“I’m so happy you’re here. You didn’t tell me.” I pull back and slap his chest.

“I just wanted to see my girl.” He reaches up and pushes a lock of hair behind my ear.

“Delaney. Get out of here.” Pania’s voice comes from behind us. I turn to see her smiling at me.

“Are you sure?”

She nods. “Nothing’s more important right now. Go and spend some time together. Want me to pick up the munchkin?”

I look at the clock. It’s a little after one in the afternoon. “No. We can go and get her. Thank you so much.”

“It’s obvious this is what you need. Call me later?”

I grin. “You know it.”

Josh takes my hand and squeezes it. “Let’s go for a drive. Then we can pick up Amelia.”

I nod. “I’ll just grab my bag.”

He’s waiting by the door when I come back out, and I walk into the sunshine hand in hand with him. I still feel like I could cry, I’m so happy, but I’ve had enough of crying lately.

His rental car sits outside the diner, standing out like a sore thumb because it’s some expensive European thing. I let out a moan as I sink into the leather seat.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he says.

“So are you. Why didn’t you warn me you were coming?”

He chuckles as he starts the car. “I thought about it, but then I thought it’d be a nice surprise. Amelia’s going to freak out.”

“She really will. Where are we going?”

His expression’s so hard to read, but he leans over and gives me a tender kiss. “That’s a surprise too. I promise we’ll be back in time to get Amelia.”

“You’ve got my curiosity piqued, Carter.”

“Then let’s go.”

It only takes a minute or two to work out that we’re leaving the town centre and heading toward the mountain. As we hit the winding road, I know we’re going to Richard’s house. I’m not sure why. Josh will be staying with us, won’t he?

What’s going on?

I say nothing, but enjoy the scenery. With spring arriving, the road is lined with green trees and colourful flowers. It’s a much nicer drive this time of year.

We pull up outside the house, and Josh gets out, walks around the car, and opens my door.

“What are we doing here?”

He takes my hand in his and leads me to the front door. I sigh a little at our return to this house. It’s so beautiful. The cream stucco walls blend it into the background in the winter, and with its wall to floor glass on the top floor, the views must be amazing.

This is the home of my dreams.