Here's the last chapter. Hope you like it.

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Jane woke with his face pressed into her hair, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He shook her awake gently, and they crawled out of bed, pulling on swim shorts and bikini in the half-darkness.

Jane made coffee and they drank silently, before grabbing boards and wetsuits and heading down to the beach.

They started early, while the sun was still barely visible on the horizon. Pink streaks spread across the waves. Too early even for the seagulls. They slid their boards into the water and began swimming.

Jane found the surf grounding. The restless movement of the waves, the complex push and pull, the cluster of half-formed swells followed by the perfect breaker. He understood the shifts and eddies with a mathematical precision. He knew this wasn't home for him. He knew he had to leave eventually. But the familiar patterns held him, nurtured him. He wasn't ready to let that go.

They peeled off their wetsuits to waist level then walked back to the house. Jane watched the water droplets track from her long, damp hair, across the muscles of her shoulders and between her shoulder blades. He had a powerful memory of gently undoing her bikini top and kissing away the seawater.

From the firm set of her body, he knew today was different. She intended to talk. He was filled with equal quantities of anticipation and sheer terror.

The tray of fruit was already on the table. He made another two coffees.

"You seem pretty settled here," she said.

"It's a holiday. I am coming back to Sacramento."

There was silence for a time.

"I don't like the idea of you finding another cop to date." That wasn't what he intended to say. He had a sudden mental image of his incompetent attempt to seduce her in his apartment, a long time ago.

"Are you asking me to wait for you?"

He nodded. It was easier than finding the words.

"Ok," she said.

He looked at her intently, trying to read her. She gave him a look back.

"Should I be playing harder to get? I'm not very good at this sort of thing."

He stood up abruptly, surprising her. He touched her hand in reassurance.

He returned in a moment with a small velvet box. His heart was beating erratically. The words dried up in his throat.

He flipped it open and pushed it gently towards her. "I bought this when I knew you were coming. I know it's too soon. I just want you to think about it."

She eyed the small band of diamonds uncertainly.

"This is for me?"

"Yes."

She picked the ring up and studied it carefully. He noticed that she did not try it on.

"Just think about it," he said.

She nodded. When she went to hand the ring back, he stopped her.

"I want you to keep it. While you are thinking about it."

"Ok."

He didn't have anything more to say.

At the airport, he held her for a long time.

"I've got to go," she said.

He pushed a few strands of hair away from her face. "Love you." In their days and nights together, he had murmured any number of endearments, but hadn't been brave enough to say those words.

She blushed bright pink and mumbled "You too," before rushing off through security.

He let the tears out once he got in the taxi, turning his head so the driver didn't see. They passed swiftly around the outskirts of the town and out towards the beach.

Jane's phone pinged with a message: Are you serious about this?

He replied: Very serious.

OK. My answer is yes.

He stared at the phone, unwilling to believe it.

Another message came through.

It fits.

The taxi pulled up at his holiday shack, the sound of the waves heavy on the breeze. It would take less than a day to sort out his possessions and pay off the lease. He could be in Sacramento tomorrow evening.

He wrote: See you soon.