A North Carolina Autumn - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

I click on the album and see the 16 videos I'd recently added. Almost against my own will, my thumb clicks on the first video, and I'm pulled into the memories as each video plays.
"Stop, stop," I laugh. "Hold it up and tell me what you made!" Rylie turns to glare at me, but her laugh quickly breaks through, and she holds up a spatula.
"I made some fantastic, slightly burnt cheeseburger soup, and you're making fun of me!"
"No, I'm just documenting this truly historical moment. I burn everything all the time, but this is a first for you! Granted, I'm the reason you were distracted..."
"Stop it," Rylie whines. "I may never cook again!"
I laugh again, and the camera shifts as I walk over to her. "Burnt or not, you can cook for me anytime and I'll always eat it." I grin before kissing her cheek.
The wind blows through the car as Rylie rolls down all the windows, and her hair blows wildly around her. Her sweet voice fills my ears as she sings along to Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland.
Her hand quickly grabs my wrist, and I close my fingers as she uses my hand as her microphone, keeping her other hand on the wheel. My camerawork is shaking with all my laughter but I don't care. Her beautiful voice alone would make the video perfect.
Rylie's eyes land on the camera as I pan over to her, and she blushes. "Are you videoing me?"
"I am. I want to document these moments of you holding Harper. You can't see what you look like, but it's the cutest thing I've ever seen."
"Harper is pretty adorable, so I'll let it slide." Rylie grins, and I laugh. Harper is asleep in her arms, her breathing deep and even. Rylie gazes down at her with a look of pure love and adoration and I know this is one video I'll never delete.
"This place is huge, of course it has a massive, winding staircase!" Rylie exclaims as we reach the back of the store. I shift my phone so the camera view follows Rylie as she runs up the stairs, and she stops halfway up to gaze down at me.
"Hey! Don't tell me you just got that on video." She laughs.
"I did." I laugh and zoom in on her face before saying, "Cute bum, where ya from?"
Rylie's jaw drops and her eyebrows shoot up, her stunned face filling the screen. "Aspen!" She laughs. "Don't share that video with anyone!"
"I would never." I giggle before hurrying up the stairs to join her.
I slowly pan the camera over the other surf camp kids, stopping when Rylie comes into focus. She sits beside me, smiling softly as she sways along to the music during our devotional. She turns to me after a moment, her smile widening as she sees the camera focused on her.
Rylie stands with her arms on the metal railing, gazing out at the water as the boat moves quickly through the inlet. My camera work is slightly shaky as I try to video with the bouncing of the waves and boat. A towel is wrapped around Rylie's shoulder, and her still slightly damp hair blows behind her.
She turns to look at me, grinning. "Come here," She laughs. "The wind is so strong it's kind of hard to breathe, but it feels amazing to just stand here."
"Okay," I laugh before ending the video and standing to join her.
"Stop," Rylie laughs, trying to push my camera away. "I look gross!"
"No you don't, baby." I reply before placing the camera on the nightstand, putting us both in the frame. "You always look perfect. Even if you did just wake up. It's kind of not fair."
It was nearly noon on a Saturday, but we were still in bed. I didn't mind.
"You're one to talk! You are always effortlessly beautiful." Rylie says before cupping my cheeks with her hands. "I love you, Aspen. So much. Sometimes I think my heart may burst from trying to hold all of my love for you."
I smile softly. "I love you. And your words." I laugh before pulling her in to meet my lips. She kisses me softly at first before pulling me down on top of her and deepening the kiss.
"Let me turn off the camera..." I say, but Rylie shakes her head.
"Leave it. We'll want to remember this." She says seriously and we bust up laughing.
I begin videoing as we reach the top of the Ferris wheel, wanting to get the view of Topsail from way up here. It's beautiful, with houses and shops and trees stretching endlessly to the right, and the beach and ocean stretching endlessly to the left.
I focus the camera on Rylie for a moment while she's not looking, trying not to stare too long. But she was so beautiful, all I wanted to do at that moment was watch her. Well, and kiss her. But that could never happen. Besides, she probably didn't feel the same.
