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“We found each other there and our men,” I reminded her.
“I just want something new. I like how peaceful it is. The kids aren’t glued to their phones as much.” She sighed. “It’s just better,” she settled with, not finding the right way to explain how she was feeling, but I completely understood.
“I mentioned something to Ryan, but he wasn’t too convinced.”
“Ace, either. Why don’t we both bring it up over dinner? Let’s order some pizzas.” The timer went off for the cookies just as she was calling the local pizzeria. I motioned for the kids and men to get out of the pool and hit the shower.
* * *
The kids polished three-cheese pizzas off in minutes, all of them ravenous after the entire afternoon in the pool. Then, they quietly slunk out of the room and headed for the movie lounge to hang out. The men were sipping on beers while Celine and I stuck to soda, still fighting off headaches from the morning.
Celine cleared her throat to gain their attention. When they both looked at her, she swallowed. “Ames and I were thinking . . . we’ve had a really great trip – well, we’ve had a lot of really good times up here.” She looked at me and nudged me with her foot under the table.
“Let’s sell the houses back home and move up here – start a new legacy for our kids to inherit and call their own one day. We can make a new life for ourselves on the lake. It’ll be good for everyone, especially the kids, to be away from all the toxicity back home, don’t you think?”
Ace gulped and ran a hand through his thick, black hair, looking nervously at his wife. “I was actually going to tell you we should sell this house. I think if we do, it will be enough combined with the boat to buy out your dad and save the company.”
There was a tense pause of silence, and I looked at Ryan who was just as blindsided as his sister.
“Didn’t you just hear what I said?” Celine asked, blinking slowly in disbelief. “We’d sell the other house.”
“I thought you wanted to save your parent’s company – to save your legacy.” Ace seemed confused – like this wasn’t what Celine wanted.
“I did, but you both told me it wasn’t possible.” She pointed at Ryan and Ace, her blue eyes filling with moisture.
“Dad said it wasn’t possible – not me,” Ryan interjected, grabbing my hand under the table.
“So, why is it possible now when I suggest selling our other house that is worth more than this one, Ace?” He reached for her, but she leaned away from him.
“Because living here was never the plan, Celine. The kids are in school – a good school. Our lives are there. Why would we just up and leave with no guaranteed plan of where we will get an income from? We can’t do something that unstable. You know that.”
Celine stood from the table, her chair making a loud, scraping sound against the wooden floor. “No, Ace. Clearly, I don’t know that. I thought we could live off the money from that house while we come up with a new business plan. I thought the kids could transfer to a school here. I thought you liked it here enough to live here every day. But, asshole, I guess I thought wrong!” With that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving everyone stunned into silence at the table.
Ace didn’t look at me or Ryan. His eyes were fixed on his empty plate from dinner. Ryan’s blue eyes – so similar to Celine’s – were wide with shock. His hand on mine squeezed gently, and he nodded his head in the direction Celine went.
“Go,” he mouthed.
I stood from the table, my chair scraping softly compared to Celine’s abrupt departure. Ace looked up at me, pain clear as day in his eyes. “I didn’t know.” He shook his head. “She’s never mentioned living here permanently. This has always been a place to come spend a few weeks.”
“I’ll find her and calm her down,” I told him, not knowing what else to say.
* * *
I searched the house for Celine. She wasn’t in her old room or hiding in the library or office. The kids hadn’t seen her, either. I checked the pool but didn’t see her anywhere until finally, my eyes slid over her shaking silhouette out by the dock, illuminated by the full moon.
I made my way down the steep hill, using the little bit of light to find the stone steps until eventually, I was standing behind her. I touched her shoulder as I sat beside her. Her hands were covering her face as she sobbed, her body trembling with loud cries.
“He just doesn’t understand.” Her voice shook. “I’m trying to move on, and he won’t let me.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to me. Her head fell to my shoulder.
“Of course, he doesn’t,” I soothed, pulling my fingers through her hair. “He’s doing what he thinks you want.”
She cried, and I just held her, keeping my grip firm, softly reassuring her that I was here and that I understood. Men always had a way of misunderstanding our wants and desires, especially in times of crisis. But Ace loved Celine, and he didn’t mean to hurt her. He just wanted to protect his family, to keep a roof over their heads, and keep them safe like he had promised her for years.
She sniffled quietly and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Why would he want to sell this place when we all love it here so much?” she whispered, looking out over the dark lake.
“He doesn’t know what to do. He just wants to protect his family.”
