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I got into the car after lunch, sitting up front with Nathan while they surrounded Ella. Nathan wanted to take them to the shops in La Jolla and show them the snorkelers out there. It was a beautiful part of town, but we didn’t go too much. As rich as Nathan was, he lived simply in some ways. We didn’t shop in La Jolla, but he also didn’t go to Walmart too often. Everything was in between that though he did give into my love for Target.
His mom loved watching the people down in the water, amazed that people jumped into the ocean from a cliff up there. She thought it was crazy, and I shared the same opinion. I still thought about the day on the beach where I could have lost Ella to the current. We didn’t tell them about that and Ella seemed to have forgotten about it.
We went into some shops, looking at the unreasonably expensive items as Linda rolled her eyes. She would never ask for any of this. We took Ella to a fancy toy store, and I laughed when she left with a bag in everyone’s hand of stuff that they bought for her. We went back to the car and Nathan took them to his favorite ice cream place, getting us a big table in the middle of the room.
My face hurt from smiling and laughing. I was so happy with these people and I smiled at Nathan over the menu. We’d used the words that I held in for what felt like forever last night in bed. It felt wonderful, and I knew that more than loving him, I was in love with him.
We ordered and enjoyed our dessert, all of us aware that they were leaving the following day. Even Ella seemed a bit subdued, but she also might be tired. We headed back to the beach house when we were done, getting her down for a nap and sitting outside on the deck. There would be one more walk on the beach tonight and lunch tomorrow and we’d be back to normal.
I’d miss them until they came back permanently. I loved his family, and it was great having a mom again. She’d never replace Mama, but she was sweet and loved Nathan and Ella. Carli was a sharp-tongued sister that I could not wait to introduce Emery to next time they were here. My sister was out of town for the weekend, so she missed it this time.
I watched as they disappeared up the escalator sadly. Ella was waving and calling out to them and I picked her up as Nathan turned to walk towards us. He hated seeing them go but was looking forward to talking to someone about the properties they’d agreed upon in. He took my hand, and we walked back to the car together. Ella cried a little as he buckled her into her seat and I watched as he came to the driver’s seat. She fell asleep, and we fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive.
Nathan took Ella to her room, and we went into his, dropping down in exhaustion. It was rare that we were in here dressed and sleeping but there was no other option today.
We had a simple dinner of leftovers and watched TV with Ella before getting her ready for bed. It was so quiet now. I finished my book and went downstairs to see Nathan sipping a beer as he stood on the deck. I stood beside him as he looked over at me.
“Hi.”
“Hey, baby.” He tried to smile, but it was still sad. “It’s quiet now.”
“Pretty soon, they’ll live in town and you’ll welcome the silence. Besides, they can watch her, so we can go out on dates.” I leaned against him as he wrapped an arm around me.
“I love that idea.”
“I love you.” He kissed my hair, and I smiled.
“I love you so much, Riley. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and Ella.”
I kissed him softly, needing to feel him beside me for the rest of my life.
Epilogue: Riley
Two years later
I sto
od in the small room, twisting my curls in my fingers. I was nervous and excited all at once. I heard the door open and Emery walked in, dressed in a beautiful plum dress that showed off all her gorgeous curves. She was holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses and grinned as she sat down in the chair across from me.
“I had James open it for us,” she told me as I sat down and tried not to mess with my hair. She tilted the bottle and poured us two glasses, giggling as it nearly bubbled over the rim.
“He opened a whole bottle for us?” I asked as she handed me one of them before setting the bottle down.
“There is a lot. Nathan went overboard.” His name made me smile, and she held up her glass. “To the future.”
“It’s going to be a great one.” I clinked mine with hers and we sipped it. It went down easily, and I glanced at the bottle. “He doesn’t play.”
“No. This is the real deal and so are the two of you.” She looked at me with a soft smile. “Mama would be proud of you. I’m proud of you.”
“I feel like I didn’t even work for this. I just got a job,” I argued as I looked down at my silk, flowing white dress. “I was thinking of myself and my future.”
“That’s how it happens. Remember when I got the job at the coffee shop just for a while before school started?” I smiled and nodded. “I met James there and here we are. I went to school later than planned but life just shifted. It happens that way sometimes.” I remembered when she told me about him, not sure what was going to happen with the handsome dark-eyed guy.
I wasn’t in school yet. I got caught up with Ella and my life in the house with them. I loved that life and becoming a parent. The first time that she called me Mom three months after I moved in made me sob in Nathan’s arms that night. He held me, telling me that I was good for her. He told me that I treated her as much more than a job from the start and that Ella knew how much I cared about her.
We were on a trip to a private island in The Bahamas for a week with his family and mine six months ago when he changed my life. It was sunset, and we were out on the beach watching it as we did at home. Everyone else was behind us a bit watching the kids play and Nathan took my hand to walk with me alone. I knew that Ella was safe, so I went with him, loving the peace between us. He glanced up as the sky turned a bright pink and told me to take a picture.
I lifted my phone up and snapped a picture, listening to the sounds of the waves and laugher behind us. When I was finished, I turned to ask him if he’d take a selfie with me. Nathan was on his knees, smiling up at me and I stared at him.
