1 day prior.

I felt happy.

I swear I was not prepared with the decision The Russo took.

They were known to be stubborn and sometimes it took weeks before they were convinced to sign anything.

I guess they were convinced by my baby.

The smile on her face showed that she was happy with her achievements and I was proud of her.

Told you would make it." I whispered in my ear, smelling that smell I was addicted to.

She turned and gave me a genuine smile before my dad came along.

"What took you so long dad?"

"Well, I think my stay there helped me a lot so I decided to stay longer. And after seeing this, I am convinced that my business is in good hands."

"Thanks to my dear wife." I said pulling Emily on my side to engage her in the conversation.

"How have you been Emily?" My dad started.

"I'm good and I see that you have improved as well." She offered her hand and they shook hands.

"It sure did. But I would like to have a word with you. Leon, could you lend me your wife for a moment?" I nodded and left me alone to go and finalize the last details with Mr. Russo.

We were driving back when Emily glanced at me and asked, "What are you smiling at?"

"I just feel happy, that's all." I didn't realize that I was even smiling. I glanced at dad in the reviewer mirror and he gave me a curt nod.

Upon reaching home, she stopped me saying that they were things we had to discuss. I had noticed how she was being strange lately, especially after the conversation she had with my dad.

"Yes, I know that we have to discuss some things. That is why I prepared for the trip."

She was surprised, clearly not expecting that.

"To where?"

"It is a surprise. Now go and get ready, we are leaving today." I added and she hesitated before she gave in and went inside.

"Does mom know that you are back..." I was interrupted by someone colliding with my body due to the full speed she was running at.

It was November.

"Watch where you are going". I shouted behind her but she kept running and my dad chuckled, shaking his head.

"I guess she's getting crazy." He commented.

"I wonder where she is going. Well I have to take a leave with my wife for a few days, I'll see you when I come back. Let me hope you won't have travelled again!"

"I don't have such plans."

                                                                                      🎗🎗🎗

We were on the road for a few hours and Emily has been restless since we started the journey.

"Would you stop shifting every damn second? You are making me nervous."

"It's not my fault that my body is stiff because of this long trip!" This earned a chuckle from me.

"Don't make fun of me, I am serious." She scolds.

"If you could see yourself pouting like a 5 year old child." I wanted our weekend to be spent on the Melek - Angel yacht.

When we arrived at the port, she took off her heels . I was disappointed. I loved her in those heels especially if they went together with that distracting white dress.

One could think that she dressed like that mess up with my head.

With heels in her hands, I noticed how she tried to keep up with my pace while I was on the phone talking to Kendal. I stopped for a moment and she collided with my back.

Just like a reflex, I reached for her before she could fall down.

"Eager are we?" She glared at me and tried to wiggling myself out of his grasp, but to no avail because I held her tighter to prove my point.

"Can you stop being stubborn and aggressive?"

"Then let's get going." I released but took her hand in mine as we walked.

I have never met someone as stubborn as she.

"Is everything ready, Kendal?"

"Yes, sir. Have a nice trip." Kendal was a family friend who was a pilot, but this time I wanted to be the one piloting.

I got in and helped Emily to board the yacht.

Then went to start the yacht. I missed the feel of the wheel in my hands. The last time I did this was when I went out with my university friends for a vacation, but since then, I haven't had time to do it.

I glanced behind and saw how Emily was admiring the inside of it, the homeliness and closeness to others that it radiated. That is why I loved this yacht in particular, because it looked like home.

Last night was the best, we slept cuddled with each other. And I must say it helped me to relax my strained muscles, which worked the whole day piloting the yacht.

The next morning I got up early to surprise her with breakfast in bed.

"I feel like a baby right now." She said when I brought food to where she was still sleeping.

"Be prepared because I don't plan on stopping." I took a piece of a cherry and fed her, to which she gratefully took between her teeth.

"I'm glad that you like it. Now go get a shower because you are smelling." To mock her I rubbed my nose in disgust.

"Really?" She smelled me and I couldn't help myself. I laughed. Then she started hitting me playfully. To stop her I grabbed her to stop her but I don't know how it happened, because next thing, I was on top of her.

Very close that I could feel her breath on my face.

"Would you like another good morning kiss again?" I asked the first thing that came up and saw how she struggled to respond. In the end she stayed silent.

"I take your silence as a yes." Then without wasting another minute, I lowered my head and took her mouth hungrily.

Those lips I haven't tasted in a long time.

I was expecting a different reaction but when she responded as much as I wanted her to, I lost it. I gripped her waist and made her sit on my lap.

Then I stopped. Maybe I was rushing her by making her do something she doesn't want.

"Tell me if you want me to stop because after this, I won't." And again she surprised me by telling me not to stop.

I can not quite remember when I started to enjoy her company and forget about all the endless pranks.

But I was grateful to have met her because without even realizing it I had learned to love again.

When I started to remove her clothes she stopped me.

"Leon... I.... I'm still a..."

"I know that. Since this is the first time we are going to consummate our marriage. So don't worry, I will take it slowly."

I kept my word.

I made love to her slowly kissing and caressing every inch of her body until she melted beneath me.

Later that day, we were outside on the boat enjoying the late sunset, her sitting between my legs while I caressed my hair absentmindedly.

It was time to confess my feelings I have been hiding for a long.

"Let me confess something to you." When she heard this, she turned in my arms, staring at me with those beautiful eyes I never get tired of getting lost into.

"I'm all ears."

"I am bad at words but I will try to make it because this moment is so important to us." I took both of her hands and kissed them before continuing,

"When Liza died, my whole world crashed. She was everything to me. My first love since I came back from my studies. We had memorable and beautiful moments that when she died, they kept haunting me. Especially since I blamed myself for her death." This was so hard than I thought, looked at the sea and continued,

"From that day, I closed myself in. When I started to lose my daughter, we consulted a psychiatrist and from that moment it was the two of us for a while. Then you came. I admit that at first I was mad at my father for arranging a marriage for me after I had just healed, especially after our hate for each other. But now I'm thankful to him because," He took my face in his hands looking deeply into my eyes, "Thanks to you I learned to love again."

After hearing my words she started to cry. Did I make her sad?

"I love you. More than I could ever imagine, and please stop crying or else I will start to think that you are sad."

Those were the exact words I wanted to hear.

I wiped off her tears and hugged her.

"I'm not sad and I love you more."

We stayed like that in each other's arms until night fell and it was time to go back.

When I went back to the wheel to pilot, she stood beside me saying that she wanted to learn a thing or two about how to sail.

And that's how great our weekend was.

I guess we arrived quite late because every light in the house was switched off.

I went inside first with our luggage and she stayed behind to lock the car.

I was tired and I could feel it at the twitch of every muscle. I put the bags in the bedroom and went down to see if she was inside yet.

She was not.

I went outside to see what she was still doing but I halted at the doorstep.

She was talking to someone but what made me stop was what she was saying.

"Calm down, I won't stay for long. I heard you were breaking all the rules I gave you before you came here to replace me and...."

The woman must have seen me because she stopped talking just as Emily did or whoever that was.

I was confused, betrayed and hurt.

I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing!

Two people resembling each other. Exactly the same.