Page 133 of A Love Like That
I nodded, hoping she would take what I’d said to heart.
“I should get going. Dan will be waiting for me.”
“We’ll see you soon.”
She smiled. “I’m looking forward to it. Thank you. Family is important.” She wiped away a tear. “And I need to do a better job of showing that.”
Her emotion surprised me, but I nodded. I hoped she’d do a better job of showing Elle that too. Because Elle deserved nothing less than unconditional love and acceptance. And I fully intended to spend the rest of my life showing her that.
THIRTY-TWO
A year and a half later
“Holy shit,” I said, lingering on each and every syllable as I entered the main suite. I scanned the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Clifton Beach. And our home for the next week.
We’d only just arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. After spending that first summer in Japan, the kids had been eager to continue traveling. We’d spent the next few months exploring China and Southeast Asia. We’d celebrated Christmas in Sydney, and we’d traveled around various cities in Australia and New Zealand after that. It had been an adventure, for sure—full of mishaps and mistakes but also fun. And more love than I could’ve ever hoped.
I usually booked the accommodations, but Tristan had insisted on taking care of it this time. He’d said he wanted to splurge a little to celebrate the sale of Lockwood Industries. And wow had he ever.
I wondered how much a place like this went for a night. The unobstructed ocean view alone was priceless. Plus, there a private pool. And five huge bedrooms. It was…amazing.
The kids were downstairs with the cook, discussing local cuisine. One of the best things about the trip was the sense of responsibility and confidence it had instilled in them. Maddox was now six, and he would regularly pack his day bag without being asked. He was learning to read and write, but this trip had taught us all so much more about one another and ourselves.
Savannah had really come into her own, shedding more and more of her anxiety. And she loved seeing so many different animals across the world. She’d helped us plan special stops where we could help local environmental conservationists or learn about various animals. I loved learning alongside her. I loved watching her blossom.
“This place is incredible,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from the view.
I heard Tristan’s footsteps approaching. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my back to his front. “It does have a nice view.”
“Nice?” I sputtered. “You call thisnice?”
He chuckled. “The house, the view, are nice. But the only thing I want is you.”
I melted in his arms at his words. “You have me.”Always.
He brushed my hair over my shoulder, and I shivered when his breath hit the skin of my neck. “Now that Lockwood Industries sold, thiscouldbe our life.”
I swallowed hard. I hadn’t asked how much the company had sold for but judging from this vacation rental and his promises about the future…a lot.
Was this the kind of house he’d want in the future? The kind of life?
We’d spent the last year and a half living well but also within our means. Despite having Tessa’s life insurance to fund the trip, Tristan had continued working as a consultant for Lockwood until the sale of the company. And I’d built my business, creating content for my clients, even taking on new ones.
Six months into our adventure, he’d sold the house in the AV. The kids had been surprisingly okay with it, though they’d certainly gotten used to adapting to change on this trip. We’d gone home once, to finalize the sale and spend time with friends and family, including my parents.
They’d been happy to see us. Mom had apologized—genuinely apologized—and said she was working on her issues. She told me she was committed to having a better relationship, and she was sorry for how she’d treated me. I was encouraged, but wary. I wanted a better relationship, but it was hard to ignore all the pain she’d caused.
My dad had also apologized. For not standing up for me. For not loving me like he should’ve.
There were many years of hurt between the three of us, but for the first time maybe ever, I was hopeful that the future would be filled with more understanding.
It had been a surprisingly good visit, and we’d loved seeing Rex and Hedgie, but we hadn’t been back. Since then, Mom and Dad would comment on the private Instagram profile where I logged our adventures. We’d also exchanged some emails. They seemed to accept my relationship with Tristan.
Savannah regularly FaceTimed with Aiden and River, often sending them postcards about our adventures. We chatted often with Tristan’s parents. And I knew Piper and Liam and so many of our friends followed along with our trip online. Harper had been instrumental in planning our trip, offering ongoing insights and advice for many of our destinations.
“You know I don’t care about money,” I said. “As long as we’re together. That’s what matters.”
“Agreed.” He kissed my cheek and moved for the door. “It’s a nice night.” He slid open one of the large glass doors. “Let’s go outside.”