They Said Man on the Ship Was My Destiny—I Said No Chapter 07
The final bend of the creek ran right past the dock by my front door. My mom was already there, eyes locked on every boat that passed.
My dad had sent word ahead — Clara’s on a boat. The black one.
The boat stood out from every other vessel on the water. She spotted it instantly.
“Clara Hayes!” My mom’s voice cracked, her eyes already bright with tears.
Seven years of watching me stand on that dock alone — and now, finally, I was on a boat. Julian guided us toward the shore.
“Watch your step.” He took my hand and steadied me as I climbed off.
My mom’s face lit up the moment she recognized him. “Julian — you’re back. I still remember you showing up every morning to walk Clara to school. Your mom told me you finished your doctorate in Grand Harbor. Are you staying close this time?”
He didn’t answer right away. He bent down to fold up the hem of my coat that dragged past my feet, eyes flicking up to read my face. “I’m not leaving. I’m thirty. It’s time I settled down.”
I didn’t pull away. He took that as permission to keep going.
“It’s been a while, so correct me if I’m wrong — in Riverbend, when a girl boards your festival boat, that means she’s agreed to marry you. Right? My family is already setting up the reception. We’re just waiting on your answer.”
“But — that’s not what you said on the phone…”
My head was spinning. Last night he’d said this was a favor — one old classmate helping another.
A boat ride, a visit to my grandfather — that was supposed to be the deal. When did this become an actual proposal?
“Clara!” The shout came from the water.
Preston’s boat was closing in on the shore. Julian’s hand tightened around mine.
“You’re not backing out on me now, are you? After I rowed all this way?”
“No, I’m not saying that…”
“Then what’s the hesitation? Unless… you still want him?”
My head was a mess. I shook my head.
The only thing I knew for certain was that I was done with Preston. His boat scraped against the bank. I tightened my grip on Julian’s hand.
“Don’t regret this.”
“I won’t.”
My mom clasped her hands together and beamed. “Good. Good. Good. Clara’s hope chest has been packed for years. And I can’t think of a better day than today.”
Preston hauled himself onto the bank, drenched and gasping for air. My mom didn’t even look at him. “Preston — you’re invited to the reception tonight. Seven years she waited. She’s finally on a boat — and it’s not yours.”
“What?!” Preston went still.
His eyes dropped to our joined hands, and something inside him broke. “No! I don’t accept this! Clara’s MY fiancée — who the hell are you? Get your hands off her!”
His eyes were bloodshot, wild with rage. I looked right at them. For the first time, I felt nothing.
He lunged for my hand. Julian stepped between us.
I leaned past Julian’s shoulder and looked at the empty boat bobbing behind Preston. “Why didn’t you bring Audrey this time?”
“Because you were leaving, Clara… I was scared you wouldn’t want me anymore…”
“So that’s all it ever was. You only cared because you thought I’d never actually go.”
I didn’t waste another look on him. I turned, took Julian’s arm, and walked away. Preston’s voice chased us.
“Clara, don’t go! I’ll come see your grandfather with you — I brought the paperwork! We can go to the courthouse right now!”
He shouldn’t have brought up my grandfather. That was the match to the fuse. I spun around.
“I gave you chances, Preston. So many chances. Last week I asked you to come see my grandfather with me. You said you were busy. Busy doing what?”
“Taking Audrey to pick out festival bracelets. Three matching bracelets — one for her, one for you, and what, one for me?”
“And you had the nerve to put one on my wrist? What am I to you? Some kind of add-on? A package deal?”
His mouth opened. Nothing came out.
All he could do was stand there and watch us go