Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
He looked a little wary. “Yeah?”
“If it’s what you want, we will figure it out. Together,” I promised, and meant it.
Better yet, I believed it.
Chris’s face relaxed into a smile, and he raised our hands to press a kiss to the top of mine. “Okay, mi cielo. We’ll figure it out together.”
EPILOGUE
Hallie
A FEW MONTHS LATER
CANCÚN, MEXICO
The resort was out of this world. I’d never been anywhere like it or imagined I ever would. Adults only, first-class service, swim-up bars, cabana beds galore, and white sand beaches kissed by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
It was the perfect end to our three-week adventure in Mexico.
Chris and I strolled back to our room, my hand clasped in his. We could hear the waves lapping at the shore in the distance, the cooling breeze ruffling through my hair, and our light footsteps on the sand-peppered walkway.
The bars and restaurants were on the other side of the resort, so we couldn’t hear music or the sounds of other people. Just surf and ocean breeze.
After sixteen days of intensive travel from Mexico City to Puebla to Oaxaca to Tabasco, these last five days at a spa resort were a total surprise. Chris was an active guy. He liked to have something to do every day, so I’d expected our entire vacation to be jam-packed with activities. We hadn’t exactly relaxed upon arriving in Cancún, but today had been our laziest day yet, and I’d loved it. I’d known we were coming to Cancún to see the Mayan ruins at Tulum and go swimming and snorkeling in Cenotes Dos Ojos, a diving site not far from the ruins.
But Chris had booked this part of the trip and surprised me with our accommodation.
A luxury spa resort.
“To decompress before real life starts again,” Chris had said.
He also seemed to be enjoying the relaxing day after a few days of activity.
We’d used a guide the first day here to take us to the jungle to the diving caverns. Thankfully, our helpful guide warned us to wear plenty of bug spray because . . . jungle. The caverns were a little too busy for my liking, and there were bats.
Bats.
Nope.
Just nope.
But Chris had the time of his life, and I couldn’t help but be a little proud of myself for participating in the diving, even if I was constantly aware of the bats.
The second day, we visited the ruins at Tulum. But today we’d lazed around the pool, drinking cocktails, reading and napping on our cabana bed. There were multiple restaurants on the resort that catered to different cuisines. We were returning from dinner at the seafood restaurant.
Tomorrow we had appointments for a couple’s massage.
Now that to me was heaven.
When we returned home, I’d miss the smell of sunscreen and mojitos.
I squeezed Chris’s hand. “I can’t believe we only have a few days left before reality sets in.”
Chris looked down at me and released my hand, but only to slide his arm around my waist to draw me closer. “We’ll have more trips like this in the future.”
I wasn’t sure about that. It would be difficult to top Mexico. We’d spent time in Mexico City, the highlight of which for both of us was a guided tour of the National Museum of History. It was outstanding. We toured Chapultepec Castle, and we did a food tour through a culinary neighborhood called Polanco—also a highlight. We’d ended the food tour with churros con chocolate, and I already suspected I’d be dreaming about those churros for years to come. Then we got a bus to Puebla so we could experience the safari. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and showed us how to feed and pet a rhino. And we cuddled kangaroos.
Cuddled kangaroos!
An experience that just couldn’t be beaten.
From Puebla we got a flight to Oaxaca and spent a few days visiting the ruins of the ancient Zapotec capital. I got chills walking around those ruins, imagining ancient life here. Chris had been similarly blown away. Things with his father had returned to their usual strained fashion now that he knew Chris would never give him the opportunity to control his life. He didn’t approve of me, but I had hope father and son could build bridges. So I’d keep trying for Chris’s sake. While he still didn’t have answers from his father about possible Mexican relatives, Chris admitted just being in Mexico was a good start. He said he felt connected to the country and couldn’t explain why it felt so familiar to him. It was like he’d been there before. Perhaps it was psychosomatic or perhaps there really was this genetic bond between people and places. Whatever it was, I was just so thankful to experience his first time in Mexico by his side. We even brushed up on our Spanish together. I wouldn’t lie. Chris speaking Spanish got me a little hot and bothered.