Liv gave him a sideways glance. Like she was going to say something, but stopped herself. Instead she grabbed his butt. “Let’s go find the van, sugar daddy.”

“Eww.” Maggie made a face. But there was the hint of that smile again.

It was two hours before the driver announced that they were in Tulum. The van blew past signs for the beach, and through the strip of tourist shops on the main road. It cut right onto a side street. The area had a grittier feel, run-down buildings painted in faded primary colors. Palm trees with brown leaves sagging over chain-link fences, a maze of power lines drooping overhead. The consequences of booking at the last minute during the busy season.

Liv looked at her husband.

He could read her mind. Don’t worry, he said with his eyes. It will be an adventure.

The van took another sharp turn into a small lane carved into a thicket of jungle. At the end of the road was a complex, six rental properties, each separated by a tall privacy fence. The van dropped them at the front gate and waited for Evan to punch in the code and get inside before taking off. The sounds of the forest filled the air.

Evan entered another code for the front door and he was pleasantly surprised at the space. It had stone floors and an open floor plan with a modern kitchen overlooking a dining area and living room.

Tommy ran down the hall to find his room. When he returned, he fast-walked, twisting around the sofa and the rustic wood table, ultimately landing on one of the stools at the granite kitchen counter. He jumped down from the stool and raced to the sliding doors in the living room.

“Where’s the beach?” he asked, staring out at the patio.

Liv knelt and looked into Tommy’s eyes. “We’ve got something better than a beach.”

He looked at her, his eyes wide.

“We have the jungle.” Liv made her hands like a tiger and pawed at Tommy. She glanced up at Evan, offering a smile.

Maggie looked around. Evan couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking. She peeked out the patio doors. “There’re bikes out there. Maybe we can ride into town for dinner.”

And by nightfall, they were on rickety old bikes, riding down the secluded road into town. Evan’s bike had a child seat tethered to the back of it, one of the old models that had likely been recalled in the US years ago. Tommy rode in the lopsided seat, his arms in the air, Liv nervously behind them, calling out for him to hold on to his dad.

They found their way to the highway and waited for cars to rip by before they crossed. From there, it was a quick journey on a dirt road that had a wall painted with a mural of a Mayan god.