She met Remi’s eyes. “I’m ready.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Bianca
Bianca breathed in the fresh morning air, cool against her face. The birds greeted her with soft morning chirps. A gentle breeze blew through her hair. She decided to run today—or rather, slow jog. She wanted to get her heart pumping, but she was careful not to overdo it.
She was feeling good about her future. Not everything had come full circle, but it was getting there. She jogged steadily, the wind pressing against her skin as she picked up the pace towardJoie.As she passed the sign, she glanced up, and her heart swelled with pride for Remi, who’d followed her dream and built something meaningful, lasting, in spite of everything. Even when the odds were against her, she beat them. And she felt pride for Mila too—her logo displayed prominently on a winery in Napa Valley. That was no small accomplishment, and one she should be proud of.
She smiled as she rounded the corner near the Ortiz Vineyard, the vines stretching beneath the early morning light. The sun had just started to peek through the clouds. Saying goodbye to the girls would be bittersweet. The summer had held with it so many moments—painful ones, joyful ones—all of them meaningful. All of them were a part of her story now.
She slowed down. Her jog became a brisk walk. Her breath came harder than she’d expected, so she winded down to catch it, get her rhythm back. Her Puma sneakers hit the pavement in a rhythm of their own. In her ears Phillip Lester’s acoustic guitar strummed a soft Spanish melody that soothed her. She could feel the muscles in her legs strengthening each day. Her lungs were steadier. She was becoming stronger—physically, mentally, emotionally. She wasn’t there yet, but she was well on her way.
By the time Bianca returned to the house the sun had fully risen. She smelled coffee and was grateful. She needed a cup. Mila stood at the stove, barefoot, her curls short but beautiful. She was flipping pancakes in a skillet, and the smell of bacon filled the kitchen. A song was playing low on her phone, something soft.
Bianca smiled, wiping sweat from her brow with her sleeve. “Smells good in here.”
Mila looked over her shoulder and grinned. “I figured I’d cook breakfast before Zoe and I got on the road. I made coffee too.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Bianca teased, walking over to pour herself a cup.
They moved around the kitchen in a quiet rhythm. Bianca leaned against the counter, took a sip of her coffee, and looked at Mila. “You know, I’m really proud of you.”
Mila checked the bacon in the oven. “Yeah?”
Bianca nodded. “What you did with that logo. You showed up. You built something really amazing.”
A small smile crept into the corners of Mila’s mouth. Her whole face lit up, and Bianca noticed her beauty like never before. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure I had it in me.”
“Well, you do,” Bianca said. “You always have. And there’s more where that came from. I’m sure of it.”
“I’m gonna miss being here,” Mila admitted, glancing around the house that had welcomed them all for the summer—wherememories were made. A place where both pain and joy had coexisted. “But I’m excited about LSU. It’ll be sort of a new beginning for me.”
“I’m excited for you. This new journey of yours,” Bianca said. “You’ll have to make new connections … new friends.”
“I know. But I’m ready.”
“You’ll be fine. And Zoe will be there.”
“Yeah, she will,” Mila said. “I’m excited foryou. I still can’t believe you’re staying.”
Bianca looked toward the window. Her heart warmed every time she thought of that house overlooking the bay. It gave her good vibes. “Neither can I. But it feels right. It really does.”
“And I’m glad your health is better. I was really scared when …” She paused, took a deep breath. “When I thought I might lose you.”
Tears brimmed her eyes when she heard Mila’s words.Thought I might lose you. It meant she was hers to lose. To hear Mila claiming her as her mother gave her peace.
“I thought it was over for me.” Saying those words made her chest hurt and deep, dark thoughts come to the forefront of her mind again. Those thoughts were real. They haunted her in her quiet places. “And I’m not out of the woods yet. Have to keep testing, just to be sure that the cancer is shrinking, and that it hasn’t spread anywhere else.”
“That’s tough.”
“Yes, but I’m tougher now,” Bianca said.
She watched as Mila pulled the pan of bacon out of the oven and set it on the granite countertop.
Bianca poured more coffee into her cup. “I know things have been hard between us. But if you ever decide to come back—to Bodega Bay—the house has an extra bedroom. It’s yours whenever you want it.”
Mila poured pancake batter into the skillet. She glanced over at Bianca with a small smile. “I’ll come back,” she said.