"Do you want to help drive today?" Drew asked Holly as we pulled away.
Her face lit up. "Can I?"
"Absolutely. Come sit up here with me."
I watched them from my spot at the back of the boat, Drew patiently explaining the controls while Holly listened with uncharacteristic concentration. The sight of them together, heads bent over the steering wheel, made my throat tighten with emotion.
This is what matters. Not the satisfaction of exposing cheaters,not the validation from grateful wives. This—my family, right here—is everything.
We cruised for nearly an hour before finding our favorite cove, a secluded spot where the water was calm and clear. Drew dropped anchor while Holly and I set up our picnic on the boat's center table.
"This was a good idea," Holly said, biting into a sandwich. "Thanks for bringing me."
"Are you kidding? You're the best boat companion," Drew told her. "Your aunt gets seasick if the water's too choppy."
"That was one time," I protested, throwing a grape at him. "And it was practically a hurricane."
Holly laughed, the sound lightening the atmosphere instantly. "You guys are weird."
"We prefer 'charmingly eccentric,'" Drew corrected, catching the grape and popping it into his mouth.
After lunch, Holly slipped into the water, floating on her back with her face turned up to the sun. Drew moved to sit beside me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders.
"She seems better," he observed quietly.
"This was exactly what she needed," I agreed. "What we all needed."
We watched as Holly flipped over and began swimming in lazy circles around the boat.
"I've been thinking," Drew said after a moment. "We should talk to her soon about the adoption idea. Before she starts making too many plans for the fall."
I nodded, leaning into him. "I've been thinking the same thing. I don't want her to feel like she has to hold back because her situation is temporary."
"How about sometime this week? I'm not traveling so it'll be a great opportunity."
"That sounds perfect."
Holly swam back to the boat ladder and climbed up, waterstreaming from her hair. "The water is amazing! You guys should come in."
Drew grinned and stood up. "Race you!" he said to me, and before I could respond, he'd executed a perfect cannonball off the side of the boat, sending a spray of water over both Holly and me.
"Uncle Drew!" Holly shrieked, laughing. "You got Aunt Elyse soaked!"
"That was the plan!" he called back, surfacing with a triumphant grin.
Holly looked at me expectantly. "Your turn, Aunt 'Lyse."
I hesitated, torn between my natural caution and the desire to join in their fun. Grace's words from earlier echoed in my mind:Now you have Holly to consider.
Making a decision, I stood up and stripped down to my swimsuit. "Stand back," I warned, and then executed a dive that would have made my high school swimming coach proud.
The water was cool and perfect, washing away my worries at least temporarily. I surfaced to find Drew and Holly both staring at me with identical expressions of surprise.
"What?" I asked, treading water.
"That was an Olympic-level dive," Drew said appreciatively.
Holly nodded, clearly impressed. "I didn't know you could do that!"
