Gigi
THREE YEARS LATER
“I guess we’re not the only ones planning a graduation trip,” Luke grumbles to himself. “The flight will be full of people chatting nonstop.”
His words don’t fool me. I see the awe in his eyes and the way his body shakes in anticipation of what’s to come. Luke likes to tease me about my tendency to plan everything down to a T, but when we booked this trip to visit Italy, lo and behold, my we’ll cross the bridge when we get there husband created an Excel sheet of his own. The guy planned every single second of the next two weeks, even our wake-up times.
I chuckle at his words and grab his hand, feeling the wetness from his sweat-covered palm. “It’s going to be fine. I promise. Most of them are probably going to Mexico or something. I doubt they’re all flying to Milan.”
I never thought we’d be at the stage in our relationship where we’d be taking a vacation together to Bellano, yet here we are, waiting for our gate to open. The two of us are surrounded by backpacks and carry-on suitcases. Another thing Luke used to tease me about but now does himself—Luke Palmer is not a light packer. When we booked the flights, I assumed he would be one of those people who’d just get a duffle bag, shove a few things inside, and call it a day. Nope. Lucas Palmer shoved half of his closet inside.
I bite back a smile when I remember how I had to tell him not to pack too many jackets with him.
“But the village is near Lake Como,” he argues. “I read it gets kind of windy.” When I giggle and remind him that we’ll be flying in July, he rolls his eyes. “You haven’t been there yourself, Gi. Trust me, you’ll be thanking me when your ass gets cold.”
“What are you laughing about?”
“You’re adorable,” is all I say. “I’m so lucky to have you. You always think of me.”
I feel it in my bones. Maybe not when I was struggling with my mental health, but even then, deep inside me, I think I always knew that he was always thinking of me. Thinking of our family. Even when he showed it differently. He did everything he could to make sure me and the twins would be okay.
Luke is as selfless as someone can be, which is why two years ago, I made sure to give him a push when it was time.
With Mom and Becca living with us in the house we all picked out, chipped in, and bought, the mental workload of taking care of the twins lessened over time. When I resumed my classes again and the two were eligible to join the daycare at the university, we had a lot more room to breathe. Morning and night routines were my sacred time with Gwen and Ethan. The weekends were Luke’s, but not by choice. The commute was long, and he always came home when it was time for them to go to bed. Luke never said it out loud, but I knew his job was crushing his soul little by little.
So, I urged him to apply for his master’s degree.
Even when he got a full scholarship he was still hesitant to accept the offer. I think a big part of him felt guilty that he spent so little time apart from me that he didn’t notice me deteriorating in front of his eyes. I bet he still does, even if it doesn’t eat him alive anymore. Even after I told him that it wasn’t his fault that I was like that and was grateful for what he did. I saw our bank accounts the other day. Living below your means really is effective.
But Luke wouldn’t budge. His guilt paired with the fact that a part of him will always worry about providing enough for his family was enough for him to want to scrap his dream and toss it in the trash.
It’s a good thing all those times I spent meeting doctors and therapists didn’t go to waste. Knowing Luke wouldn’t budge unless we weren’t mooching off my mom and dwindling whatever remains of our savings, I put my chatty personality to good use. I called around for a job. Something related to my degree this time because Luke inspired me to take my studies more seriously. Dr. Patel hooked me up with a sweet gig, and I’ve been working part-time at the women’s health center at the hospital ever since, assisting the psychologists with their “Burnout for New Parents” and “Reconnecting After Childbirth and Child Loss” classes.
Armed with a three-year finance plan, something I swear I will never create again because, goddamn, numbers really aren’t my thing, I pleaded my case. I can be persuasive, you see, and Luke is a smart man. He knows when he’s not going to win a fight, especially one he’s secretly not too keen on coming out the victor anyway. By the time I explained that we can more than afford him going back to school because of all of his hard work during his senior year of college, Luke was grinning from ear to ear.
Lucky for us, Luke learned a few tricks during his two years studying finance and we became maximum optimizers of our money. We even had some left to spare at the end of each month. Mom suggested that we save up for our honeymoon, which we did, and here we are now.
I should’ve known that my mother had ulterior motives. That, and she’s overbearing. I love her so much, though, and I know Luke and Becca do, too. I see it every time they prepare elaborate brunch dishes for Mother’s Day.
“What did you guys get?” I ask Mom. Becca is trailing along behind her, both of the twins holding her hands.
“Magazine for me, Coke for you, and turkey sandwiches for Luke and Becca.” She hands us all our things as Becca and the twins settle on the seats across from us. Handing me the big plastic bag with the duty-free logo on it, my mother smiles giddily. “Look what I found for Ethan and Gwen. Cute little windbreakers. Perfect for when we go to Lake Como. And for the hikes.”
“Told you so.” Luke nudges me on the shoulder and smirks. I roll my eyes.
From the corner of my eye, I see Dad approaching, one arm draped around Michelle and the other holding a paper cup with a lid on it. “Got held up while going through security.” Shaking his head, he continues, “I guess I can forget sleeping on the plane with how full it’s going to be. So many goddamn teenagers here. All young kids want to do nowadays is sing on those goddamn TikTok videos.”
“Told you?—”
“Shut it, Luke.” I glare at him. He just laughs.
“Everyone excited?” Michelle, his fiancée, asks.
“Of course. Becca here is going to high school soon. just finished college. Luke got his master’s degree and received another scholarship for his Ph.D. And now all of us are going on a family vacation.” Mom beams. “I can’t wait to show you all my childhood village. I haven’t been back ever since my family moved to New York when I was six.”
“Not a family vacation,” Luke snorts. “Don’t forget this is my honeymoon that you hijacked.”
I bark out a laugh. Hijacked is an understatement. When she heard where we were going for our honeymoon, she started saving up all her bonuses. Because my parents are both insane, it was only time before Dad started doing the same.
Dad scoops up Ethan and Gwen, taking them both to a bookstore. Once they’re out of earshot, Mom cocks her eyebrow and tilts her head. “And don’t you forget, Lucas Palmer. You got my daughter pregnant and refused to marry her in a Catholic church. Both things I asked of you when you two started dating.”
Snaking his arm around Mom’s shoulder, Luke smirks. “But you love me anyway, don’t you, Bianca?”
“What can I say, you’ve grown on me.”
As we look at the planes leaving the tarmac through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows while Mom and Michelle chat about New York, Luke plants a kiss on my forehead.
“Are you happy, Gi?”
“I am.” I put my arm around his waist. “Are you?”
“The happiest I’ve ever been.”
As we wait for our own flight to ascend, I look out the window and talk to someone I chat with from time to time.
Andrew, wherever you are, know that we’re okay. We’re healthy. We’re happy. We miss you.
The end.
Thank you so much for reading The Wrong Palmer Boy and The New Palmer Girl .