I flipped through the pages slowly.
Literacy programs.
LGBTQ equality groups.
Indigenous land protections.
Cancer research.
Maternal health networks.
Climate action groups.
Housing plans for the homeless.
Pages and pages of goodness.
He took another breath. “What happened with Hal, it made me realize I’m doing things all wrong. I’ve got so much money. I want it to start changing lives for the better.”
I didn’t say anything at first. Then I kissed him again and said, “That’s… incredible.You’reincredible. I’m so proud of you.”
“Of course, I’ll keep enough for Pualani’s education. And so that we don’t have to worry about anything. But the rest? It doesn’t belong to me anymore. It never really did.”
He let the silence settle between us. And then—gently—“There’s more.”
I laughed, half -choked. “Of course there is.”
“I want to sell the penthouse.”
I blinked. “Okay.”
He nodded. “I don’t need to be in New York anymore. What would you say if I told you I think we should stay? Here.”
I stared at him.
“Here?”
He smiled. “Rashida talked to the owners. Quietly. They’reopen to selling. No listing. No press. Just a quiet transfer. If we want it.”
My heart swelled so fast I thought it might lift me off the ground.
“I want this to be our home,” he said. “Not just a house. Not a rental.Home.I want Pualani to grow up with salt in her hair and mango on her chin and sand in her socks. I want her to have Tutu stories at bedtime and Leilani five minutes away. I want to stay near the people who made all of this possible. I want us to raise her here. As one big, beautiful, slightly insane, chosen family.”
I didn’t answer.
I just wrapped my arms around him and kissed him so hard we almost fell off the rock wall.
We both laughed, then held on to each other so tight it was as though we were trying to stop the wind from carrying us away.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, yes, yes.”
“You sure?” he said.
I pulled back to look at him. “Cal, this isn’t just a house. It’sparadise. And I want to spend the rest of my life making it ours.”
He exhaled, smiling, his eyes shining. “Then we’re home.”
CHAPTER 35
