A few more days passed. Then a few more.

Days without any progress at anything.

Not a word from Karevsky. Not a word from McKenna.

And not a word from Cole.

The latter was somewhat working well for Vanessa. Or vice versa. It depended on which side one looked at things.

The nights, however, were filled with the constant nightmares that kept torturing her.

But as always, after another restless night, Vanessa opened her eyes in the morning, got out of bed, and headed for the kitchen.

"Good morning, Nessa!"

"Good morning, Becks."

"Omg! I'm so excited!" Rebecca continued enthusiastically. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes, please," Vanessa answered, sitting on the kitchen counter.

"Do you think Cole will like the gift?" Rebecca asked worriedly, making the coffee in the meantime.

"Of course, he'll love it. Who wouldn't love to receive a yacht as a present?"

"Here you are," Rebecca handed Vanessa a cup of coffee.

"Thanks."

"What a lovely day, my dears!" Kristen said joyfully, walking into the kitchen. "Isn't it? I can't believe my boy is turning thirty!"

"Me too, Mom!"

"Well, girls," Kristen turned to them as she made tea for herself. "The gift is at the main port. Everything is set up. Have you picked out your outfits for tonight?"

"Of course!" Rebecca replied. "I've chosen for sure. But, Nessa, you haven't told me what you will wear tonight..."

"I..." Vanessa started to speak awkwardly. "About that... Kristen, you mentioned you would drop by Cole's apartment before the party, didn't you?"

"Yes, honey. I'm going over there in an hour."

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course."

"I'll give you something I prepared for him. Would you leave it in his room?"

"Why don't you give it to him in person tonight, Nessa?" Rebecca interjected wonderfully.

"I'm not coming tonight." Vanessa shot out, shrugging slightly.

"What?" Rebecca couldn't process what she heard.

But Vanessa ignored her reaction and turned back to Kristen. "I am going to bring you the present right away."

She went to her room and took out a small, elegant box in matte black with a black satin ribbon from the bedside table.

Inside the box, on a velvet pad, was a luxury 'Cartier' lighter made of platinum-plated brass. Cole's initials were custom engraved on the front.

Vanessa had prepared the gift last week, although she had already decided not to attend the party.

"Nessa!" Rebecca, who had followed her, shouted after opening the door.

"Don't try to talk me out of it, Becks. I've made up my mind."

"Does he know?"

"He'll hardly notice."

"Why are you doing this, Nessa?"

"Don't make such a big deal from this, Becks."

"It is a big deal! Cole will be angry when he finds out you will not come. Damn it, even worse—it'll break his heart!"

"You are dramatizing."

"You know what, Nessa?" Rebecca crossed her arms. "I don't know what exactly is happening between you two. I thought that things were not working out because of him—because of his non-ability to relate to someone. But now. I am starting to wonder if it's his fault." She turned and reached for the doorknob but turned back to Vanessa the next moment. "And one more thing. Maybe sometime I can sound mercantile and superficially. And it could be strange for this to come from me, but just to let you know—Cole doesn't care about presents. No matter if they are cheap or super expensive. I do know my brother. No matter how cold-hearted he looks, what matters to him are the people he loves. To be alright, to be safe, to be around him. That you will not attend his birthday will hurt him. That will be your present to him. Not the box in your hands."

Rebecca left the room in disappointment.

Vanessa sighed. She returned to the kitchen and handed the box to Kristen.

"Here it is. Thank you, Kristen."

She turned and headed for the door, but Kristen's words stopped her:

"When my husband was alive, he used to tell me how much he loved me often. He was an open person and was not afraid to express and show his feelings. One day, when Cole was a little boy, he came to us at the moment when Ethan was telling me, 'I love you!' He looked at his father first, then looked at me and said: 'One day, Mom, I will find a girl I will love as much as Dad loves you.' His eyes were filled with pure love. With a dream. To find this love." Kristen was silent for a moment, stood up from the high chair she was sitting on, and set her empty tea cup in the sink. She continued her story as soon as she turned back to Vanessa. "But after that, he never talked about love anymore. And I haven't seen that flame in his eyes anymore. Till the day I saw how he is looking at you. I saw it again. The flame. The dream."

