Page 38 (1/2)

I look at Eli, wondering where he was going with all of this It sounds great toabout someone from my own family

From the family I could’ve had

Eli knows I’et the summer of nineteen seventy-six Cindy was ten She ran around with a Jaws T-shirt on nearly the whole suhs "I’ll have to tell you a funny story about her later About who she is, what she becalances toward the house again "The property runs straight down to the Vernon River Wio down to the dock and catch blue crabs by the basketfuls" Another winsome smile touches his lips "He built a dock over the marsh back in the fiftes I’ve had sorasps e, speechless as Eli leads me across the yard, back toward the woods where a small worn path leads to the htest breeze rustles the saw grass We cross the marsh on a newly repaired dock, and at the end sits a small covered screened-in dock house with a red tin roof Eli stops, steps inside, and grabs blankets froe bin in the corner The screen door creaks and slams behind hi dock

Without a word, he spreads two blankets on the dock, and rolls a third long-ways and places it at one end He holds out a hand "Sit down"

I grin and do as he asks

Silently, he kneels and removes my boots and socks He rolls up my jeans Then he sits, kicks off his boots and socks, and does the same He sticks his feet into the water, and I do the sa He looks up

"Magnificent spray of stars, don’t you think?" he says

I turn ius Dupré?"

Eli’s s "I love it when you use my full name"

I shake my head and wait

He looks at , devoted wife" He laughs softly "They called each other monkey Their pet na I’d ever heard Wis "He had a great life I want it And I want you to share it with me"

My heart leaps It alaze passes over my mouth, my nose, then to my eyes "I want to marry you, Riley Poe And if you don’t say yes now, I’ll keep asking until you do"

Even in the fading light, I can see the cerulean blue brightness of Eli’s eyes sparkle The slight scruff that perpetually remained on his jaw, the fall of dark hair over his forehead, and that crazy silver hoop he still wore in his brow--all of it Eli

And he wants to marry me

Suddenly, my past becomes a faint memory of someone who could’ve been anyone other than h still present, dulls I feel I can acco with this uniqueinto his eyes They soften He smiles

His kiss rocks ainst h I know he doesn’t need air to breathe, you’d never know it He sighs against my mouth The sweet taste of hiht eainst my ear "I love you, Riley More than you know"

I squeeze hiius Dupré," I say, then pull back and look at hirins "I know"