Zoey

We sat on the couch, locked in an embrace for several minutes while Carter stroked my hair and held me tight.

“I have something for you,” he spoke.

“You do?”

“I’ll be right back.” He smiled as he kissed my head.

A moment later, he walked over to me with his hand behind his back.

“These are for you.”

I smiled as I took the beautiful bouquet of white flowers from him and brought them up to my nose.

“Star of Bethlehem.” I grinned. “Where on earth did you get these? They’re very hard to find.”

“It was tricky.” He winked. “Do you know what they symbolize?”

“They’re an ‘I’m sorry’ flower.”

“Not only that, but they also represent a redo and ask for a chance to right a wrong. That’s what I’m asking you for, Zoey. Give me another chance. Let me make right everything I’ve done wrong. When I told you back in Seattle that we weren’t good together, I was lying. I know deep down in my heart, we can be amazing together. That’s if you’ll let me show you.”

As I sat there and stared at him, I couldn’t help but smile. He was so handsome and every last bit of darkness that he had been shrouded in for the past five years had disappeared. I stood up and wrapped my arms around his neck, brushing my lips softly against his.

“You don’t have to show me. I already know we will be.”

He let out a breath.

“Thank you.” He hugged me tight and I closed my eyes.

A moment later, I opened them, and standing in front of me were Angelique and Nora, holding hands and smiling.

“They’re here,” I whispered in his ear.

“Where?” he asked as he broke our embrace.

“Behind you. Umm, you didn’t go to Hawaii?” I asked.

“Oh. Well, no. I already apologized to Nora about that and told her I wasn’t going alone. So you need to repack because we’re going to Hawaii together, like planned, to scatter the last of her ashes.” He smirked.

“That won’t be a problem because I haven’t even unpacked yet.” I laughed.

“Let’s drive to your house and pick up your suitcase. You can spend the night here and we’ll leave tomorrow. I have the private jet on standby. Wait, Sadie made dinner. Why don’t you call John and Scott and have them come over for dinner? That way, they can bring your suitcase and I can get to know them better.”

“Sounds like fun. I’ll call them right now.”

I went to the foyer, grabbed my phone from my purse, and called my dad, John, who was happy to hear what I told him.

“He said he and Scott will be here within the hour.” I smiled as I walked over to Carter.

He reached down and scooped me up in his arms.

“Good. That gives me just enough time to make love to you.” He grinned.

****

Carter

I hired a tour guide to take Zoey and me to Sweetheart Rock to scatter the last of Nora’s ashes.

“I’m a little surprised as to why your sister would want her ashes scattered here, Mr. Grayson,” Ano, our guide spoke.

“Why?”

“You’ve never heard the legend?”

“No. I can’t say that I have.”

“I haven’t either,” Zoey spoke.

“It’s a story about a warrior and the beautiful princess he was going to marry. The warrior was so in love with his princess that he was afraid other men would be taken by her beauty, so he hid her away in that sea cave right over there.” He pointed. “Then one day, a Kona storm came through and the princess drowned. The warrior took her body and buried her where the top of that rock is over there. Because he was so heartbroken and grief stricken, he took his own life by jumping from the top of the rock.”

“Wow,” Zoey spoke. “How tragic.”

“I’ll leave the two of you alone for a while. When you’re ready to head back, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Ano,” I spoke and then glanced over at Zoey. “You don’t by any chance see the warrior and his princess around here, do you?”

“No.” She laughed.

“I now know why Nora wanted her ashes scattered here.”

“Why?” Zoey asked.

“Because of my father. He was so heartbroken after my mother died.”

She placed her arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Carter.”

“Let’s get these ashes scattered. Shall we?”

I took off my shirt and Zoey slipped out of her shorts and tank top that was covering up her bathing suit. I grabbed her hand and we walked into the water. It wasn’t possible to swim to the rock, so I turned the box over and let her ashes out into the water. We stood there and watched them drift away from us and towards the rock.

“She’s here,” Zoey spoke. “She’s standing on top of the rock.”

“I really hate that I can’t see her.”

“Close your eyes, Carter. You’ll feel her presence.”

“Goodbye, Nora. May you rest in peace,” I spoke.

We got out of the water, grabbed our towels, and laid them down in the sand. I glanced over at Zoey and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear while I smiled at her.

“What?” She smiled back.

“Is it too early in our relationship to tell you that I’m in love with you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I won’t scare you off or anything?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you should try telling me and see what happens.”

“I love you, Zoey.” I ran my fingers through her hair.

“I love you too, Carter.” She brought her hand up to my face.

My smile widened as I leaned in and softly brushed my lips against hers.