"You wrote me a nice note."
"It didn't begin to express what I was feeling. You saved Hayley's life. Nathan told me what you did—how you shielded her body with your own. You risked your life. So did Nathan. And Mark and I are forever grateful."
"I'm just sorry Hayley was ever in danger and that it was because of me."
"It was because of a crazy person. You told me not to blame myself for Hayley's abduction. I have to return the favor. It's not your fault what happened. And having learned a bit about Hayley's biological father, I can understand why you felt the need to give up your child and disappear. I worry a little still that someone in his family might try to claim her, but as the weeks pass, I feel a bit more secure that that won't happen."
"I don't think you have to worry about it. The Hawkes are busy fighting over who is going to take over for Johnny. Their world is far from here. And Hayley isn't a part of it."
"I'm glad about that."
"Johnny did take a bullet for Hayley," Bree couldn’t help pointing out. "I won't try to tell you he was a good person, because he obviously was not, but when I knew him as a young man, he wasn't nearly as evil or as cold as he grew up to be. In the end, he died for his child, and that's something. I hope that when Hayley is older, when she wants or needs more information, she can take that one piece of him and hold it close." She took a breath. "I never knew who my father was. I'd like to think he would have taken a bullet for me, but probably not."
"You had a very rough life, didn't you? Nathan has told us a little about your past. I didn't realize he'd had such difficult life, either."
"Well, all that seems like a long time ago now."
"You're an amazing person, Bree. I feel a little guilty that Hayley doesn't know who you really are to her, but I can tell you that she already loves you."
"I love her, too. She said that I could be her guardian angel, and I think I would like that."
"Really?" Lindsay asked uncertainly. "You're still okay with us waiting to tell her the truth?"
"I trust you and Mark. You have been magnificent parents to my daughter. I want Hayley to know when you want her to know, when it's the right time." She fought her way through a sudden rush of tears, wanting to say what she needed to say. "I wanted Hayley to have a great mother, someone she could always count on, and you are that person, Lindsay. I didn't have a mom like you when I was growing up, and it's a gift, a very special gift."
Lindsay dabbed at her eyes. "That's a very sweet thing to say."
"It's the truth."
"Mark and I have been talking to my parents about moving out of Chicago. We're thinking about going to Austen. My aunt lives there, and Mark has job opportunities. We wouldn't mind putting some distance between ourselves and everything that happened here."
"That makes sense."
"But we would definitely still keep in touch with you."
"I hope so. I told Hayley I would always be available if she needs me."
"I'm sure she appreciated that," Lindsay said. "So, you and Nathan are going to be Californians…"
"Yes. We always dreamed about the beach when we were kids. We decided it was time to make the dream happen."
"Nathan said he always loved you, but it was never right…until now."
"He's a good man. And I am very lucky to have found him again."
"Well, we better go downstairs and watch Hayley open her presents."
"That sounds good to me." She followed Lindsay downstairs. Hayley was sitting in a big chair with the birthday party guests packed into the living room, the kids sitting on the floor, the parents perched on every available piece of furniture.
Nathan was standing in the entryway. He put his arm around her as Lindsay moved into the room to sit next to Hayley.
"How did it go?" he asked quietly.
She gazed into his eyes. "Really, really well. This party, this loving crowd, this beautiful family—it's the kind of life we always dreamed about, Nathan, and my daughter is living it. That's something great."
"Yes, it is."
"I'm so glad I came." She leaned her head against his chest, feeling more happiness than she'd ever imagined possible.
*
The next day, Bree woke up in Manhattan Beach. After a long flight the night before, they'd landed just before midnight and had taken a cab to the small house they'd rented for a month while they looked around for a more permanent location. Too exhausted to explore, they'd tumbled into bed and into sleep.
But now the sun was shining through the curtains and she was eager to take a better look around her new home. Nathan was already out of bed, so he'd obviously gotten a head start on her.
She washed up, threw on leggings, a workout top, and a pair of flip-flops and headed down the hall.
She could see Nathan standing outside on the deck. She grabbed a cup of coffee on her way out to join him. Setting her mug on the wide rail, she gave him a happy smile. "We finally have our view."
"Yes, we do. What do you think?"
"It's perfect."
"They were standing on the second floor of their rental house, and the deck overlooked the strand, a wide pavement for biking, jogging and strolling that ran for several miles, alongside the beaches of Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo. It was a great place for people watching. And on the other side of the strand was a wide swath of sand leading out to the Pacific Ocean.
"It's just like your poster," Nathan said. "The one you put up in your room so many years ago. Endless blue sky, the Pacific ocean, and even one sailboat."
"I can't believe how lucky we are to be here."
"I don’t think luck had much to do with it. We both worked hard to get here."
"And we're here. We're holding the dream in our hands."
"Well, not quite," he said, taking her hands in his. "Now, we are."
She gazed into his beautiful brown eyes and felt an enormous wave of love. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"I think it's been at least a few hours."
"Well, I do."
"I love you, too." He gave her a tender kiss. "We could go back to bed."
"That sounds tempting, but I was thinking we should explore. It's such a beautiful day. Let's take a walk, find a market, pick up some food. I'm going to cook for you tonight."
"Hold on—you're going to cook?"
"Yes, and you know what's on the menu?" she said with a playful smile.
He groaned. "No way. Not our first night in California."
"Californians love Brussels sprouts. And you are going to love mine. You'll try one, right?"
"Have I ever been able to deny you anything?"
"Actually, I think you have said no a few times."
He laughed. "Let's not talk about that. Shall we go? I am kind of hungry now, and before we think about dinner, I'd like to grab some breakfast. It looks like there's a beachside café down there." He pointed to where a group of people were waiting outside, menus in hand.
"Let's do it."
Nathan grabbed their house keys and they walked downstairs and around to the strand. There were a ton of people out, which probably wasn't surprising on a Saturday morning. What was surprising was that it was almost Thanksgiving and it was already seventy degrees.
"I think I'm going to like this weather," Nathan said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"It's so warm. I can't believe it. I'm surprised you didn't go for a run this morning."
"I might go later. It will certainly be different being able to run outside during the winter."
"I don't think they have winter here." She paused as they neared the restaurant. "It looks crowded."
"I'll go inside and put our name in and grab some menus."
"Sounds good," she said, not wanting to fight through the line.
Nathan came back a moment later and handed her a menu. "Twenty minutes for a table, they said."
"That's fine. Let's sit over there." She started to move across the pavement when a man on a skateboard came around the corner, almost knocking her down.
Nathan quickly pulled her back against him.