Vanessa stood speechless.

Kristen moved closer, brushed Vanessa's hair back slightly, put her hand on her shoulder, and continued to speak. "I know that feelings can't always be mutual. And I am not telling you this to pressure you. But when I look into your eyes while you are next to him, I see the same flame. Same sparks. Same lo—"

Vanessa took Kristen's hand and moved it off her shoulder. While still holding it in her palm, she caressed it with her other hand. "I am sorry, Kristen. But you're mistaken. I'm sorry."

She turned and went back to her room.

Kristen sighed anxiously. She picked up her bag, tucked the gift inside, and headed for her son's apartment.

As she had promised Vanessa, she left the box by Cole's bed without him seeing it, and then she and her son walked out.

After they got into Kristen's car, she blindfolded Cole.

"That's ridiculous, Mom."

"Please me, Cole!"

As unusual and irritating as this was, Cole still decided to satisfy his mother's wish.

Before long, they arrived at the marina, where Rebecca, Jackson, and Mike were already waiting for them.

"It's Rebecca's idea, isn't it?" Cole continued talking, annoyed, as he walked still blindfolded, with his mother holding him by his side.

"Just a few more steps, Cole."

Kristen untied Cole's eyes when they were already next to the others.

A luxurious yacht appeared before him, on one side of which were a giant ribbon and the inscription 'Happy Birthday!'

"Surprise!" Rebecca exclaimed excitedly.

"Happy Birthday, brother!" Jackson added.

"Yeah, one hundred percent Rebecca's idea. Come here, little one!" Cole hugged his sister tightly. "Thank you so much, sis!"

"I love you, Cole!" After he released her, she took a step back, looked at the yacht, then back at her brother. "And by the way, I think Rebecca is a pretty apt name for a yacht, huh?"

"It's a perfect name for a yacht," Cole confirmed.

"Thank you, Mom," he hugged his mother and kissed her on the forehead.

"No, Cole. I'm thankful every day for having you, your brother, and your sister," she said through tears.

"Don't cry, Mom."

"I'm just so excited, my boy."

Cole stroked her cheek and wiped away her tears.

He then walked over to his brother and hugged him too.

"Wow!" Jackson exclaimed. "That's a lot of hugs, bro!"

"Don't get used to it." Cole patted him on the shoulder, then he and Mike slapped hands palm to palm, hugged, and patted each other's shoulders.

Although Cole did not doubt that Rebecca would come up with an extraordinary gift, the yacht exceeded his expectations.

They all climbed inside to examine it.

Rebecca stood on the bow. "You know what? I just had an idea! I want to have our wedding right here on the yacht. Sailing on the high seas, we will say, 'I do!' What do you think about that, baby?" she asked Mike after sharing her idea.

"Whatever makes you happy, Becca," he told her.

"I'm confused." Cole cut them off. "Was this yacht a gift for me or you?"

Everyone laughed, despite Cole's joke being delivered in his typical monotone voice.

"What happened to the big wedding plans with three-hundred guests, sis?" Jackson asked his sister.

Rebecca looked at everyone and smiled. "I don't need hundreds of people to be happy. Everyone I need can fit in here."

Emotions got the better of Kristen again, and she started to sob. Jackson hugged her to comfort her, though it was clear her tears were of joy.

Cole examined the four cabins located on the first and second floors. He walked through the deck and saw the not-very-large but impressive pool with a Jacuzzi on the backside. After that, he climbed into the VIP cabin on the third floor, from where he gazed at the horizon that was revealed before his eyes.

He didn't show it, but even at this moment when he seemingly had everything anyone could dream of, he was missing something.

He was missing someone.