“Did you bring your bathing suits?”
“Nah. I doubt we’ll go all the way to the hot springs.”
The play of emotions across her face is intriguing. In the end, she looks to Violet, then back at me, and I can sense some sort of inner decision has been reached. I just don’t know what that is.
“Did you know about the secret pool that’s just a little bit farther from here?”
“No… ”
“What do you think, Vi, want to get your feet wet?”
Violet nods enthusiastically, and Serena turns back to me. “It’s shallow and warm. And a great spot to take a break, but only a few people know about it. Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.”
But do you trust me?
Funny how that word keeps coming up between us. Trust. Five letters that have the power to change the course of our stories, both past and present.
Serena’s smile is quick but solid. One brick down, a few hundred to go before that wall around her heart is dismantled — hopefully, for good this time.
We carry on the trail a short while before Serena must see some landmark because she veers off to the side, pushing some branches apart to reveal a different, smaller trail.
I help Violet over some roots, but my kid is a trooper, thanks to plenty of weekends hiking and walking on the North Shore Mountains over on the mainland.
“We’re almost there,” Serena calls over her shoulder. The sunlight hits her, lighting her hair up so that it gleams like strands of gold. It steals my breath for a second. She’s so fucking gorgeous, and she’s here. With me. That reality is so unbelievable it almost chokes me up. I never anticipated this happening in a million years, but here I am.
And here we are.
Serena comes to a stop and I let out a low whistle. “You weren’t kidding, this place is incredible.”
Appearing out of nothing is a small pool cut into the rocks. The light smell of sulphur is the telltale sign that it’s part of the hot springs, but other than that, it’s paradise. The green canopy of the forest around us is full of life and colour, the sun filtering through the trees casting its warm glow everywhere. Birds are chirping somewhere, but otherwise, it’s silent. Pure, natural, peaceful beauty.
But even this stunning setting can’t compare with Serena. She pivots on her feet in a slow circle, stretching her arms overhead, revealing a sliver of tanned skin across her stomach.
Fucking hell, a part of me wishes Violet weren’t here so I didn’t have to hide my reaction. As it is, I turn sideways and try to be subtle about adjusting myself, or at least the part of myself I don’t have much control over around Serena.
But when I look back, Serena’s grinning at me, and I know she’s fully aware of her affect on me. I widen my eyes at her, then slowly wink when her tongue darts out to moisten her perfect bow-shaped lips.
“O-okay, well, I’m gonna get my feet wet,” she says chirpily, her face a beautiful shade of pink. Whatever weird shit is going on in her head right now, at least I can still turn her on.
I busy myself helping Violet take her shoes off, then she takes Serena’s outstretched hand. It amazes me how easily and completely I trust Serena with my daughter. As if she was always meant to be here with us.
It’s full circle to the feelings I had back in high school when I wholeheartedly believed Serena was my end game, my forever love.
“Come on, Miss Vi, want to feel how warm the water is?”
Violet’s delighted giggles mingle with Serena’s throaty laughter as they splash in the water. The scene unfolding in front of me has me frozen, wishing I could capture this moment in time and hold onto it for eternity.
“Are you joining us?”
I blink rapidly, shocked to feel moisture pooling in the corner of my eyes. Only Serena Matheson is capable of turning me into just as much of a sentimental sap as my own daughter.
Just over an hour later, the three of us are sitting on the shore, having splashed in the water and eaten a snack. Violet’s head is in my lap, and I can tell by her slow, easy breaths that she’s asleep.
“I wanted to thank you again for bringing all those treats and stuff that day Violet got sick.”
“It’s fine. Really.”