Standing in front of my family’s home, I suck in a deep breath. I know my mom doesn’t work today, she never works on Thursdays. It’s the one day a week she has always had off to take care of things. She would go to the grocery store, go to the bank, and cook all day long for the week. It was the one day growing up that I knew I could count on seeing her, on hugging her, and telling her about my week.

“Here goes nothin’,” I say, lifting my hand.

Thomas’ hand slides around my back, and his fingers wrap around my waist, giving me some comfort. Knocking on the door, I hold my breath, waiting for my mom to answer. When the door flies open, it isn’t her on the other side, but instead, Lola.

“You’re here,” she breathes. Lola reaches for my hands and pulls me into a huge hug. “You’re really here, it feels like you’ve been gone a year,” she whispers in my ear.

I soak in her hug, before taking a step back to join Thomas. Lola’s eyes drift over to him, and as they travel up to his face, they widen. “Oh shit,” she breathes.

“That doesn’t sound good. I’m Thomas,” he offers, holding his hand out to shake hers.

Lola slips her hand in his for just a second and shakes. “When you called, you didn’t fully explain this situation.”

“You called?” I ask, tipping my head back to look into his eyes.

Thomas glances down at me and shrugs. “I wanted to make sure everybody was here, not just your mom. The way you talk, you’re all very close, and I figured everybody being together would be what you wanted.”

Tears well in my eyes and I reach up to cup his scruffy chin. I enjoy the fact that he hasn’t shaved in a few days, the stubble not only looking sexy as hell, but it feels sexy when it scrapes along my skin. “Thank you, Papi,” I breathe, unable to tear my gaze from his blue eyes.

“Oh shit,” Lola groans. “Well, everybody is all amped up to start some shit. I tried to talk them into giving you a chance, I truly did, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” she grumbles.

I sigh, letting my hand fall from Thomas’ face. I lace my fingers with his and together we walk over the threshold and into my childhood home. As soon as we’re in the living room, Lola walks over to an empty chair and sits down, her eyes cast down to focus on her lap. My eyes glance over all of the people in the room, Rio and Novia are looking at their phones, but Kosmo and Mama are glaring directly at us.

“How old are you?” Kosmo spits, sounding and looking completely disgusted.

Thomas opens his mouth to answer but my mother is faster. “He’s over forty, Kosmo. He’s older than you and old enough to be Ines’ father. And yet, here he stands, holding my child’s hand. A pervert,” my mom states, her eyes cold.

I gasp at her words, unbelieving that she would actually say them, even if she thought them, I cannot believe that she’s said them, and to our faces.

“Mrs. Nazario,” Thomas begins.

Mama holds up her hand to stop him from speaking. “You don’t exist to me,” she states. I almost roll my eyes at her dramatics, but they’re filling with tears instead.

“I love him, Mom. I love him, and we’re getting married,” I say, practically pleading with her to see reason, to see me and my love for Thomas.

She snorts, rolling her eyes. “I loved a man once too, Ines. A man who took advantage of me, left me alone to raise five children and still to this day attempts to take advantage of me. I know a user when I see one. A manipulator. He was your teacher, he should have never even looked in your direction, let alone pursued you.”

“You’re right, absolutely correct,” Thomas states.

Everybody looks over at him in surprise, including myself. “Ines is young, but she isn’t a child. She isn’t immature, or some silly girl. Had she been, had she been anywhere near the same type of girlish personality as ninety-nine percent of my other first-year students, I would have never even attempted to do much more than give her a second passing glance. Ines is not a silly girl. She’s mature, wise beyond her years, and I love her very much. She makes me feel alive again.”

“She should, she’s more than half your fucking age,” Kosmo grumbles.

I shake my head, knowing they’re not going to listen to any type of explanation or reason. “What does it matter? If Ines is happy, what does it really matter?” Rio asks. I’m surprised that he’s sticking up for me, and I give him a watery smile.

