild with enthusiasm, and Carlee was right in the middle of it. They sang songs, and the families were all there to take lots of pictures.
So was Matthew. His camera snapped off picture after picture. The event was unlike anything he
’d ever experienced. He didn’t know anyone who had gone through cancer and this experience was touching. The room was full of kids, some with varied stages of cancer, and he paid special attention to get ‘just the right shot’ of them. But he also noticed those who showed no outward signs of illness, or any stage of treatment, just sad, tired looks of hurt, and it made him wonder about those early years when Carlee first started going. He knew he captured a lot of great images, and he knew he’d snuck in a few of Carlee that he loved, as well. She made him happy.
Carlee rode the bus to camp with the kids, and Andy and Matthew followed in Andy’s car. This was the first time at camp for them both. As they drove, they laughed over the newness of it. It was also an opportunity for them to get to know each other better. Andy lived an interesting life and Matthew enjoyed hearing what Andy shared with him.
“
I bought a copy of the book,” Matthew told him as they made the two-hour journey to the camp.
“
You did?” Andy asked, surprised.
“
Yes sir, I saw the beat up copy she carries everywhere she goes. I wanted to know more about Carlee, and I figured the book was a way for me to do that,” he explained.
Andy thought a minute; impressed that Matthew cared enough to want to know.
“Well,” he began.
“
Well,” Matthew said, before Andy said more. “That was some kinda ride you took her mama on.”
Andy was quiet a moment, thoughtful
, remembering. He appreciated Matthew’s boldness, but it made him sad.
“
It was, Matthew. It was selfish in the beginning. I don’t think I ever intended it to be that way. It was a crazy life, and although I didn’t get wrapped up in it to the extent that some do, I still took those walks on the ‘wild side.’ I didn’t get into the drugs and all that, but I wasn’t as good a man as I should have been,” he told him.
“
I loved Beth. I guess I just never knew how to commit to that love until it was too late. I learned too many lessons way too late. I miss her. That’s why Carlee is so precious to me. I don’t want to do anything to screw that up, so maybe I bend a little too far sometimes,” he smiled as he said it.
“
She seems no worse the wear for it,” Matthew said. “Her dad…”
“
…was a good man,” Andy interrupted. “He tried, Matthew, but I honestly believe that he didn’t know how to allow Carlee too far into his heart, after I came along. He tried to do what he thought Beth needed.” He thought a minute before proceeding, “He gave me the two greatest gifts in my life, but I took something from him to get them, and it left him with a tremendous hurt. I don’t think he ever recovered. I think he was afraid he’d be hurt again. I am blessed beyond words that he didn’t take Carlee away from me. He could have. I can’t imagine my life without her. I couldn’t imagine my life without her mama…” he paused, and then added; “I’m glad you brought this up. I hope, aside from learning about Beth, the book left you with a good lesson. It was a hard one for me.” Andy looked over at Matthew and smiled.
“
I believe I learned a lot of lessons,” Matthew told him.
As Carlee rode the bus, she remembered every year she made that trip, along with every experience shared during all those years. She knew she would be there in some capacity, every year it was a possibility.
When they arrived
, there was a big opening ceremony. Andy sat in the back of the room and observed. Matthew was busy running around taking it all in, capturing it in as many pictures as possible. Carlee had been there so many times she knew the drill. They sang, they laughed, and they pledged to have a week full of fun and companionship; and finally, to ‘emerge from their cocoons.’ She loved sharing the experience with Andy and Matthew.
The week at camp was an awesome experience for everyone. Andy loved working with the kids. He loved
them
teaching
him
the traditional songs. He loved sitting around the campfire at night, singing with them and toasting marshmallows, he loved it all and thought about all the years that Carlee had gone. Matthew took pictures of the whole week. At night he would upload them to his laptop and share them each morning during breakfast on the projection system in the main hall, and everyone loved it.
The closing ceremonies always touched Carlee like nothing she’d ever experienced. Each year she thought the next would be easier, but each year she missed her mama more than she could imagine. She still grieved her loss. Andy saw it. He felt it. It was emotional for him too. Matthew watched the two of them. So many times he saw Andy with an arm draped, lovingly around Carlee’s shoulder, giving a squeeze, and his heart hurt.
The
week was an eye opener for Matthew, and it gave him an idea.
When they left camp Carlee rode back with Andy and Matthew.
“
I’d like you to come to Jacksonville with me for a few days,” Matthew said. “I already talked with Andy and he said it was OK to ask you.”
Andy was driving, and Carlee was in the back seat. She put her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear
, “I love you, Papa.”
He reached up and patted her hands.
“I love you, right back.”
“
I’d
love
that!” she told Matthew.
~ ~ ~
Matthew spent another day with them at Andy’s, and then rented a car for their drive to Jacksonville. He and Carlee talked the whole three-hour trip. He shared things about his family, and she couldn’t wait to meet them. His parents still lived in the house in which he and his brothers grew up. It was on the river, and it was beautiful, like an old southern plantation.
Matthew
’s parents, along with his brothers and their families, welcomed Carlee with a big family cookout. Matthew’s nieces, Percy and Megs, loved all over her, and pulled her away for games every chance they could. It was an evening filled with a lot of talk and laughter, and reminded Carlee of the times when her whole family got together.
His mom was ready for Matthew to get home. She missed him, but she was more curious to meet the young woman he was bringing home with him. She was anxious to meet the one Matthew talked and talked about when she spoke with him.
After the meal
, Carlee and Matthew went for a walk along the river with his parents. As they strolled, Matthew took Carlee’s hand. His mom noticed, and smiled.
“
It’s beautiful here,” Carlee said as they walked. “Thank you for letting me come Mr. and Mrs. Davis.”
“
Please, call me Geni,” Matthew’s mom replied.
“
And I’m Tom,” his dad said with a smile.
“
I’m happy you’re here. I’ve heard an awful lot about you the last two months,” Geni said.
“
So, you are off to school soon?” Tom asked to her.
“
Yes, sir. Next week!” Carlee replied. “I’m ready, but… I’m not ready!”
“
Where are you going?” Tom asked.
“
Flagler,” she replied.
“
I love St. Augustine,” Geni added. “It’s only an hour away from here, you know.”
“
You’ll have to come down some weekend. I feel so blessed to be able to go there, all that history, the beauty of the school. I am very lucky,” Carlee said.
“
What are you studying?” Tom asked.
“
I’ve not carved my major in stone yet, I still have to meet with my advisor to work on that. Psychology, but I hope to work with children, counseling in some manner. I’m sure Matthew has told you about my mama.” Matthew listened proudly and squeezed her hand as she explained. Geni noticed that too.
“
I just know how I felt, how I still feel, over her loss, and then my dad. I love going to camp each summer! At first it was to help me learn how to grieve. Then it became more about helping other kids going through the same thing. When a child finally opens up about what they are thinking, and feeling… Well, it’s a feeling I can’t quite describe. I love those sessions at camp when the kids let go. I love the idea of the camp; that we arrive as caterpillars and emerge from our cocoons as butterflies…”