“Yeah.”
“I’ll never forget seeing you sitting here in your beautiful dress. The breeze blowing through your hair. You were staring at the moon, and I stopped right then and made a wish on it. I wished for you. Wished that you and I could end up here on the beach together.”
Hang on.
I'm trying to process this.
Just give me a minute.
Two boys.
A country apart.
Who share the same birthday.
One whose name means fire.
The other, whose name means water.
Both made a wish when I did?
Except that B actually wished for me.
And, really, even though I wished for my perfect boy, technically, I was thinking of B when I made that wish. He was who I wanted to be my perfect boy.
“We've been through a lot to get back here, huh?” I say.
“Yeah.”
He wraps his arm around me and I lean my head on his shoulder.
Like I've done so many times before.
He lifts my chin and kisses me. It's a good kiss. A kiss that speaks to me. A kiss full of what ifs. A kiss full of love and regret. A kiss that sums up our entire relationship.
A million emotions run through me. Each one hitting me like a wave. Happiness, sadness, regret, hope, and love. Lots and lots of love.
“I need you in my life, B.”
“I need you, too,” he says, wiping tears from his own eyes. “We’ve been given another chance at life, Keats. Let’s do it right this time.”
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10TH
Good to be home.
6:45am
I wake up to my alarm, wrap a blanket around my shoulders, and go out onto the deck.
The sky is still dark, but you can just see the sun’s rays peeking up behind the house. I love the way the ocean looks as the sun rises, splashing color across it.
There’s something so peaceful about this time of day. Something that calms me.
Sunrises symbolize new beginnings.
So I thought it was only fitting that I start my new beginning with one.
My new beginning.
Another chance at life.
The kind of life I’ve dreamed about.
And it all starts today.
A while later, Mom and Tommy join me.
Mom hands me a mug of steaming coffee and curls up on the love seat with me.
“It’s a really pretty morning,” she says as she steals part of my blanket.
“It is. Thanks for the coffee.”
“You going surfing?” Tommy asks.
“No, B wanted to sleep in.”
“Is he doing okay?”
“He is. He went through a lot more than I did. Being kidnapped. Drugged. Thinking he was going to die.”
“He told me it’s brought clarity to his life,” Tommy says.
“He told me that too.”
“Tommy,” Mom says, “I can’t keep it to myself.”
“Keep what to yourself?” I ask.
“What we went through as a family brought some clarity to our lives, too,” Tommy says. “Your mom and I have made some decisions.”
“We’re going to make an offer on a house in Hidden Hills,” Mom continues. “There’s lots of land. The girls can ride horses.”
“And, most importantly, it’s a very secure community. No one can just walk up to your back door like they can here,” Tommy adds. “I’ve been thinking about it for a few months. And there’s a house I’ve seen online that looks perfect. We want somewhere safe, where we can all be together.”
“I missed all of you. It’s so good to be home.”
“Back on your beach?” Mom says with a smile.
“Do you remember when you told me one Thanksgiving that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, it only matters who is sitting next to you?”
Mom shakes her head. “I don’t remember saying that. But I like it.”
Tommy laughs at Mom and says, “Everything you say is so brilliant, you can’t even remember it all,” causing Mom to laugh too.
“So, tell me more about the house.”
“The big draw, besides the security, is the land. A place for the girls to have a swing set. A big pool. A playhouse.”
Tommy smirks. “Don’t forget a place to kick a soccer ball and throw a football. Maybe I’ll build a baseball diamond.”
“Tommy,” I say with a grin. “Do you think you’re going to have a boy? Or are you planning on playing football with the girls?”
“Of course, I’d be thrilled with another healthy baby girl, but Inga said a long time ago that this one would be a boy.”
“He didn’t believe any of what he called that nonsense when I was pregnant with the girls, but now that it’s what he wants to hear, he’s a believer,” Mom says, laughing.
“I’d love to have a baby brother. Although, if he’s like you, he’ll be trouble.”
“Only if we’re lucky,” Tommy grins. He loves his former bad boy reputation. “Anyway, I think we’ll all like the new house. And, of course, you’ll have your own suite.”
“What about this house?”
“Once we get moved, we thought we’d put it on the market.”
“I’ll buy it,” I blurt out. I can’t let go of this house.