Grace Carter's POV
When I was told that a few months ago, I would never have believed that it was going to be Ethan Blackwood, who I'd never met.
I would have laughed my pot belly off.
Asked if they feel okay, then.
Yet here I was.
Hand in hand walking next to him through the entrance of the aquarium of the city.
No-one following us on security.
No assistants.
No photographers.
Just us.
It was... a bit weirdly normal.
And I knew that I was being very hungry for normal.
---
As we went in, I said, "I should warn you."
"I'm ridiculously excited."
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.
"It's an aquarium."
"I know."
You have been smiling since we stopped for a parking spot.
"I know."
He shook his head, attempting to keep his smile to himself, but to no avail.
Never seen anyone so happy to look at fish.
"You've obviously never been to meet many interior designers."
But what relation does this have to fish?
"Everything."
I waved my hands about at a huge exhibit of coral.
"Mother Nature has the best color palettes."
He laughed.
A real laugh.
Warm.
Unrestrained.
Both of us were startled by the sound.
---
The first display had a lot of little, colorful tropical fish darting about with the coral.
I moved towards the window.
"Oh, that one!
Ethan obediently looked.
All of them appear to be orange.
I gasped.
"Dead wrong," he said.
He folded his arms.
"I'm seeing orange."
This one is a clownfish orange.
I pointed.
That one's "sunset orange.
Another point.
"That one is pretty close to gold."
He looked them for a few seconds.
"They're still fish."
I looked at him like he's some kind of monster!
"You're not very imaginative."
Running a multinational business.
"Exactly."
There is a need for an increased intake of fish in your life.
He laughed again.
I will seek approval from the Board.
---
As we kept going and going deeper and deeper into the aquarium, I found myself talking more than I had in weeks.
The visitations to my mother and father when I was a kid.
This is how I used to imagine myself as a marine biologist, prior to interior design.
It had always been a calming experience for me to watch fish.
Ethan listened.
Really listened.
He asked questions.
Remembered details.
Even teased me when I got too interested to watch two penguins waddle after each other.
"He must be married.
I smiled.
"What makes you think that?"
"The little one will follow the bigger one around."
"Perhaps it is mere thievery of his lunch.
I was laughing so hard that I could hear a little girl next door giggling along.
For a moment, the entire world disappeared.
There was no contract.
No boardroom.
No Victoria.
No expectations.
Below blue water, only laughter.
---
Finally we came to the tunnel.
The one where enormous rays and sharks glided overhead.
The light played across the water, shimmering on the floor beneath our feet.
I stopped walking.
This was my favorite place each time I had visited as a child.
"It's beautiful."
"It is."
He had a very quiet voice.
I looked up, suddenly.
Only to realize...
He didn't turn his head toward the water.
I was in front of him, looking at him.
"What?"
He flinched, as if he had been embarrassed.
"Nothing."
"You weren't even watching the sharks."
"I know."
So what did you see?
He gave his lips a slight smile.
"You."
My cheeks got red.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
As baffling as it may sound...
He eyed me.
"…I don't know if I've ever seen you laugh like this before…."
I didn't know it, but...
---
"I've missed this."
I couldn't stop the words from escaping.
"What?"
This is the me of this version.
I took a glance at the water.
The one who laughs without thinking if it's too loud.
Someone who is enthusiastic about fish.
The one who doesn't constantly have to prove she belongs.
We fell silent.
Then Ethan quietly asked,
Did you feel you had to prove that...here?
I smiled sadly.
"Not here."
I grabbed his hand.
"At home."
He gripped my hand in his.
"You never had to."
"I know that now."
I looked at him.
But, for a time...
"I wasn't sure."
His shoulders fell.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"And all the time I'm saying it."
"You do."
"But..."
There was a slight break in his voice.
I don't know how to delete what I have done!
I smiled gently.
"You don't."
He frowned.
"No?"
"You replace it."
"With what?"
I squeezed his hand in my hand.
"Better memories."
---
We were silent, watching a sea turtle slowly glide above us.
There was a little boy who tugged at his father's sleeve nearby.
"Dad! Did you see that?"
"I did."
"It was huge!"
The father laughed.
"He was just looking to impress people, I suppose."
The small boy was smiling happily.
I felt the eyes of Ethan looking upon me.
Have you ever asked yourself . . . .
I asked quietly.
"How my baby will be like"
His expression softened.
"Every day."
"You do?"
He nodded.
Which do you think it will be that they will have?
I laughed.
"Hopefully yours."
"I hope not."
"Why?"
"Because your smile..."
He looked me in the eye, true to his purpose, and it sucked the breath right out of me!
My favourite thing about every day is that of "....".
I felt my heart constricted and I felt the pain.
Beautifully.
Dangerously.
---
Later, we came across an unobtrusive bench overlooking one of the largest tanks.
Ethan took out the snacks that he brought.
True to his word...
There were crackers.
Fruit.
Bottled water.
And, somehow...
Two chocolate chip cookies.
I wrinkled my brow.
I'd thought that you asked Maria what being pregnant women like.
"I did."
And she replied, "Cookies?"
"No."
He seemed slightly affronted.
"Those are for me."
I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"So thoughtful."
"I know."
I stole one anyway.
He seemed to be taken aback.
"My cookie."
"Our cookie."
He sighed dramatically.
"I've been out-negotiated."
She married a Carter.
"I did."
And I'm starting to think that this is the best business move I made ever!
---
Throughout the afternoon, we strolled through each exhibit.
Jellyfish were photographically captured.
Debated if penguins are cuter than otters.
Grasped hands spontaneously.
Nothing extraordinary happened.
There weren't any confessions of love.
No dramatic kisses.
No life-changing revelations.
Two individuals who are learning how to have fun together.
When we finally walked back toward the parking lot, the sun was beginning to set.
I slipped my arm through