"I will be sure to remember that too," Luca chimes in, extremely proud. It's hard for me not to get a rise out of these two. "Why do you call your father by his name?"

Natalie grinds her teeth together and exhales through her nose. That look makes me think back to when I used to nanny the little twin monsters and they'd ask for water for the hundredth time after they were tucked in for the night, then twenty minutes later they peed the bed.

Without looking, she spreads her fingers and palms his face, then shoves him down to the bed while holding the phone. He goes down in one swift motion. Natalie is entirely too happy with herself, until Luca snakes a surprise arm around her and tugs her down too. She goes down and the phone flops to the bed. All I see are white sheets now. Natalie giggles like she's being tickled as Luca says, "Say goodnight, Natalia."

"Goodnight, Dad and bestie!"

I can hear the smile in her voice and it warms my heart. "That's stepmama to you." She giggles again, and I hang up and place the phone on the floor.

"Goodnight," James says as he steps out of the bathroom. "Should I be worried?" he asks and returns to his spot next to me.

I shake my head. "Nope. I know she's your daughter, but trust me when I say she can handle this. She's going to take that guy to school."

He's contemplative. "Did she really just meet the guy only ten minutes ago?"

"Aw… baby."

James runs a hand through his hair. We both saw the flirtatious way Luca and Natalie were with each other. I know he felt how comfortable they were the way I did, but he's still her father.

"I just want to make sure she's okay. She's in another country."

I turn to look at him. I want to add that she didn't meet him ten minutes ago, but earlier on the beach, but I realize it wouldn't help the situation.

"I bet she brings him to the wedding," I say, hoping to smooth his feathers.

"You're that sure she's okay?"

I nod. "Yes."

James tugs me until I'm sitting between his legs with my back pressed against his chest. His arms are around my stomach and his cheek is pressed to the side of mine.

"You girls are my world. If anything happens to either of you, I don't know what I'd do with myself. If you're confident she's okay, then I trust you."

I lace my fingers with his, then fold our arms under my chest and cuddle up into his shoulder. "I am."

We’re quiet, watching the fire together and feeling at home. Neither one of us speaks for a bit, and I think it’s because both of us are recounting the night. A soft smile stays on my face and a warmth fills my heart until I'm bursting from it. I feel like I'm floating on cloud nine. This is what love is and why people want to marry, I realize. I get it now. I'm not naïve to think it'll always be diamonds and cognac, but there isn't one person in the world who I'd want to spend quiet nights with, in the middle of nowhere, just watching a fire as time passes by.