I shrug. “Experience. Most guys start out sweet, and then when they think they’ve got you hooked, everything changes. I just always assumed that was normal—“
I stop talking, my mouth agape, when I see Hudson eating up the distance between us. He grips my face and kisses me deeply, passionately, and thoroughly.
When he pulls away to look me in the eye, I’m breathless. “Listen to me. None of that shit is normal. And furthermore, I want you to know that every time I’ve seen you dating other guys, I wanted to steal you away. If you need to talk about anything in your past, I’m here for it. You know that, right? But I don’t ever want you to think the way they treated you was normal. You got that? They didn’t love you like I do.”
I blow out a breath and cover his hands. “Nobody ever will.” And then I kiss the center of his palm. “Now get me some breakfast before I really start reminiscing about guys in my past.”
Growling, Hudson arcs his arm around my shoulders as we leave to fill our bellies with greasy goodness.
Over breakfast, we strategize about how we’re going to take care of business while we’re away for the summer. I call my best employee, Amethyst, and tell her if she’s willing to take on the job as manager, keeping the Ferris wheel staffed and running, I’ll give her a raise. I’ll even spring for a new tripod and whatever new camera equipment she needs. Hudson calls Gavin, who enthusiastically agrees to take on managing the marina for the summer.
Finishing our breakfast, we head over to the RV to have a chat with my parents.
When we arrive, we find them outside playing with the neighborhood dogs.
My mom turns when she sees Kris watching me approach. She looks ready to apologize all over again.
“Baby,” she starts, “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
I take a deep breath and say, “I don’t want to hear it.” And then I hug my mom—like really hug her, for the first time since before she stopped drinking. She seems shocked at first, but I don’t let go. Finally, she relaxes and hugs me back.
Then I turn to my dad, and I don’t have to say anything. He wraps me up against his tall, lean frame and kisses the top of my head. “We should have handled things differently.”
All I can do is sigh, “yeah.”
The three of us have a moment, and then we go inside to talk. It seems like a kitchen table conversation.
To our pleasant surprise, Mom and Dad take to the idea right away. They’ll housesit and cat-sit for the summer, and Dad even offers to oversee maintenance at the Ferris wheel for free while I’m gone.
“My buddy’s gonna get me a job at the surf shop. So with that and your mom’s dog-walking business, I think that sounds like the perfect plan.”
He reaches across the table and shakes Hudson’s hand.
“We’re very happy for you two,” Mom says. “And Hudson, I know I haven’t been the best mom to Adalee. I haven’t always been there for her, and you’ve been there to pick up the pieces. So I want to say thank you. All I ask is that the two of you don’t do anything crazy like come back from the Keys already married. You understand me? I want to see my baby in a wedding dress. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I glance over at Hudson, who seems completely unfazed. I know I shouldn’t be surprised. We’ve discussed this. But for me, there’s always a slight shadow of doubt, waiting for the ax to fall. I know at that moment that that ax is never going to fall.
He nods. “I promise you that. I’ll take good care of her.”
I can’t help but smirk, knowing that even though I might not come back from the Keys married, I’m definitely going to come back pregnant.
I look over at Hudson, and by the naughty look on his face, I know he’s thinking the same thing.
Chapter 16
Hudson
Adalee tried—really tried—to get over her seasickness on the boat. But to no avail.
Over the last few days in Cherry Falls, we practiced short trips out on the ocean, but it soon looked like she wouldn’t be able to stick with me on the boat all the way down to the Keys.
I hated leaving her alone to drive all that way. When I happened to mention her seasickness to Captain Jack, the man did the most astonishingly generous thing by paying for Adalee’s plane ticket to meet me in Key West.
“I know what it’s like to love a woman so hard you don’t want to let her out of your sight. Enjoy the Keys, and take good care of that girl. And of my girl, Melinda,” he said.
Over the next month in the Keys, Adalee did eventually get over her seasickness. In between charters, I took her on gradually longer and longer trips out to sea, until finally, she got her sea legs by the end of June.
Now, it’s August, and we’re both boasting a deep tan under the Florida sun and basking in the glow of being together.
Not even seasickness can keep us apart now.
Or so I thought.
This morning, my Adalee emerges from below deck with a platter of cut fruit, as always. I never ask her to feed me; she just does. I’m a terrible cook, so whenever she lets me treat her, it’s freshly caught seafood cooked over a flame on the beach. Or we splurge at a restaurant. She looks a little off, and I know that look. “Babe? Are you okay?”
Adalee sets down the fruit tray with a clatter and then bolts to the side of the boat.
“Babe, we’re still at the dock. You can’t be seasick yet,” I joke. I know I shouldn’t tell jokes, but at this point, I’ve seen her ralph so many times I can’t help myself.
I bring her