“It’s not right. That’s why.” My mother nods.

Thomas opens his mouth, but I squeeze his hand silencing him. “I’m sorry that you feel this way, all of you,” I say. “Thomas and I are very much in love, and we’ll be married in just a few weeks. We’re also going to have a baby, so it would be really heartbreaking if this child didn’t know it’s grandmother, or it’s aunts and uncles.”

I don’t wait for a response. I turn and walk out of the house. They’ll contact me once they all cool off, they’ll be in touch. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I let myself into Thomas’ rented convertible and he does the same, silently starting the engine and driving away. It makes me sad, the fact that I have to wonder if I’ll ever be back here.

Thomas doesn’t go back to the hotel like I anticipate. Instead, he drives to the closest beach. I don’t even have to ask where we’re going because I would know the way blindfolded. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years right here on this sandy beach. When he parks the car, I don’t wait for him to open the door, I slip off my shoes, leaving them on the floorboard. Standing, I make my way toward the soft, warm sand.

I stop when I get to the edge of the ocean, not wanting to get my feet wet, but needing to feel the cool sand on them. Thomas quietly walks up behind me, his chest pressing against my back, and his hand sliding around my stomach. I accept his touch, leaning back against him, and allowing him to take my weight.

“They will come around,” he murmurs.

I shake my head, willing my tears to stay at bay. I don’t want them falling, not out here, not on this beautiful beach that holds a million wonderful memories. This used to feel like home, it used to be my home, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore.

Sadness washes over me at that fact, this is no longer my place in life. Maybe that’s another reason they aren’t accepting, maybe they don’t want me to live in Nebraska forever? I’m happy there though, despite the oncoming frigid temperatures of winter, it’s home, it’s Thomas.

“Ines,” Thomas sighs.

I dash the tears away from beneath my eyes. “I want to go home, Thomas.”

“We’ll leave first thing in the morning.” He nods.

We stay staring at the ocean for another twenty minutes before I turn around in his arms. “Let’s go,” I announce.

Thomas’ eyes scan mine, then he dips his chin and presses his lips to mine. We don’t say anything else, he takes a step back from me, his hand enveloping mine and together we walk back to the car. The sound of the ocean is behind us, and so is my life here. Hopefully things work out with my family, and I’ll be back for a visit or two, but this is no longer home.

We don’t speak as Thomas drives us toward the hotel. I stare out of the passenger side window at the cityscape. I don’t realize we’re at the hotel until Thomas puts the car in park. His door opens, and he’s instantly at my side to help me out. He grasps my hand tightly and together we walk into the hotel. Silently we ride the elevator and as soon as the elevator doors close, my tears decide to fall.

“Sweetheart,” he grunts, wrapping me in his arms. I feel like a complete zombie, as he ushers me down the hall and finally into our room.

He guides us over to the bed, and for the first time in days, I have zero desire to have sex. I want to be held, I just want to smell his scent around me and know that I’m safe—and loved. The tears fall, and I just feel sad, so damn sad, as I lie in his arms.

I don’t know what I had anticipated happening today. I know how stubborn my mom is, and Kosmo, but I really thought that once they saw how happy I was, how happy Thomas makes me, that they would come around. Obviously, I was dead wrong.

“They’ll come around,” Thomas repeats against the top of my head.

I sigh, wondering how he read my mind—freaky. “Maybe, one day,” I say not quite believing my own words. The entire morning feels very anticlimactic, and I hate it. It doesn’t take me long to fall asleep wrapped in this safe cocoon of Thomas.

* * *

“She’s resting,” I hear Thomas’ deep voice rumble.

My eyelids flutter open and I look around, a little confused at the fact that when I went to sleep it was morning time and now the room is bathed in darkness. I glance at the bedside clock, my eyes widening. It’s after seven in the evening.

“She’s my sister, so I’m going to see her, resting or not,” Rio’s voice breaks through and has me on my feet and rushing toward the door.

