It’s mid-July, warm and golden, and I’m completely lost in thought as I stand at the shore of the loch. Isla is skipping around in her little world, her laughter carrying across the water as she hunts for the perfect skipping stones.
This has become our thing when Aidan’s away. Our little routine.
“Look, Lucy,” she calls out, holding up a flat, smooth pebble with a triumphant grin. “This one’s gonna go far!”
I watch her carefully as she winds up and releases the stone with all the enthusiasm her small arms can muster. It skips once, twice, three times, before finally sinking beneath the surface. Isla’s eyes light up as she turns to me, her face shining with pride.
“Did you see that?”
“I did see!” I laugh, giving her a high-five. “You’re getting really good at that.”
She grins before running off to find another perfect stone. I love spending time with her, but I miss Aidan. We’ve talked on the phone, but it’s not the same. I even find myself missing his brooding silence.
I glance at my watch, taken aback by the time. I hardly noticed the sun dipping lower.
“Isla, sweetie, we should get you home,” I say, pulling my thoughts back to the present. “Your nana is going to be there soon. She’s going to stay with you tonight since I have to be up early for work tomorrow.”
She lets out a small groan, but there’s no actual fight in it. She drops the stones she’d been collecting with a sigh, and without another word, follows me to the car.
She skips ahead of me, her feet leaving footprints in the damp earth, and it hits me again how real this is. I haven’t moved in with them or anything, but I have been staying over with Isla more often to help Aidan out and give his mum some rest.
Isla chatters nonstop in the backseat, her words tumbling out faster than I can comprehend. I catch her in the rearview mirror and can’t help smiling—her cheeks are rosy, curls wild and untamed, each bounce of her head radiating pure joy.
We pull into the driveway, and I cut the engine, taking a last glance at her. “Let’s get inside and cleaned up before your nana gets here.”
She nods eagerly and lets me help her out of the car. Her little hand brushes mine as we walk up the path, and I hear her gasp.
“Lucy, look!” she exclaims, her finger shooting straight ahead, pointingtoward the porch.
I follow her gaze, and my heart skips a beat. There’s Aidan, leaning against the railing in his usual worn jeans and dark sweater. His hair’s a little tousled, wind-touched, and it makes me want to reach out and smooth it. But it’s his smile that catches my attention.
“Daddy!” Isla squeals, and before I can even blink, she’s running full speed toward him. Aidan drops to one knee, arms wide, as she leaps into them.
“There’s my wee lass.” He lifts her off the ground and spins her in circles until she squeals even louder. “Did you miss me?”
“So much!”
I hang back a few steps, giving them their space. I let my gaze drift back to him, and when our eyes meet over Isla’s head, my heart skips again. There’s an unusual spark in his eyes today.
His voice is a little lower as he gently lowers Isla to the ground. “Surprise.”
“Hey you.” I close the gap between us. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.” My voice catches just a little. I feel like I could cry from relief. I don’t know why I’m feeling so overwhelmed.
His hand comes to rest on the small of my back, pulling me gently into him. I tilt my face up to meet his while Isla’s excited chatter fades into the background as she runs into the house.
His hand rises to cradle my face, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheekbone. “I couldn’t wait any longer,” he mutters before his lips brush mine with the softest kiss. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. But can you just…leave work like that?”
He pulls back just enough, but his eyes stay locked on mine. “I’m done with it, Lucy,” he says. “I got that local job.” And then, like it’s nothing at all, “I’m home for good.”
My world tilts sideways.
“What?” The word comes out barely above a whisper. I’m afraid if I say it too loud, I’ll wake up from whatever dream this is.
His thumb continues its gentle path along my cheekbone. “I can’t keep leaving you and Isla.”
Tears spring to my eyes before I can stop them. Joy. Relief. I swallow hard, my breath shaky, trying to hold it together, but then he’s already pulling me close, wrapping me up in his arms. He knows exactly what I need.
