Page 13 of We Shouldn’t Do This Again

“My dad always talks too much,” I joke, glancing at my dad with a knowing look. “Although I’m starting to think he has no filter, and that’s a little concerning.”

He raises his hands.

“Hey, I didn’t say anything, just so you know. I’m staying out of this conversation.”

The three of us burst out laughing, and suddenly the scene loses that initial tension, as if the salty air had carried it all away with it. The car waiting for us is an open-top SUV, perfect for touring the island without missing a single detail of the landscape. The three of us climb in, and the driver pulls away slowly, leaving the port behind.

Ukulhas reveals itself to my eyes as even more beautiful than I remembered. The narrow streets are lined with vegetation swaying in the gentle, steady sea breeze, and I decide to lean back against the seat, enjoying the wind ruffling my hair as I think that this place seems straight out of a dream, a corner where time stretches out and worries dissolve into the sea.

“So,” my father asks, turning toward me with interest, “how was the trip?”

“Endless,” I reply without a moment’s hesitation. “I think I’ve broken my personal record for hours in transit; between planes, layovers, and boats, I feel like I’ve lost half my life. But here I am, and just seeing the two of you has made every minute worth it.”

“This place is cut off from the world…” Miriam remarks with a sympathetic grimace that makes me smile. “But once you get here, everything you carry inside you just disappears.”

I look around and take in the turquoise water, the white sand glistening in the sun, and the clear sky that seems to touch the horizon.

“Definitely,” I say, and I mean it with total conviction.

For a few minutes, we chat about simple things. My father listens to every detail attentively, as if he’d been waiting for this moment for weeks on end, and I silently appreciate that dedication because it makes me feel that our bond remains intact despite the miles that have separated us.

“By the way…” I say then, leaning forward slightly with curiosity. “Who exactly have you invited? I want to get an idea of everything we have to organize over the next few days.”

My father exchanges a quick glance with Miriam.

“People who are important to us,” he replies quickly.

I frown and feel the intrigue growing inside me.

“That sounds like I’m in for a surprise, and I don’t know if I’m going to like it.”

“You know I have a lot of friends,” he says simply. “It’s a time to have fun, to enjoy ourselves, and to get together with the people we love.”

“Dad,” I insist, though I can’t help but smile. “You can’t just say that and act like nothing’s wrong.”

Miriam then chimes in, an innocent smile playing on her lips.

“Your father has put a lot of thought into the guest list,” she explains with a playful tone. “But I assure you, they’re people who mean a lot to him and, by extension, to us.”

“That puts my mind at ease…” I say. Though I can’t stop wondering who he might have invited. The uncertainty gives me a strange flutter in my stomach.

The car turns toward the coast, and suddenly the landscape opens up before my eyes. The sea appears on our right, sparkling in the afternoon sun, and its beauty is so overwhelming that I’m left speechless.

“All right,” Miriam finally says, turning to me with a burst of energy. “I hope you’re ready to work, because I need you at the top of your game. I need a lot of help because the resort has left all the decorating up to me, and I don’t know where to start.”

“Is everything that chaotic?”

“Let’s just say… I’ve gone a little crazy with it all.”

My father snorts affectionately.

“That’s a very polite way of saying we’ve been arguing for weeks about the flowers, the menu, and the music.”

“We haven’t argued!” Miriam protests.

I can’t help but laugh along with them, and I feel the atmosphere fill with that family camaraderie I’ve needed and missed so much.

“Okay, okay… I get it,” I reply, raising my hands in a peace sign. “Count me in for whatever you need. And don’t worry,” I add with a calm smile, looking at Miriam. “I’m back with my batteries recharged and eager to lend a hand.”