I place my hand on the center of Thomas’ back and he turns his head to look down at me. “You can let him in,” I say.

Thomas grunts and steps to the side, holding the door open. I’m surprised that Rio is here at all, completely and totally shocked actually. We walk over to the little seating area in the room, and I sit down on the sofa. Thomas joins me, and Rio sits across from us in a chair.

“You really knocked up?” he asks as his opening line.

I lift my hand to cover my mouth, and I let out a small laugh. Thomas grunts next to me, which only makes me laugh a little harder. “I’m really pregnant,” I answer through my laughter.

Rio lifts his hand and wraps it around the back of his neck, then lifts his eyes to meet mine. Out of all of my siblings, Rio and I look the most alike, we have the exact same eye color. “I wanna be Uncle Rio,” he mumbles. “Don’t give a fuck what the rest of them say, or if they think what you’re doin’ is wrong. I’m Uncle Rio,” he shrugs.

“Okay.” I nod with a smile playing on my lips. “Would you like to come to our teeny tiny little wedding?” I chance.

Thomas wraps his hand around my knee and gives me a gentle squeeze, showing me the support I need.

Rio nods. “I’ll be there. Text me the info, and I’ll take time off and get there,” he states.

Tears fill my eyes, again, and without another thought, I stand and launch myself at my brother. His arms wrap around me and he holds me close to him. “Thank you,” I mutter against his neck.

“I get it, Ines. I fucking get it, little sister,” he whispers. I lift my face from his neck and look into his eyes, wondering how he gets it, and knowing there must be a story there. He gives me a sad smile and shakes his head. “Families can make or break shit. One day I’ll tell you everything, but just know, I understand. You have me, you always have me, Ines.”

He doesn’t say anything else, standing and placing me on my feet before he takes a step back and then leaves the room. “That was, really great,” Thomas says from behind me.

Turning around I nod. “He’s in love with someone, and he thinks they can’t be together.”

“Yeah, sweetheart, I got that. Good news is, his situation made him see that not everything is black and white, and now you’ll have one of your brothers at our wedding. Maybe, one day, they’ll all come around, but I think it’s great that he’s willing to be part of our lives right now.”

“It really, really is wonderful,” I smile.

We spend the rest of the evening wrapped in each other’s arms. Thomas orders room service again, except this time we eat it clothed. We have an early flight in the morning, and I’m excited to get home. I almost want to forget this entire trip, I want to write it off as a waste of time. Except with Rio’s support coming at the very end, I cannot say that it was a complete waste—not even a little.

Pulling the car into the return parking area of the airport, I glance over to Ines. She looks like she’s deep in thought, she’s been locked inside of her head since leaving her mom’s, and having Rio show up at the hotel. She’ll come to me when she’s ready to talk. Personally, I think she’s processing it all and I can’t do that for her, no matter how badly I want to.

“You know,” she says as she turns her head to face me. I don’t respond, waiting for her to continue, and she does. “We never broke this new car in.”

Unable to control myself, I burst out laughing at her words, her observation. “Next time, sweetheart,” I murmur.

She gives me a small smile, and I’m glad for it, I’ve been a little worried. We both slip out of the car and together we walk into the airport, through TSA, and then board for our flight.

* * *

As soon as our plane touches down in Nebraska, I power my phone back on and it beeps with a new voicemail. When I listen to it, I’m shocked and elated at the news that pours from the other end of the line. Turning to Ines, I tell her what I’ve just heard.

“The house has an offer, a damn good offer. Full asking price,” I state.

Ines’ eyes widen, and she smiles. “Oh my gosh, that’s amazing,” she squeals, but then a look of panic crosses her face. “We have to find another place, and fast,” she rambles.

“Already taken care of, sweetheart. I already scheduled several places to look at tomorrow afternoon,” I wink.

