“Never heard you complain.” I traced the delicate line of her throat with my fingertips. “But let’s not make this awkward, Abuela. You’re both adults, both single. I assume you know what you’re doing. You’ve got my blessing.”
Grandma sprang from her chair and circled the table, grinning. She planted a firm kiss on my cheek, then another on Kaia’s. “Mis niños. So, what are you going to do for the rest of the day?”
“I planned to show Kaia some of my favorite places,” I said.
Kaia stood. “Let me go to the bathroom and get my purse.”
She disappeared into the house. Grandma sighed. “Take care of her, Ash. She’s been hurt too much for how young she is.”
“Did she tell you something?”
“Things.” Grandma shrugged, toying with her rings. “You know I’m good at reading between the lines. I can’t believe her father treats her that way. I wouldn’t let my child take out loans to study if I could help them.”
Unfortunately, loans were only a fraction of what she endured because of him. “I’d gladly pay for her studies,” I said. “I couldn’t before, but I can now. I just don’t want to make her uncomfortable. I know how important her independence is.”
Grandma nodded. “My job saved me after I lost your grandfather. She needs something of her own. But if one day you’re family, that changes. What’s yours will be hers too. That’s when you can help.”
“Ready.” Kaia emerged from the gallery encircling the courtyard. “You?”
“Me too. Don’t wait up for us,” I told Grandma. “We might have dinner in town.”
She kissed my cheek. “Have fun.”
***
The beach we ended up at was one of my favorite places in the area, a well-known surfing spot. As we walked along the edge of the water at sunset, surfers still carved waves, taking advantage of the wind.
Kaia twisted an elastic around her hair, pulling it into a bun. “I just love it here, Ash. Your grandma showed me another beach, but this one is spectacular. By the way, can you surf?”
I threaded my fingers through hers. “Ale tried to teach me. Guess it’s easier to keep your balance on a bike.”
“Alejandro surfs, then?”
“And plays tennis. Golf, too. I suspect he’s closed more deals doing sports than sitting in restaurants. Good for me. I’ve picked up a few more sponsors.”
Kaia squeezed my hand. “I’m happy for you. Seeing all this now, I understand even less why you went to Stetbourg to race.”
I stopped walking. The sky blazed orange, and I wanted Kaia to see it. “Look here, peque.” I took out my phone and aimed the camera at us. The sun sinking into crimson clouds framed the shot, and we looked so fucking happy I wanted to remember the feeling.
She grinned, cheeks flushed from the cool breeze. I snapped several pictures, then slid the phone into my pocket.
“To answer your question,” I said as we resumed strolling, “guess I was chasing Dad’s dream. Then you happened, and I didn’t want to leave.”
“The college I’m at was my mom’s dream too,” Kaia said, gripping my fingers tighter. “But also mine. It’s great. I love studying things I’m good at.”
She stopped and took both my hands. “Where do you see yourself in the future? Five or ten years from now?”
It was a loaded question, but the answer was clear. “With you. Wherever life takes us.”
She giggled, pointing toward the row of houses facing the beach. “I wouldn’t mind if life took me to that one. Imagine waking up to this view.”
A modern white-walled house stood out among the rest—exactly the kind Emrys would try to buy and flip into a hotel. Oceanfront properties here were rare, and even fewer ever went up for sale. I led Kaia closer to get a better look.
“It must cost a fortune,” she said.
Up close, the place looked unfinished. Whoever started the build had run out of funds, steam, or both. I snapped a picture and made a mental note to call Rys. He knew real estate better than I did, and the hotel he’d shown me was thriving.
The sun sank into crimson clouds hovering at the horizon. I spread my jacket on the sand and sat. Kaia lowered beside me, and for a while, there was only the hum of the ocean and the cries of seagulls.
