Chapter 43
chapter forty-three
MARISOL
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over how adorable she is,” Isla says, coming back into the small living room of May’s cottage after putting Camilla down for a nap. “Like, you made that,” she adds, folding herself onto the couch next to me.
May laughs. “She’s definitely got my looks, but her father’s attitude.”
I snort, internally praying for May for when Cami is a teenager. Rafael is going to be under that girl’s thumb. Just wait.
“I don’t know,” Marina says. “I have a sneaking suspicion she’s going to turn out a lot like you.”
“God help Rafael when that happens,” Isla says, and our collective laughs fill the living room.
The front door is open, and a light breeze floats through the house, the chimes hanging in a tree outside the kitchen window providing a peaceful, warm ambience.
The three of us have been here for a couple of hours, fawning over Cami and kicking Rafael out of the house so we could have some girl time.
“How’s he adjusting to fatherhood?” Marina asks, and May smiles.
“He loves it. He’s so amazing at it, too.
He’s got all this newfound patience. It’s odd.
” She laughs. “He’s actually thinking about dropping down his hours at Olive change is inevitable.
We can either control it, or we can let it happen to us, whether we like it or not. ”
“Have you guys talked about the possibility of Leo moving back to Sorrento?” May asks. “Would that make things easier?”
I shake my head. “I couldn’t ask him to do that, and I don’t…
” I stutter. I don’t know if that’s my place anymore.
“You know, I spent so much effort running from this place. Running from my past, my history, but being back here…I’ve realized how much I was missing.
” I feel tears hiding in the corners of my eyes.
“I don’t want to miss any more,” I say, and one sneaks down my cheek as I look over at May.
She moves to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of me, holding my hands in hers. “Listen to me. You are a part of this family, of Cami’s life, whether you live here or you’re out there chasing your dreams. Nothing will ever change that.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think those are my dreams anymore. That girl who was starving herself to look her best,” I say. “I don’t want to be her anymore. I want to be the woman that he makes me feel like I could be.” I want to be someone that Cami can look up to.
Marina’s mouth turns up in a small smile. “You’re already her.” I sniff, wiping at my cheeks. “You had to be her to make that decision.”
“Have you made it, though? You want to be certain,” Isla says, and it feels like this moment right here, with these girls, this is that defining moment.
I just have to make the choice.
And then my phone pings with an email.