Chapter 3: Where the Water Is Still
1345 Words
The first morning of marriage started long before the sun came up.
Becca woke with soft rain falling against the bedroom window.
For a few seconds she couldn’t remember why everything felt so different.
Then she rolled over.
Craig was sleeping soundly on his side of the bed.
Her husband.
She couldn’t remember the last time she thought of herself that way.
Yet the word filled her heart with warmth. Like coming home.
Her fingers brushed his shoulder gently. His breath was steady and even in sleep.
The word still felt new. Comfortable.
Like one of her favorite sweaters she’d just discovered.
She quietly slid out of bed and tiptoed into the kitchen.
Coffee brewed as dawn painted the sky pink and gray.
Strong arms pulled her close. Craig kissed her neck.
“I knew I’d find you awake if I waited.”
She smiled against his chest. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Nervous?” He asked.
She rested her head on his shoulder and shook her head. “Happy.”
He kissed her temple.
“I know.” He pulled away to look at her.
“You too?”
---
Goodbye for a Few Days
By midmorning, all their belongings fit in a truck.
One suitcase. One cooler.
One fishing pole Craig refused to leave behind.
One picnic basket that Mrs. Henderson filled with sandwiches, cookies, and enough snacks for several weddings.
“I think she thinks we’ll get lost out there,” Becca laughed.
Her sister pulled her into a tight hug.
“You guys deserve this.” Her mother squeezed their hands together.
“And no phone calls,” Linda added.
“No checking in with work.” Sarah smiled.
“No obsessing about everything that needs to be done at the office.”
Craig hugged their youngest daughter. “We’ll come back, right?” He asked.
She climbed into his lap so he could kiss her forehead.
“Always.”
“And bring you guys a souvenir!”
“A good one?” Craig teased.
“The best one we can find.” She nodded seriously.
“Okay.” He laughed.
“You two go have fun.” Their middle child spoke up.
“And don’t spend your honeymoon fishing!” She giggled, grabbing Craig’s arm.
He groaned dramatically. “I only brought one rod!”
The entire family laughed until they climbed in the truck and drove off.
---
Into the Mountains
The mountains grew as they drove farther away from the city.
Green rolling hills turned to rugged cliffs of stone. Tall pine trees replaced short oak trees.
As they reached higher elevation, the temperature cooled.
The lake was beautiful. Craig parked at the edge of the road, and they climbed out of the truck. Becca breathed in the fresh mountain air.
By late afternoon, they arrived at their destination.
Wedged beside a mountain lake so clear you could see the bottom was a small rustic cabin.
Smoke rose gently from its chimney. A wooden dock extended out over calm, still water.
Colorful wildflowers dotted the lawn in front of the screened porch. Birds sang loudly from the trees nearby.
She stood speechless, taking in the view.
“It’s beautiful.” Becca finally spoke.
He slipped his hand into hers and led her toward the front door. “I hoped you would like it.”
Her blue eyes met his gray ones.
“I love it.” She cried, pulling him into her arms.
---
Home for the Week
Inside, the cabin was cozy.
A stone fireplace with wood already stacked. A cozy quilt draped over a small couch.
Minimalist kitchen with shiny new pots and pans Craig had surprised her with.
The bedroom was small, yet everything they would need for the week.
Rocking chair on the back porch with a perfect view of the lake.
It was perfect.
No phone. No computer. Very little cell phone service.
Just them and uninterrupted days together.
Craig led Becca out onto the back porch. Small waves lapped gently against the dock.
Below, the lake perfectly mirrored the mountains that surrounded them. It looked like glass.
“I’ve never seen water this calm.” Becca stared out at the stillness.
Craig chuckled. “Me neither.”
She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
“When?” she asked.
He took her hands in his. “The first day you smiled genuinely again.”
---
The Rowboat
The next morning, they rented a wooden rowboat from the lodge.
Craig rowed as Becca sat in the middle, trailing her fingers through the cool mountain water.
Birds chirped. Trees whispered in the wind. They were the only sounds aside from gentle laps of the oars in the lake.
Craig abruptly stopped rowing halfway across.
“What?” She giggled.
“I wanted to listen.”
Becca looked around at the towering mountains. “Hear what?”
“The mountains?”
“The lake?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “You.”
She laughed softly. “You find romantic things in everything.”
Craig kissed her forehead. “No, Becca. I just finally get to experience it with you.”
---
The Picnic
That evening they drove to a small cliff overlooking the river that flowed out of the lake.
Craig pulled out an old, worn blanket and spread it across the grass.
Strawberry bread. Fresh strawberries. Cheddar cheese. Grapes. Homemade sparkling cider. Pie.
Everything was packed into that picnic basket except for what mattered most. Each other.
They sat and enjoyed the sunset as colors shifted from purple and pink to orange and gold.
Becca rested her head on Craig’s shoulder and sighed happily.
“I used to think happy had to be BIG.”
Craig nodded in agreement.
“Fun adventures. Excitement. Thrills.”
“Mhmm.” He squeezed her closer.
“And now?”
Her eyes fluttered shut. Sun setting behind the mountains. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees.
“Now?” she asked.
“Heart beating fast.”
“Wind.” He whispered.
“River flowing.” She added.
“Birds coming home to roost.”
“Warm sun on my skin.”
“Baby giggles,” Craig said with a smile.
Her eyes fluttered open. Looking into his beautiful gray eyes. “I think happy sounds like us.”
No more was said for a few minutes.
They didn’t have to say anything.
---
Under the Stars
They spent that night gazing at stars beside a crackling fire at the edge of the lake.
Wrapped together under a thick blanket, shooting stars peppered the sky.
“One,” Becca whispered.
“A wish.” Craig grinned.
“I got mine already.” He kissed her nose.
She turned her head to kiss him back. “Me too.”
He intertwined their fingers together.
“We spent so long trying to find our way back to each other.” Craig sighed happily.
Becca nodded slowly. “We did.”
“And now?” she asked.
“We get to spend the rest of our lives making sure we never lose our way again.” Craig smiled.
Her heart filled with joy as he kissed her softly under the stars.
Mountains stood guard around them, silent and steadfast.
Never change with the times.
For the first time in what felt like forever…
Neither Craig nor Becca Steller was focused on what was behind them.
They weren’t worried about what could go wrong.
Together, they were simply in the moment.
Right where they were supposed to be.
---
Perched on top of the world as the fire slowly burned to ash and billions of stars covered the sky like sprinkled diamonds, Becca had an overwhelming realization that made her heart swell with joy.
Life didn’t get in the way of love.
We just had to find the person who made every simple moment feel extraordinary.
Beside that lake. Surrounded by mountains that had watched over hundreds of years, they were just beginning a life full of those moments.
- Writer