Her mouth drops open slightly and she shakes her head. “I can’t believe it,” she says. “I’m so excited, I cannot believe it,” she squeals. People look at us on the plane, but I don’t care, she’s excited and it overflows onto me and makes me feel just as jovial.

We stand, and hand-in-hand make our way off of the plane and toward baggage claim.

“The only thing, I don’t want to live in town again. I don’t need to be close to campus, and I would like to raise our children in the country. I don’t know what that’s like. I was raised in the city, but I always wanted to be able to run around freely as a child,” I explain.

Ines turns to face me, her caramel eyes wide and bright, and a smile gracing her gorgeous face. “That sounds absolutely amazing. I’m even more excited now, although I’m still terrified of winter,” she announces.

“We’ll take you shopping this week now that I have time off, you need a good winter wardrobe to keep yourself and our baby warm,” I chuckle.

Ines’ smile widens at the mention of our baby, and I can’t help but reciprocate it. We’re now building our future, buying a home together, getting married, and then bringing our child into the world.

Nothing, nothing can get in the way of our happiness, I won’t let it.

As if on cue, my phone rings and I glance at the name before I answer it. My attorney. My stomach turns at the sight of his name, so I quickly answer, needing to know what he wants—and now. With Ines’ bag over my shoulder, and tugging my own behind me, we walk together toward the parking lot and I accept the call.

“Talk to me, Robert,” I state, not wishing to fuck around.

He chuckles on the other end of the line. “Everything looks good, really good, Thomas. I wanted to let you know that it’s all been submitted and approved and now we just wait. In about a month you’ll be a free man, brother,” he announces.

I almost laugh at his words. I’m not free, and I never wish to be. I have Ines and being hers is exactly where I want to be. “The house received an offer. I’m meeting with my agent tomorrow to look it over, but Danielle will probably have her money before the divorce is even final.”

“How’s that situation going? Has she done anything?” he asks. I let out a breath and tell him about my job and the pictures she sent to the administration. “Do you want me to file any paperwork against her? A restraining order?”

I shake my head although he can’t see me. “She’ll stop, eventually. I already had a new job, now I just get a little vacation time before I start. I’m good, Rob, I promise.”

“I’ve seen people get out of hand, and act irrationally during divorces. You get any kind of bad inkling of a feeling, please don’t ignore it, Thomas. You have a new woman, and baby to think about.”

I hum, agreeing and liking the fact that Robert truly does care, he really is a friend. I thank him and promise him that if something changes, if she does anything else, that I’ll assuredly let him know. There is no way I’ll allow Ines and our baby to be in harm’s way.

“Is everything okay?” Ines asks once we’re settled into my car.

I nod. “Robert says the divorce is good to go, it’s just a waiting game now and I should have the paperwork in a few weeks,” I explain, ignoring the discussion on Danielle and her antics.

I honestly don’t think she would truly hurt anybody, she’s just fucking with me right now to prove a point. Soon, she’ll be onto something else.

“I’m exhausted. I never thought flying would make me so tired, but seriously, Thomas, I need sleep,” she murmurs.

Glancing over at her, I notice that her eyelids are heavy, and I can’t help but chuckle. My woman is always exhausted, and I know it’s because my baby is taking all of her energy, he or she, is growing at a rapid rate and Ines’ body is facilitating it all. It’s so beautiful.

“We’ll go home, eat, and sleep.”

Ines hums and wraps her hand around my wrist. “Can we repeat what we did when we arrived in Florida? That was amazing, and I think the end of all of our travel days should be just like that,” she grins.

“Like naked Sundays?” I ask with a smirk.

“Exactly.”

I chuckle, knowing that I definitely do not have a problem with travel days ending that way. As far as I’m concerned, every day can end like that.

Ines can climb up on my face every day of the week and I would never complain. She’s beautiful normally, but when she’s in the throes of ecstasy, I’ve never seen her look so gorgeous. I can only imagine that as time goes on, she’ll just look more and more beautiful to me. I feel like I fall more in love with her every fucking day.