The day after Rys's confession, I drove to a nearby town to purchase some of the materials I needed for his gift and other pieces in my collection. I wanted to spend every minute by his side, but at the same time needed a bit of space. It was hard to kiss him and not think soon I wouldn't be able to, and even harder to realize our little moments — having breakfast on the patio, walking along the beach, making love — would turn into memories whether I wanted it or not.

I took my time roaming the stores until my period cramps got so bad I couldn't make a step without wincing. Rys needed to review the contract he drafted for Cohen, but he'd be free soon. I got behind the wheel of my car and drove back to Marfolk.

As I parked in the driveway, a car that didn't belong to Rys caught my eye. He didn't tell me he expected guests, but Cohen might've stopped by to talk business in person. All of my things were at his place now, though, and going to my rental was out of question because I needed a shower and tampons.

Scolding myself for being a chicken, I strolled to the porch. The front door swung open before I could grip the handle. I stumbled back at the sight of a guy slightly taller than Rys. Cold, gray eyes assessed me, then the wall of muscle stepped aside.

"Miss Walton. My apologies."

Rys stormed into the foyer and glared at whoever opened the door. "Elio."

The stony mask slipped off the guy's face. "Emrys. It's been at least fifteen years since I last saw you so flustered."

A male chuckle came from the kitchen doorway. Rys hauled me into his hug at the same time a man whose younger version I remembered seeing in a picture last night strolled toward us. Holding his hand out, he smiled. "Isaac Delano."

Rys's dad. I forced myself to relax and returned the handshake. "Lyra Walton."

"Walton?"

"That's right."

"Forgive my surprised face," he said, gently patting my hand. "I know someone with that last name."

"My dad Francis has a hotel business."

Rys's father chuckled under his breath. "Look at this. Of all places, I meet Francis's kid here. How's your father doing?"

"He's doing great, thank you. So, you know each other?"

"We went to the same college, but I graduated when he still had three years left, and we didn't keep in touch after. I do know about the resorts. Tell him Isaac says hello."

"I will."

Rys gave my waist a gentle squeeze. "Did you buy everything you needed?"

"Um, yeah." I lifted the bag with the stuff I bought. "I'll leave this in our room if you don't mind."

Our room. Heat flooded my cheeks. Just great. Now Rys's father who probably knew nothing about me would assume we live together as a couple.

"I'll go with you. We'll join you in a while, Dad," Rys said to Isaac and shifted his palm to my lower back.

"Don't rush. We won't go out to eat until Mom's here."

Meeting Rys's family wasn't something I expected to happen in Marfolk. As the bedroom door closed behind us, Rys pulled the bag out of my hands and hugged me tightly. "I missed you. And I'm sorry — I had no idea my parents would turn up here. It's not like them to visit unannounced, but Dad wanted to spend a few days on the beach, and—"

"Rys." I silenced him, pressing my fingertips to his lips. "They're your family. I'll just grab some stuff and go to the rental."

He sighed then pressed his mouth to my forehead in a soft kiss. "You'll go out with us, and we'll have fun. You must be hungry."

"Are you sure?"

The kisses descended to my jaw, then neck. "Let's pretend you didn't mention going anywhere, okay?"

"Okay." I dropped my forehead onto his shoulder. "Tell me what I should wear, but I need a shower first."

"We'll have dinner and walk in town, maybe go to the beach. My father wanted to give Elio an evening off, but Elio and I agreed it wasn't smart, so he'll be with us."

"Wish I'd known he was your friend." I freed myself from Rys's embrace and walked into the en suite. "I gaped at him for way too long."

Rys followed me and leaned against the vanity as I started undressing. "He can seem intimidating, but I've known him long enough to know he's not like that all the time. I should've opened the door, but he was faster. Do you need help?"

I rubbed my lower belly. "I'm on my period. Otherwise, I would've asked you to join me."

A half-smile sat on Rys's mouth. "That wouldn't stop me, but I'll give you privacy. Come to the kitchen when you're ready."

After pecking my cheek, he left me alone, and I took my time showering until I felt slightly better. A black dress with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed on my back was my outfit of choice. The fabric was thin and it wouldn't be out of place no matter where we ended up going.

When I entered the kitchen, a woman who must've been Rys's mom was there. Her hair was shorter than in Rys's childhood pictures, but the same youthful gleam graced her eyes.

"Lyra." She stepped toward me. "I was looking forward to meeting you."

Her husband must've told her about me. "Likewise, Mrs. Delano," I said.

She shook her head. "Please, call me Fiona."

Rys saved me from awkward introductions by taking my hand and nodding in the direction of the front door. "Let's get going. Everyone's starving."

We ended up at The Wave. Like Rys, his parents seemed to be familiar with the staff. When the server brought wine, Rys's dad raised his glass. "To the chance encounters. Let's hope we can meet again soon."

After all of us took a sip, Fiona leaned her head on her husband's shoulder. He kissed her temple, and she sighed.

"You should've told us you had company, Rys. Now I feel bad for intruding."

"You're not intruding," I rushed to say, but Fiona waved her hand. "Of course we are, but we're going to stay at the new hotel tomorrow."

