Page 111 of Love Unwritten

When Ellie told me she couldn’t join us because she was feeling sick, I was nervous about spending the day with Nico. I know it sounds ridiculous to be intimidated by my own kid, but it’s the truth. Ellie has been a buffer during our time in Oahu so far, and without her, I’m worried everything with Nico will revert to the way it was the last six months before our trip.

The bright sun turns my vision spotty for a few seconds before my eyes adjust.

“Pool or beach?” I ask my son.

He waves his metal detector in the air in a silent answer.

I lead him toward an unoccupied area near the shore, far from other children who could try to strike up a conversation with my son and steal him away.

Is it petty? Probably, but efficient nonetheless.

For the first twenty minutes or so, we both do our own thing. Nico plays with the metal detector Ellie packed for him while I pass the time reviewing the plans Julian sent me for the barn expansion.

Eventually, the temptation to check my work inbox becomes too great to ignore, so I open our work app and spare it a quick glance. I’ve never been away from work for longer than a week, and while I know Julian and my assistant are more than qualified to take care of everything, I still struggle to let go.

Julian calls me out on just that by pinging me through the app.

JULIAN

I see you’re online. If you answer a single message, I will take Nico up on his offer and replace you.

With that, I tuck my phone into the beach bag I brought and get up.

He’s your son. Stop being a nervous wreck and spend time with him.

With a long, extended breath, I walk over to Nico.

“Hey.”

He squints in my direction. “Hi.”

“What do you say we work on a sandcastle together?”

“But you’re busy.”

Great. In my effort to give Nico space and not come on too strong, I messed things up even more.

“Your tío told me if he caught me working again, he’d come here and kick my butt.”

Nico giggles. “No, he didn’t!”

“Yeah. Even threatened to send me back to Lake Wisteria.”

“Really?”

“Yup. So there’s no way I’m working anymore on this trip.”

His whole face lights up. “Good! Work is boring.” He practically sings the last word.

“True, but work also paid for all this.”

“So? Aren’t you a gazillionaire?”

“Nicolas,” I say in that no-bullshit parenting voice I picked up from my uncle.

He rolls his eyes. “What? All the kids at school say you have a million dollars!”

Just a few thousand of them, give or take.