He simply nods.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about enlisting.”
“In the Navy?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “I think it could be a good opportunity for me.”
I think so too. But I don’t want to push the military on him. The decision has to be his own.
“Have you talked to a recruiter?”
“A few times, yes. I don’t think I can be a pilot because of my eyes.”
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Glasses. I don’t have Navy pilot eyes, but there are a million other things I can do.”
“Absolutely.” I shove my hands in my pockets and wait, expecting him to start asking more questions, and I don’t have to wait long.
“Was it hard, being away from your family all of the time?”
“I’d get homesick a bit in the beginning,” I reply, and rub my chin, thinking back to that time. Mostly, I was homesick for Cami, but I don’t tell him that. “But they’ll keep you busy with training. You’ll get leave so you can come home to visit.”
He nods. “And maybe I can get stationed in some cool places. See things I wouldn’t get to see otherwise.”
He’s a smart kid.
“That’s one of the things I loved about it.”
“I’ve heard girls like a guy in uniform.” His young face lights up at that thought, making me smile.
“I thought you already had a girl?”
“Come on, you and I both know that’s not going to last. I’m not married to her, and I can’t wait to get away from her every day. That’s not how I want to live my life.”
“No. You don’t.” I’ve been there too, and I’m so thankful that I don’t have that now. I love being with Cami. I could talk to her all day and never tire of her.
“You’re not sick of my aunt,” Steven says pointedly, looking me in the eye.
“No. I’m not.”
“So, her parents died a while back, and my folks moved away, and I’m the only family she has here, not counting the girls, so I feel like I should ask you some questions.”
He’s holding my gaze, his shoulders are square, and his hands are fisted. He’s a good young man who loves his aunt, and I couldn’t have more respect for him than I do right now.
“Ask away.”
“What are your intentions with her?” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“Are you asking if I intend to marry her?”
“Do you?”
I nod, finally able to voice aloud what’s been running through my head for weeks. “I love your aunt, Steven. She’s an amazing woman. I would be the luckiest man in the world if she agreed to marry me.”
“Aunt Cami is the best.” He nods and looks around the empty room. “She deserves the best that life has to offer. Someone to love her and spoil her some. Maybe buy her some of the fancy shoes she likes to wear, and just take care of her when she doesn’t feel good, you know?”
“I agree.”
“I didn’t want to move to Seattle with my folks, and Aunt Cami didn’t even blink when I asked her if she’d help me out sometimes, like if I needed a place to crash or a ride to school or something. She’s always been a good friend to me. She’s like a big sister.” His voice cracks and he clears his throat with a chuckle. “It’s stupid to get all emotional, but I love her, and I just wanted to make sure that you’re not just dicking with her, you know?”
“I’m not just dicking with her. And it’s not dumb to get emotional when you’re talking about someone you love.”
Steven nods. “Are you going to make her move away?”
“I don’t think anyone makes Cami do anything,” I reply with a laugh. “She’s much too headstrong for that.”
“You know what I mean. If you get married and stuff, and you want to move away, are you going to take her with you?”
I frown and shake my head. “Her business is here. I’m pretty sure that Portland is going to be our home for quite some time.”
“Good.”
“Do you have more questions, or can we get to work and finish this closet before she gets back tomorrow night?”
He laughs. “I’m done with the third degree. Oh, but don’t tell her anything about the Navy stuff. She won’t take it well, and I want to be the one to tell her.”
“I won’t say anything.”
“JESUS, THIS IS incredible,” Riley says the next day as she wanders into the closet and turns a circle, her eyes wide in awe. “Seriously, guys, this is fantastic. I should marry you both, right now, just for this closet.”
“I’m too young for you,” Steven says, his face bright pink. “But yeah, she’s gonna love it.”
“And I’m taken,” I reply happily. “So, we did good?”
“You did great. This is more than a closet, it’s a dressing room! I love that you brought her vanity in here with her makeup. There is so much hanging space in here.” She turns to examine the shelves. “And she’ll have space for new shoes and bags too.”
“Yeah, because she needs those,” Steven says, rolling his eyes.
“If having too many shoes is wrong, I don’t wanna be right,” Riley says, then turns to me. “Okay, what can I do?”
“Help us fill it up. I don’t know how she’d want her clothes and other things organized, but you will.”