Later that night he’d taken her more roughly, waking her up in the middle of the night to fuck her from behind while she looked out at the tide pools. She’d come violently, making her beg him for more.
And now he was sitting across from her, looking like the picture of southern gentility. She wanted to crawl under the table and put him in her mouth. She could feel herself getting wet just thinking about it.
“So, Charlotte,” Anna said. “Declan tells me you’re from Nashville.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Charlotte replied, blushing. She was sure everyone could tell she was thinking filthy things.
“It’s a wonderful town,” Anna said. “One of my sorority sisters is from there.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Charlotte said.
“Mom, I hate to interrupt, but I’m anxious about something and you know how it is, I think it’s better just to lay things out on the table,” Declan said, looking over at Charlotte. “But Charlotte and I are moving in together. In the fall.”
Anna froze. She had half her sandwich in the air, about to take a bite but after Declan made his confession, she’d slowly put it back down on her Hermes plate.
“Do you think that’s such a good idea?” Anna said. “I mean, I’m a broad-minded person, I don’t think there’s anything terrible about living together before marriage, but y’all just started dating. And you’re so young. You’re not even done with school yet. Why the rush?” Anna glanced over at Charlotte. “It has nothing to do with you, Charlotte. I would ask these things if it was anyone. This is very unlike my son, so you have clearly become someone very special to him.”
Charlotte nodded, “I understand.”
“Mom, we’re not too young. We’re adults. And it’s stupid to pay rent at two places,” Declan said. “We’d be together all the time anyway.”
“We can afford it, sweetheart,” Anna said uncomfortably.
Declan sighed, “Yes, but… most people can’t. It would help Charlotte out, which helps me out. I just want her to be happy.”
“I feel kind of embarrassed,” Charlotte suddenly said. “I didn’t want to live with Declan for money reasons. I want to live with Declan because I love him.”
Anna’s eyes widened, “You love him?”
Charlotte nodded, “Yes. Very much. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
Anna stared at her for a long moment.
“What about your parents, Charlotte?” Anna asked. “Would they be okay with this?”
“Well, I haven’t talked to my dad about it yet,” Charlotte said.
“And your mother?” Anna said.
Charlotte looked down at her lap, “My mother died when I was thirteen.”
“Oh my goodness,” Anna said, reaching her hand across the table to take Charlotte’s. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know. Declan hadn’t shared that with me.”
“It’s okay,” Charlotte said, looking up. Tears in her eyes. “I know my mother and I will admit, she wouldn’t be so thrilled with my shacking up with a boyfriend. But I also know she’d want me to do what made me happy. And she trusted me. Even when I was young, she trusted me to make good decisions.”
“Well, she raised a very lovely girl,” Anna said. “I won’t lie and say I’m thrilled with the idea. Only because I don’t think either of you realize how hard it is to live with someone. You’re in the honeymoon phase at the moment. I see how the two of you look at each other. But love is about more than that. And you have your whole lives for this kind of responsibility and commitment. But if you’re sure…”
“I’m so sure,” Declan said, gazing at Charlotte. “And one day I’ll be asking you for Grandma DeGraff’s engagement ring. Because Charlotte is it for me, Momma. There’s nothing else I will ever want but her.”
Both women stared at Declan, their jaws almost on the floor.
Declan laughed, “Don’t worry, no one is getting engaged today. That’s down the road. But I have no doubt the only girl I’ll ever want to marry is the one sitting at this table.”
********
After lunch, Charlotte had to leave for her shift at Dixie Garden.
“Thank you so much for lunch,” Charlotte said. “I really enjoyed it.”
“You’re so welcome, Charlotte,” Anna said. “You’re welcome here any time. You have a lovely day at work.”
Declan had decided to stay behind to spend some time with his mother. Ever since Charlotte had come into his life he’d been around less, something he felt slightly guilty about. He worried about his mother all the time, and today he wanted to make up for some lost time.
“You’re really kind to her,” Declan said as they both walked out onto the porch. “Do you like her?”
“Of course,” Anna said. “I like her a great deal. But it scares me, what you two have. That much intensity is not healthy at your age. I’ve never known you to be like this.”
“Because I’ve never loved anyone before,” Declan said, shrugging. “Isn’t this what you and dad were like? In the beginning?”