He was afraid too, of course, he would have to be insane not to be, it was not everyone who took such drastic steps in this life, but he knew that somehow he would find a way to make it work. Everything in England was all wrapped up, now they both just had the future to look forward to. Somehow he would make his business work in America, somehow they would find a home of their own, somehow... with Iris, all would befine.
“Let me dance with you,” Ewan yelled towards Iris. “I want some of that freedomtoo.”
He grabbed onto Iris’s hands and they twirled and danced into the waves. They laughed at nothing, almost hysterically so. Ewan had never seen Iris beaming so much and he felt wonderful to know that this was all because ofhim.
Things were going to be wonderful, he just knewit.
Iris’s heart pounded faster than it had ever gone before, this dance was the best one that they’d shared yet because it was leading somewhere. This time, the dance itself wasn’t monumental because everything going on aroundthem.
Still, as she fell into Ewan’s green eyes, knowing that soon enough he would be her husband, hers forever, it felt wonderful. His eyes were deeper than the ocean, and they told one million stories, and Iris could not wait to learn every single one of them. With his arms wrapped around her, and the heat of his body rushing through her, Iris knew that there was nothing to worry about, Ewan would keep hersafe.
“Show me my cabin,” Iris panted as she fell into Ewan’s arms at the end of her dance. “I would like to see where I will be sleeping on the water for the next weeks, however long it willtake.”
Iris hoped that she would finally be able to sleep now. She prayed that the ocean air would run through her and get her the rest that she so desperately needed. She had not had a good night of sleep for what felt like forever. The boat would fix that, shehoped.
“Of course, come withme.”
Ewan took Iris’s hand and he led her towards the room that he had decorated well for her. She had the best bed sheets, the loveliest drapes he could fine, the freshest flowers. He wanted this wonderful woman to enjoy her trip, he had heard that life on the ocean could be challenging and he did not want Iris tosuffer.
“Oh wow,” Iris declared loudly as she glanced around the room. "I do not know why exactly, but this reminds me of my bedroom back at home. Back at my first home." Iris corrected herself because the Oakley household had definitely been her home as well. “There is something very comforting about it. It reminds me of all the time I spent within thosewalls.”
“You will have to tell me about your bedroom,” Ewan asked greedily. He needed to know everything about Iris, just as she did him. “I feel like there is so much that I need to learn aboutyou.”
“Let us sit out on the deck and I will start.” Iris slid her fingers through Ewan’s and she led him out of the cabin. “I can finally tell you everything that you wish toknow.”
“Oh, I want to know everything,” Ewan declared as he followed her. “But for now, let us enjoy the sun, let us watch the country we have grown up in fade into thedistance.”
Iris loved that plan, she wanted to truly feel herself leaving so it would feel much more real. She raced to the edge of the deck once more and she stared at the tiny buildings as they becamenothing.
As Ewan caught up with Iris, he flung his arm over her shoulder, embracing her as they said a silent goodbye. She snuggled into him, she lost herself in his scent, she felt that love pumping through her oncemore.
If someone had told Iris a year ago that she would be on a ship leaving her old life behind, she never would have believed it. It seemed too far away from her life as it was to even consider. It was incredible to think how far she hadbecome.
All because ofDaisy.
All because ofEwan.
All because ofher.