Rys slung an arm around my shoulders. "That's okay if you want to, but as Lyra said, you're not intruding, and my house is big enough."

Isaac reached for his glass. "Don't worry about us. By the way, congratulations on the Ingvel deal."

Rys glided his fingers down my arm. "Thank you, but he still needs to sign."

"It's a great achievement, regardless. You shouldn't forget to celebrate the little wins."

Something squeezed in my chest. Those were the words I'd wished my mom said lots of times. Dwelling on the past was pointless, but I often wondered how I would've turned out if my dreams hadn't been dismissed or laughed at. Maybe I'd be more confident. Perhaps I wouldn't have trusted the wrong people and could have made good friends in college. It was wrong to feel so much resentment toward the person who gave me life, but feelings didn't ask for permission to appear.

"You okay?" Rys's quiet question prevented me from being consumed by miserable thoughts. I nodded just as our food arrived, and for the remainder of the dinner, I pushed the thoughts of my family to the back of my mind.

Elio stayed with us at the restaurant but Isaac told him to go get some rest when we headed to the beach.

"You should've let him stay," Rys said as we strolled along the shore.

Isaac uttered a laugh. "My gut still works despite the tumor. I told you those letters were an amateur's attempt at scaring someone who's dealt with worse."

"Still, you shouldn't take the threats lightly until we know more."

"Rys is right," Fiona chimed in. "But let's talk about something more pleasant. You hardly told us anything about yourself, Lyra."

Rys tightened his grip on my hand as if he feared I'd be uncomfortable answering, but his parents were nice, and they didn't seem the kind to judge.

"I graduated this summer," I said. "And I hope to study jewelry design in Italy if they accept me."

"Jewelry." Fiona gasped. "How exciting. Please tell me you have some pieces I could see."

"The ones I'm wearing now, for example," I said.

The same heart-shaped earrings and necklace I designed to wear for graduation. Rys's mom examined them, gushing about how elegant they were the entire time.

"My verdict is, they're going to be honored to have you as a student," she said. "So, Rys and you met when you were studying?"

Rys and Isaac were walking ahead of us, probably to give us privacy to talk. As if it had a mind of its own, my gaze gravitated toward the stairs leading to the backyard of my rental we were nearing.

"No. Rys and I met here a few weeks ago. I rented that house over there, and some of my clothes I hung to dry fell into his backyard."

Fiona rubbed a thin golden chain she wore around her neck between her fingers. "That house? Would you mind going there for a bit? I'd love to see it."

The request was strange, to say the least, but I didn't have any reasons to deny her a visit.

"Sure," I said.

Fiona told her husband and son to wait for us and took off for the creaky steps. Once in the backyard, she crossed it with the confident strides of someone who took the same route lots of times.

I followed her to the house. When I pulled a spare key from under the mat by the door, Fiona wrapped her fingers around my wrist.

"Wait. Would you mind if we sat there?"

The old table where I made jewelry and spilled secrets to Rys beckoned me from the moonlit patio. The memories seemed distant now as if they belong to a different time and person.

I smiled at Rys's mom. "Not at all."

As we sat, she played with her chain again. "Coming here always makes me both happy and sad. Rys must've told you he lived here for a while as a kid."

Our late-night conversation barreled into my thoughts. He told me they ran away but didn't mention they ran to Marfolk, and I was too shocked by the rest of the story to see the obvious.

I twisted my hands in my lap. "Yes, he did."

"Isaac and I visited Dorothy, the lady who lived in this house, almost every year. She was the one who took us in when we ran away from my ex. I was devastated when I learned that she passed. That you met my son here of all places is a sign from above. I just hope you're not running away from anyone."

"I ended up in Marfolk by chance," I said. "The guy I used to date wanted a break, and I didn't want to be stuck at the resort alone."

"What I believed to be true love when I was young and naive almost ruined my life. Mine and my son's. Even so many years later, guilt keeps me up at night. I often think I should've seen the signs, but back then, I desperately wanted to be loved. Only when he hurt someone I loved way more than I loved myself did I wake up. Seven years too late."

"Some people say it's never too late," I whispered. "I wasted four years of my life on someone who never cared, so I'm not one to judge."

Fiona rested her head against the back of the chair and looked up where the full moon reigned in the cloudless summer sky.

"I met Isaac, and you met Rys. Sometimes the best things happen after you go through the worst ones. I went from not having anything to having a loving husband and a business of my dreams. All because a kind lady from Marfolk gave me a place to stay."

Was this why Rys wanted to buy Gabby's grandma's house? Now I knew it meant a lot to him, just like Marfolk. Until this summer, I hadn't been a great believer in fate, but now fate seemed to be everywhere.

"Or maybe," I said, "it was because you finally met someone who believed in you."

Just like I did. 

Hi guys! Hope you're enjoying the puzzle pieces coming together. I'm writing the final parts of the story, and I need time to wrap it up stress-free, so I'm not sure about Friday's update. I'm going to have a very busy few days, so if I can't post, we'll just do 3 updates a week once I've finished writing. Thank you for your patience. I know you'd rather have more chapters, but I can't rush things and don't want to turn writing into something stressful when it's my main stress reliever.

Until the next one! Thank you for reading, and don't forget to vote/comment! It's the best motivation.