Two Years Later

I look out over the valley and smile as I breathe in the fresh cool mountain air.

I’m alone, at least for the moment. Connor is out somewhere, gathering up wood for the fire. Maybe twenty feet away lies Mack, our black lab. He’s chewing on a log and looking as content as possible.

I’ve never felt so calm before in my entire life. The air in the Swiss mountainside is so fresh and clean. And every spring and river is pristine. We drink right from the ground. I never thought I’d like camping, but after two years of traveling all over Europe, I’m beginning to realize that I love the outdoors. Nothing makes me happier than walking along a trail with Mack and Connor on either side of me, protecting me, keeping me safe.

“What are you doing?”

I look over and spot Connor walking toward me. “Nothing,” I say, smiling.

He walks right up to me and kisses me deep and hard, like it’s the first time he’s ever seen me. “Fire’s ready.”

“That was fast.”

“What can I say? I’m good at it.”

I laugh and put my head against his chest. He holds me there as the sun slowly starts to dip down over the horizon. Mack barks at us and Connor laughs.

“He’s jealous,” Connor says.

“He’s a momma’s boy.” I kiss Connor again, feeling that old familiar thrill run through me. “Can you blame him?”

“Not at all.” He grins at me. “But to me, you’re just a spoiled rotten girl.”

“Good. That’s what I want, Daddy.” I kiss him again on the lips.

We’ve gone out of our way to live a calm and comfortable life these last two years. We’re not married yet, but I do wear an engagement ring. He proposed to me in Spain, outside of a bullfight. He said that if I said yes, he wouldn’t make me go in, and I laughed and said of course. We never did see a bullfight. From there, we spent three weeks in expensive hotels, and he showered me with gifts, most of which I shipped back to the US for my mom or had to sell when we got back on the road. His divorce from my mom was final last year, and he got over two million dollars in the settlement, all perfectly legal and above-board. Even though the reason for that nice big check isn’t exactly the divorce.

My mother doesn’t really need gifts, or anything like that, not since granddad’s will was read. He left her everything, not just the company, but the entire estate. Every property, every investment, every penny, all went to her. Evan got nothing, and he hates my mother for it. He tried to show her the photos as blackmail, but it was too late. She already knew, and she didn’t care. She didn’t like seeing them, but it left her no choice. She told him that if he publicized them, she’d destroy him.

He left the company after that, and I haven’t heard from him since. Connor keeps me far away from all of that, and that’s how I want it.

“You hungry?” he asks me.

“Sure am. Another night of canned beans?”

He grins at me. “Of course not. I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh really?”

“Really, really. Come on.”

He takes my hand and we head back to camp. Mack follows, dragging his log along with him. We’re camped just over a short rise, our gear all set up and ready. The fire crackles and something smells amazing.

“Salmon,” he says, grinning. “Ta-da!”

“How?” I ask him, laughing. There’s nothing around here for miles.

“I caught them. I think it’s the end of the hatching season, the river is practically flooded with them.”

Two enormous salmon are roasting over the fire, and they smell incredible. He clearly prepped them, cut their heads off and everything, so I didn’t have to see their guts and stuff, which I appreciate. Once, out in Germany, he caught some fish but neglected to chop their heads off. I refused to eat them. Clearly he’s learning.

We settle down, leaning up against a fallen tree, and eat. It’s delicious. Mack gets his share and seems content to lie down next to us as the sun sets, sending swirls of pink through the sky.

“Beautiful out here,” Connor says.

I nod against him. “Yeah. It’s perfect.”

“You ever think about settling down?”

I shrug. “Sometimes, I guess.”

“How about right here?”

I frown and look at him. “What do you mean?”

“We’re here for a reason, Syd,” he says, grinning at me. “This property, something like four acres, is for sale. And I want to buy it.”

“You’re joking?”

“Not at all,” he says. “Think about it. We’ll own part of that river. We can have fresh salmon whenever. We can get more dogs, or chickens, or whatever we want. I’ll build our house and we’ll live like kings. There’s a road nearby, so I’ll build a driveway out to it.”

I stare at him for a second then burst into tears. I don’t know what the heck I’m crying over, because I’m so happy, so damn happy.

“Syd,” he says. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say. “This is perfect.”

“One more thing,” he says. “Before we buy this place, we have to get married.”

“I guess so.”

“Good. Glad you think so. Because your mother is already on a flight.”

I gape at him. “You’re joking?”

“Not at all. There’s a chapel in town that’ll marry us.”

“Connor!”

“I love you, Syd. Let’s make a life here.”

“Okay,” I say. “God, this is amazing. Okay.”

I kiss him, deep and full, and I know this is what my life will be like. This is the sort of man Connor is. He gives me what I want when I don’t even realize it’s what I want. He takes care of me, protects me, makes me feel things I never envisioned.

I want a family with him. I want children and dogs and chickens. I want it all. Or maybe one day, we’ll change our minds, and go traveling again. I don’t know what the future holds.

But I know it holds more of him, and that’s all I need. More Connor, endless hours of Connor. He fills my life up, makes it complete, gives me meaning and direction.

“I love you,” I say to him.

“I love you too.”

We kiss, Mack barks, and it’s perfect, too perfect, just perfect enough.