I pan the camera back to the fair below us, catching all the little people walking from ride to ride, laughing and talking with each other.
Rylie suddenly turns to me and pulls something from her pocket. "Hold out your arm and close your eyes." She tells me. I stop the video and turn off my camera before doing as I'm told, smiling when I feel the cold of a bracelet slip onto my wrist, along with the sudden electricity of her touch as her fingers graze my skin.
"The trees look amazing in this lighting." I comment as I zoom in on a really tall tree a ways in front of us. We were out on the deck of the fire tower, and I couldn't get over the view.
"So do you." Rylie says, and I quickly point the camera at her, and she winks at the lens. She mouths an 'I love you' before turning back to the view. I slide my hand briefly over hers as it rests on the peeling wooden railing before ending the video.
Rylie waves quickly at the camera as I zoom in on her before she turns back to the child in front of her. She got roped into helping the younger kids surf during lessons today, and I was determined to get some good footage of it. Granted, she made any video good just by being in it.
She talks to the small boy for a moment before pointing behind them, and the camera zooms in on the wave coming towards them. Rylie helps the boy onto his board before hopping on her own, and they both begin paddling before managing to catch the wave. The camera stays on them all the way to shore.
I use my phone camera to focus on Rylie as she's focused on her book. Her legs are twined between mine as we lay on the bed, and her head rests on my stomach. I flip the camera to the front facing camera and hold my arm out so that we're both in frame. Rylie notices and smiles before reaching up to kiss my cheek.
The camera zooms in on Rylie as she walks down the pier on the marsh. Color is beginning to fill the sky, and I pan up slightly to catch that before focusing back on Rylie. She stops halfway down the pier and carefully climbs onto the railing.
"Careful!" I call out with a laugh.
"It's okay, it feels pretty sturdy." She calls back. "I thought it would make for some good shots!"
I zoom in on her face and her beautiful smile lights up on the screen. "Yeah," I reply softly. "It definitely will."
"Ry! Come get me!"
"No, over here!"
"Ry Ry, you can't catch me!" Aiden, Asher and August taunt Rylie as she chases them around the room. Their screams and laughter fill the room and I move the camera to focus on each of the boys before stopping on Rylie. She stands slightly crouched with her hands on her knees, breathing hard.
"You guys are too fast for me! When did that happen?!"
"You're a slowpoke!" Aiden laughs as he bounces on the couch.
"Oh, what's that? A sudden burst of super speed? Now I can get you!" Rylie shouts before rushing towards the small boy.
His screams and giggles fill the video as Rylie tickles him, and I smile as I keep the camera on Rylie's happy face.
The camera focuses on Rylie as she sleeps, zooming in to capture her individual beautiful features. Her long eyelashes rest on her cheeks, with the dusting of freckles beneath. Her blonde hair is spread out on the pillow, and I brush a strand behind her ear. Her perfect lips are slightly parted, her breathing soft, deep and even. I could never get tired of watching her sleep.
Rylie's face comes into focus while the large weeping willow and lake are the background.
"This place is beautiful!" She smiles, spinning in a circle.
"It really is. You make it ten times better." I reply.
"Oh, stop. You flatter me." She grins.
"It's part of my job." I laugh before gently grabbing her arm and pulling her towards me.
"And what job is that?" She whispers next to my lips.
"Loving you." I reply before closing the rest of the distance between us and placing my lips against hers.
As I finish the final video, tears are streaming down my face, soaking into the pillow beneath me. I toss my phone to the other end of the couch as the sobs wrack my body. I pull my knees to my chest and clutch them tightly, needing something to hold onto, something to ground me from this physical, shattering pain that was ripping its way through my body.
"Rylie," I cry through clenched teeth. "Rylie." My voice breaks, and a fresh wave of sobs rip from my mouth.
Suddenly, I what a small jingle, and Harvey jumps up onto the couch beside me. He steps into the small space between my arms and knees before laying down and resting his head on my chest. Gently, he licks my cheek, wiping away some of the tears.
"Oh, Harvey," I cry before hugging him against me. He doesn't make any noise, he doesn't move, he just lays with me until I'm finally able to slip into a restless, numb sleep.