Besides, neither of them minded, and it gave them some bonding time as well, even though Gina was sleeping for most of it.
The coffee maker was the first thing Jess set up when we started working that morning. Even though we already had two cups that morning, it was later in the day, and I wasn’t the only one who needed a caffeine boost.
Jess made a carafe and poured three mugs.
I brought one to Chloe, and she carefully placed it on the side table.
“You two should take a break,” Chloe said. “Go enjoy the view.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. Jess and I went outside to sit on the terrace facing the ocean.
Even though the inside of the house was a mess, we could forget it all by closing the door and leaving it behind for a few minutes. The crash of the waves on the shore created a gentle rhythmic lullaby that eased any and all tension in my body.
Jess sipped her coffee before placing the mug down on the ledge below the railing. She leaned over and stared out at the water.
“I don’t even care that we have a million things to do,” Jess said. “How about we forget all of it and live out here? There’s plenty of room.”
“I can always use the grill cover for a blanket for us. Though I’m sure our backs will be out of commission soon enough.”
Jess smiled. “When I was a little girl, I used to keep my windows open at night and let the sound of the waves help me get to sleep. So, when I moved to the States, I had to get one of those sound machines.”
“You never had issues sleeping at my house,” I said.
She bumped my arm. “Well, you exhausted me each night.”
I chuckled. “Well for those nights that my lovemaking isn’t exhausting enough, you can open the windows. Or keep them open whenever you want. I like the sound too.”
She threaded her fingers with mine. “Are you happy?”
“Implicitly,” I said without hesitation. “I’m getting used to being retired. I actually don’t remember the last time I checked my phone. “Actually,” I turned to look inside, “where is my phone? I’m serious. I have no idea.”
“I bet that is freeing,” she said with a smile.
I sighed. It was. Being with Jess relaxed me to more than I’d ever been, but having work off my shoulders and seeing Gina’s smile each morning at breakfast was worth it.
“I’m happy for you,” she said. “And I’m thankful for what you’ve done for us. Gina will have amazing memories of you when she’s older. She might not realize it for a while, but someday.”
A wave of sadness moved through me. Jess grew up never knowing her father. It was the opposite situation from Gina. I never thought about how that might affect Jess. Maybe that’s why she was so persistent with me to spend time with Gina. For me, I knew Gina needed a mother type in her life. I never thought of it the other way around. She needed a father too, which was why it was so important for me to retire. I had the means. There was no reason I had to keep working as much as I did. If I’d continued on that track, Gina might have lost the opportunity for both a mother and a father.
Even though Jess was the exception, I knew deep down she missed a huge chunk of her life because of that. And even though I couldn’t buy her happiness, I could try to be the man that Gina and Jess needed for the rest of their lives.
I put my arm around Jess and pulled her close, trying to convey the love I had for her through one single gesture. Her head dropped to my shoulder, and she yawned.
“We should get to bed early tonight,” I said.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”
“Hopefully not too sore,” I said.
She looked up at me with a quizzical expression.
“Don’t tell me you forgot about Gina’s surfing lesson?” I asked innocently.
A slow smile spread across her lips. “That’s right. Sorry. My head has been full of moving stuff.”
“Well, it’s not like we have to travel far,” I said, indicating the water in front of us.
“At first, yes,” she said. “But once Gina gets better, then we can move to the bigger beaches.”