Midnight Sun(51)

“Love you more,” my dad tells me.

I shake my head and smile at him. “Not possible.”

I turn toward Charlie, who’s waiting to help me onto the boat. I wave to my dad and Morgan. “My first boat ride,” I say, trying to lighten the moment.

“I’ll be right here. On the dock. Waiting for you, okay?” Dad calls out to me.

I nod. “I know you will.”



Charlie has one arm wrapped tightly around me as he steers with the other. He looks gorgeous, strong, in control. He’s everything I ever imagined he’d be and more.

My legs buckle under me. I’m so tired. He stares down at me and smiles. “I’ve got ya. Don’t worry.”

I gaze out at the horizon, breathing in the beautiful daytime air. Letting myself bask in it. In the sun. It’s a mix of colors I’ve never seen before—a cool blue that fades into purple, which blends into a fiery orange, and all of it is slowly dropping into the edge of the water. It feels like it’s just for me. I turn to face Charlie. “I’ve waited my whole life to feel like this.”

He kisses me, and I taste the salt of his tears.

“Me, too,” he says.



“Okay, Katie, time for us to go back in.”

I open my eyes and see that my mom is playing her guitar as she says this. The sun is setting behind her, and it’s like the sky is on fire. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“Can’t we stay here forever?” I ask.

“Forever, huh? That’s a pretty long time.”

“I know,” I say, and reach out to strum the guitar along with her.

“Well, let me ask you this: Are you having fun right now?”

I nod.

“Then now is all that matters.”





Epilogue



Hey, Charlie,

I’m sorry I missed you on your way out of town. I must have been out getting supplies for my big trip. Or shots. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a trip where you need shots, and let me tell you, I did not miss that part. Anyhow, I hope Berkeley’s treating you well. And as for your note of apology, well, that’s just horse shit. It was nobody’s fault—and certainly not yours for keeping her out too late that night. I don’t want you ever thinking that, and she wouldn’t want it either. We knew from when she was young that every day was a gift. Besides, I should thank you. All I ever wanted was for my girl to be happy. You made her very happy, Charlie. And it’s nice knowing there’s one more person out there who knows how incredible Katie was. One more person out there who loves her.

Katie wanted you to have her notebook. She told me to tell you that you stole it so many times, you might as well keep it. She also told me to tell you to read the last page first.

Oh! And did you hear Katie’s song on the radio? Well, it’s your song, I guess. Named for you, anyway. Morgan called me the other day and said she and Garver heard it in the car. My girl, on the radio. Not that I ever doubted she could make it.

Take care, Charlie. And don’t be a stranger.

—Jack Price





Dear Charlie,

I’ve always been more comfortable writing song lyrics than actual sentences. At least when I’m writing, I can’t ramble, no matter how nervous I am.

There’s no way I can articulate what you’ve meant to me since that moment we first saw each other. Or the joy you brought me since I first saw you outside my window.

You gave me the world.

You taught me to live.

Even though our time together was short, the stars have been burning for every moment of it. And the light from those moments will be shining down for the next thousand years.

I hope that somehow I’ll be able to look down and see you, Charlie. To glimpse all of the incredible moments waiting for you. And I hope that you’ll occasionally think to look up… and remember all of the light we made together.

Amor vincit omnia.

I love you, Charlie Reed.