“Oh, for crying out loud, I have questions for both of you.”
Her mom returned in a cover-up.
JC patted Tom’s shoulder. “I’ll be back for you.”
They moseyed down the beach, wine in hand. She recanted everything, the entire story, including how Reed had been married and lost his wife and baby. Both women wept over the loss. “What a horrible tragedy.”
“Momma, I don’t want to be second.”
“Second? Why would you be second?”
She dug her toes in the sand, making a hole. “Momma, how do you love Tom as much as Daddy?” Her nose stung. She avoided her mom’s shocked stare before connecting gazes. “I mean, you always say Daddy was the love of your life then you met Tom and—”
“Is that your question?” Tess asked in bewilderment.
JC nodded.
“Oh, baby, of course your father was the love of my life.” She took JC’s balmy hand and continued walking as she pondered the question that brought her all the way to Bora Bora. “I love Tom as much as your daddy. I refer to him as my soul mate. That doesn’t make him second. My life with Tom is completely different, but I love him just as much.”
“So you think it’s possible?”
“To love two people?”
JC nodded.
“I know it’s possible,” Tess paused. She chewed on her lower lip collecting her emotions. “After your daddy died I thought I would never love another man. I was wrong sweetheart. The love that Tom and I share is completely different and wonderful. Tom accepts the fact that I was madly in love with your daddy, that’s what makes it all the easier for me to love him unconditionally.”
JC sighed in relief as if coming up for air from holding her breath under water.
“Do you love him? I mean really truly love him? Like can’t even think about a tomorrow without him in it?”
JC nodded hotly.
Tess grabbed her by the shoulders. “Then get your ass back home and tell Reed yes!”
By the time they returned to the bungalow the sun began to set and Tom had dinner ready. After dinner and a few glasses of wine, JC climbed into a hammock slung between two tall palm trees and drifted off to sleep underneath the star filled sky.
She joined her parents on the beach, enjoying a cup of coffee with the sunrise.
Tom nudged her shoulder, wafting his hand toward the yellow kayak tied to a palm tree. “Wanna go for a ride with me?”
“Sure.” With four hours until her plane left, she borrowed a bikini from her mother.
JC hopped in and Tom tossed a mesh bag filled with their snorkeling gear into the kayak and shoved off. They paddled out to the dark water in complete peace. Floating above a deep blue underwater trench, she peered over the edge, watching schools of fish through the clear water.
Tom cleared his throat. “I brought—”
JC spoke at the exact same time. “I want to ask you…sorry go ahead.”
“That’s all right. Ladies first.” He handed her a mask and flippers.
Each slipped the mask onto their foreheads and tossed flippers into the lagoon beside the kayak. “I know this might sound rude, but please understand I don’t want you to take it that way.”
He swung his feet around, dangling them into the water before jumping in. Tom squirted some anti-fog into his mask and handed it off to JC. “Whatever you need to ask won’t hurt my feelings.”
She readied her mask and slipped into the warm water. Holding onto the side of the kayak, she awkwardly shoved her feet into the flippers. JC sighed apprehensively. “How did it make you feel when you first got together with my mom? I mean, clearly you understood how much she loved and missed my daddy. Did that bother you at all?”
“That’s a loaded question.” Water lapped the side of the kayak. Tom hesitated, contemplating his answer. “I find it somewhat easy accepting the love your mom and dad shared. Why do you ask?”
She smirked shamefully into her mask as she cleaned it. “I think I’m a little jealous of his…of Annie.” She cringed. “Is that normal? Did you feel that way about my dad? I’m sorry if this is uncomfortable, but I don’t know who else to ask.”
“Sure, I think it’s normal to feel that way. You know your mom and I believe everything happens for a reason. I choose to look at it as your dad took really good care of her until we met and fell in love. Fate, JC.” He let her absorb that for a moment, giving her a wise endearing grin. “Reed’s not going to love you less, JC. This is your path. Your journey of love together with Reed.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you know why I brought you out here?” he asked decisively, motioning to the particular snorkeling spot.