Half-asleep, I felt strong arms pull me close. I lay on my side, my back resting against a sturdy chest. That night, I slept like a baby.
The next morning, my phone’s ringtone jolted me awake. As I stirred, Ryan sat up even quicker than I did.
“I’ll get it for you…” Ryan reached out, grabbed a robe, and walked out to the living room.
I lazily rolled over, and Ryan set the phone gently beside me.
“It’s Yvonne.” I realized with a jolt that I’d completely forgotten my daughter was in Braylin. Yesterday was just too wonderful… I let everything else slip from my mind.
“Go ahead and answer. I’m going to hop in the shower,” Ryan said gently, then slipped out toward the shared bathroom.
I picked up the phone, and Yvonne chirped, “Mom, where are you? Grandma’s asking if you’ll come over for lunch.”
“I’m kind of busy over here, so I’ll have to skip lunch today,” I told her. I’d spent more than ten days with Yvonne—it was time for a breather. Besides, my folks would love some alone time with her.
“Okay! Grandpa and Grandma and I are heading out to buy groceries soon,” Yvonne replied, sounding like a little grown-up.
“Be good, listen to Grandma and Grandpa, and don’t cause any trouble,” I reminded her with a smile.
Yvonne chirped a quick reply before hanging up. I grabbed some clothes and headed into the bedroom bathroom for a shower.
Last night got a little out of hand—I was still sporting a couple of love bites. I glanced at my floral dress, worrying it wouldn’t hide all the evidence, and felt myself flush with embarrassment.
When I stepped out, Ryan was waiting for me on the balcony with a glass of water in hand. Seeing me, he turned lazily and leaned against the railing. “Hungry? Let’s head down for breakfast.”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
Ryan glanced at me, a hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes. “Did Yvonne call because she needs you? Thought you might be heading out to see her already.”
I moved to stand beside him, both of us leaning on the railing, gazing at the tiny garden below. “Actually, I want to spend today with you. My parents can handle Yvonne for a day.”
Ryan looked startled for a moment, then a lazy smile tugged at his lips. “You used to vanish as soon as the sun came up. Honestly, I was ready for you to slip out again.”
I laughed too, warmth bubbling up inside me. ‘Back then, I was always chasing deadlines and barely had time for anything else. Guess I made it seem like I was all about work and not much for romance.
“That was the hustle days,” I teased. “Now my work’s all sorted–and things are different.”
Ryan nodded, his tone gentle. “Great. Want to burn some incense for my grandparents with me?”
“Sure!” I chirped, trailing after him to the little pavilion perched over the backyard lake.
The last time I’d come here, Vivian had taken me for some coffee.
This time, following Ryan inside, I noticed the setup was different—a new memorial marker had been added alongside the old one.
“Ryan, I’ve known you for ages, but I don’t think I’ve ever met your mom,” I said, kneeling beside him as we finished burning incense.
It suddenly struck me—I’d never actually met his mother.
Ryan’s face stayed cool and unreadable. “No idea if she’s free lately. If you want to meet her, I’ll take you.”
His voice was so detached, almost as if the word ‘mother‘ barely meant anything to him.
“Would you tell me about her?” I asked, my curiosity about Ryan’s family history suddenly piqued.
Ryan nodded, heading for the cafeteria with me trailing behind. He grabbed a bag of fish food from the cabinet, then strolled out to the balcony and scattered some into the pond below. Instantly, a bunch of colorful fish swarmed to the surface.