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“Nichole.”
Nichole lifted her hands in mock surrender. “You’re just friends. You didn’t hook up in Paris. And he doesn’t want to rock your world. I got it.”
Paige laughed. She couldn’t help it. She planted a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. “I’m just so happy you’re here. What do you think you want to do tomorrow?”
“Breakfast, hike, and maybe some shopping?”
The mention of a hike reminded Paige that she and Jack had discussed going to Crystal Cove tomorrow. She’d need to text him and let him know she couldn’t go. He’d understand, what with Nichole coming home. “I’ll make up the sofa sleeper,” Paige said.
“I can do it, Mom. I know where everything is.”
“I just want to make it easier—”
“I’m an adult. I can make my own bed. You go to bed. Love you.”
After taking off her makeup and brushing her teeth, Paige climbed in bed and stared into the darkness and replayed the passionate kiss in her head. She’d liked that he hadn’t been tentative, liked how he’d pressed her to the door and closed the distance between them. He’d been all heat and muscle, hard and strong, and she’d loved it.
It had been an amazing kiss, too, the kind of kiss that made her melt, and feel, and imagine more. He’d left her wanting more, wondering what it would be like, now, to make love to him. It had been years since she’d been intimate, and sex wasn’t on her need-to-do list, but Jack presented tantalizing possibilities.
Did she want casual sex?
Did she want a casual relationship?
Did she want a relationship?
She chewed her lip, still tender from the earlier kiss. What did Jack want?
She was still considering all the options when she drifted off to sleep.
* * *
It was a busy day with Nichole. Nichole loved being active, and their morning started with a yoga class led by Nichole in Paige’s living room, and then a quick shower, followed by a breakfast at one of Paige’s favorite cafés, and then a long hike up into the foothills. The cool morning gave way to a very bright, sunny day. There were no clouds overhead, just a blazing sun and blue sky. Thankfully, they’d brought plenty of water in their thermoses and on reaching the peak, sat down side by side on a rock and gazed out toward the shimmering ocean, the color of teal.
“Andreas has moved back in,” Nichole said, staring out over the horizon.
Paige glanced at her daughter’s serene profile. “You’re back together.”
“He admitted he was jealous, and a jerk. He’s sorry. Things are pretty good between us right now.”
“Oh, Nichole, I’m glad. I know you cared a lot about him.”
Nichole wiped a bead of perspiration from her upper lip. “It’s not the same, though, not like before. I don’t feel the same. Not sure I trust him like I did.”
“Relationships are hard. A constant give and take.”
“I’ve forgiven him, but I can’t forget. I’m not sure I want to forget.” She turned and met her mom’s gaze. “If he was that upset about my career before, why wouldn’t he be jealous again? I’m only going to get more successful, not less.”
Paige felt a pang, a bittersweet mix of pride and pain. Pride, because Nichole was strong and fierce, but pain, because her daughter was right. Some men would be intimidated by her, some men would want to control her, marginalize her. “Are you happier with him than without him?”
Nichole hesitated, then nodded. “Right now.”
“Then enjoy right now. There’s no need to look too far down the road. We don’t know the future, and there’s no need to anticipate trouble. Deal with trouble if and when it comes.”
Nichole stretched out her legs, rubbed at the muscle just above her right knee. She’d had a volleyball injury in high school and periodically her knee would bother her. “I didn’t think you wanted to date again,” she said after a moment, her gaze still locked on the horizon.
“It wasn’t on my agenda, no.”
Silence stretched. Nichole dug the toe of her sneaker into the dirt, kicking up a small cloud of dust. “I will never let anyone treat me the way Dad treated you.”
Paige winced. “He wasn’t always . . . that way.”
“He was always an asshole. Even when I was little. He was always right. No one else could possibly be right.”
Paige said nothing, uncomfortable, because Nichole’s memory wasn’t faulty. Ted had always blamed everyone else. He’d never tolerated dissention. Paige used to excuse him by saying that he’d grown up with a military father, but after a while, she found it harder and harder to make excuses for him. “His temper was exacerbated by the drinking.”
“He hated that you were strong. He hated that you were determined to be happy.” Nichole finally looked at Paige, jaw jutted. “He did his best to break you.”
Paige’s smile wasn’t entirely steady. “But he didn’t. Here I am. Not broken.”
“He was lucky to have you.”
Paige reached out and covered Nichole’s hand with hers and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing it. “I wouldn’t have you without him. We wouldn’t have our family. I’m lucky to have my girls. You’re my everything.”
Nichole stood, took a long drink from her thermos, then re-capped the bottle. “Should we head back down? I’m hoping we’ll have time to swing by the farmers market. Remember that jewelry designer Michelle and I liked? I’m hoping the designer still has the earrings I liked on my last visit.”
Paige glanced at her watch. “If we leave now, we might make it. They close at one.”
It was a fast, relatively easy hike down. During the descent, Nichole told Paige about the work she was doing, and some of her department’s interesting research, and the applications to medicine and technology. Paige checked her watch at the car. They’d gone five miles round-trip. Two of the three exercise rings on her watch had closed. Definitely a good day in terms of exercise goals.
They headed straight to Dana Point for the market. Many of the vendors were already beginning to close, but the jewelry designer still had her booth open. The earrings Nichole had liked were no longer available, but she found another pair she liked as much, if not better.
“Let me get them for you,” Paige offered.
“It’s your birthday, Mom. I should get you something.”
“I don’t want anything, Nichole. Spending today with you has been the best present.”
Nichole hugged her mom. Nichole was fiercely independent and not always cuddly, which made the hug extra sweet. “It’s been a great day, Mom. I’m so glad I flew out.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go tonight.”
“I’ll be back before you know it, and it’s not as if you’re going to be lonely,” she added, shooting her mom a sly glance, “not when you have Mr. Melbourne to keep you company.”
Paige gave her head a faint shake, even as she pressed her lips together. What could she say? How could she defend herself? And yet, just the mention of Jack made her feel slightly breathless. She quickly changed the subject. “What time do you want to leave for the airport?”
