Three Months Later
The sun casts a warm glow over the Seine as Esme and I stroll along its banks, the iconic Parisian sights adding a magical quality to our morning walk. I savor the peaceful moments with my daughter, but there’s a conversation we’ve been dancing around since we left El Ocaso. “Have you thought more about what we discussed before the trip?” I ask as she nods.
“Yup, and I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?”
Esme rolls her eyes. “Mom, it’s not like you haven’t been training me for the past eight months to take over the management of the resort.”
I exhale. “I know you’re capable, Esme, but it’s a lot of responsibility, and I don’t want it to overwhelm you.” It definitely overwhelmed me when I took over more than twenty years ago. It consumed me—but only because I needed a distraction from the memories the walls of the resort held, of a boy I once loved. I eventually moved on, marrying Esme’s father and living a fruitful life, managing the resort together until his passing three years ago.
Esme stops walking and turns to face me, her expression serious. “Mom, I can handle it. Especially now that Uncle Randall has come back. With his experience and my fresh perspective, we make a great team.”
A smile tugs at my lips as I think of my brother, who decided to move on from his position at the NGO and return to El Ocaso. His timing couldn’t be more perfect. “I’m so glad he’s back,” I say. “I always worried about him being in such dangerous places. It’s wonderful to have him home again.”
Esme slips her arm through mine as we continue walking. “It’s going to be great, Mom. And it’s time for you to live a little, explore the world, and experience new adventures.” She pauses, grinning. “Especially with you-know-who.”
I sigh. “If he ever gets time off from his work.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will.” She squeezes my hand. “His firm has been making headlines again—apparently, it’s now listed among the top hedge funds globally. No wonder he had such high security when he dropped off that painting. Even Uncle Randall was impressed when I showed him the article. He mentioned how Hiro and his father used to work in the orange groves.”
“And now Hiro could practically buy every orange grove if he wanted to.” I chuckle at the irony. Who would have thought the foreman’s son would become one of the wealthiest men in the world? He didn’t have to return my great-great-great uncle’s painting; he could have sold it to us for a fortune. Yet he chose to give it back without asking for anything in return.
“He better not,” Esme says, laughing. “I prefer he sticks to what he does best and leave orange groves and resort management to the rest of us.”
“I just wish he could have met us here, even for one night,” I say, shrugging. “But work is work.”
Hiro and I have maintained a long-distance relationship for the past three months. He had business to attend to in New York and couldn’t join me on this trip, but we’ve stayed connected through calls and messages. Even this new thing called sexting, which took some getting used to, but now I have to admit, I’ve gotten quite good at. No wonder I can’t wait to finally join him in New York next week. I want the real thing.
“You’ll see him eventually, Mom. Right now, this is a mother-daughter vacation, and I intend to enjoy every moment with you.”
It had been Esme’s idea to take me on a three-week tour of Europe that began in Rome, where the grandeur of the Colosseum left me speechless, the Vatican, with its breathtaking Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. We threw coins into the Trevi Fountain, where I found myself daring to wish Hiro would whisk me off to some faraway land before reminding myself I was too old to wish such things. Still, a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
In Florence, Esme and I immersed ourselves in art and history, while Venice was a dream with its canals and charming architecture. Tons of walking. And now, Paris, where we’ve visited the Louvre, wandered through Montmartre, and even taken a cooking class together.
As we stroll through the streets of Paris, Esme continues to chat about our plans for the remaining week. “After Paris, we’ll head to the South of France. Imagine us in Nice, Mom, walking along the Promenade des Anglais, or perhaps visiting the lavender fields in Provence. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
I smile, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. “It sounds wonderful, Esme. But I can’t help worrying about the resort. What if something goes wrong while we’re away?”
Esme stops walking and looks at me, her expression earnest. “Mom, you’ve trained your team well. They can handle things. And remember, Uncle Randall is already back, overseeing everything. It’s time you trust them and enjoy yourself. No more thoughts of work, promise?”
I nod, trying to push away my worries. “It’s just hard to let go after so many years of being in charge.”
She hugs me, her warmth and confidence reassuring. “I know it is, Mom, but think of this as a new beginning. You deserve to relax and enjoy life.”
As we approach the cafe, Esme’s phone rings. She glances at the screen and then at me, an apologetic smile on her lips. “Speaking of problems, Uncle Randall’s having issues with the reservation software again.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Mom, no more thoughts of work, remember?” She cocks her head toward the cafe entrance. “Why don’t you go inside and get us a table? I’ll be right there.”
I make my way to the hostess, who leads me through the cozy interior of the cafe. We pass by tables filled with chatting patrons, the clinking of cups, and the soft murmur of conversations creating a comforting backdrop. The hostess guides me to a staircase leading to a private entryway, away from the crowd.
“Your table is right this way,” she says, gesturing towards the balcony.
As I step through the door, I stop and stare. The Eiffel Tower stands majestically in the distance, framed by the golden light of the afternoon sun.
Only it’s not the view that captures my attention.
“Hiro?” I gasp as he gets up from his chair.
“Surprise.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I rush into his arms, the world around us forgotten. All that matters is that he’s here. With me. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion as his strong arms wrap around me. “How…how did you–”
“You can thank Esme,” he says with a grin. “She planned everything. I’ve been working with her for weeks to make this happen.”
I pull back slightly to look at him. “I don’t know what to say. This is the most wonderful surprise.”
He brushes a stray tear from my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much, Lucia. I couldn’t wait any longer to see you.”
“Those sexting calls can only tide me over so much.”
“Same,” he says, pausing. “But there’s more.”
“More?” I ask, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Hiro takes my hand and leads me to the table. “Esme thought it was time you had a real vacation, one where I get to pamper you from morning till night. Not that she hasn’t done that the last two weeks.”
“She certainly has.”
“From here on out, I’m taking over,” he continues. “We’re going on a journey across Europe.”
My eyes widen in astonishment. “You mean…?”
He nods, his smile growing wider. “We’ll be traveling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, winding through France, Switzerland, Austria, and into Italy. I know that’s where you started your trip, but this time, it’ll just be the two of us.”
I frown. “But what about Esme?”
“She’ll take my plane back to Los Angeles via New York.”
“Your…plane?”
He shrugs. “It’s the company plane, one of two that Daniel and I use. Esme’s been bugging me about getting to fly in one.”
I laugh. It’s just like my daughter to want to try something new, and flying in a private jet is a whole different level of luxury and excitement. But it’s the promise of a train journey across Europe with Hiro that truly takes my breath away. “Hiro, it all sounds so perfect.”
He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to my knuckles. “You deserve it all, Lucia. You should see the world, and experience the beauty and wonder of these places. And I want to be the one to share it with you.” He pauses, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. “I love you. More than I ever thought possible.”
As tears stream down my face, I thank my lucky stars for waterproof mascara, because I’d be looking like a raccoon, otherwise. “I love you, too, Hiro.”
We sit down, the moment feeling surreal and dreamlike and for a few moments, we don’t speak as if he’s letting me bask in the sheer joy of it all. The world outside seems to fade away, leaving just the two of us enveloped in the promise of a future together—a future I never thought possible.
As the waiter arrives with a bottle of wine and two glasses, carefully pouring each of us a generous serving, I can hardly believe it. Hiro is truly here, and he’s about to sweep me away on an extraordinary adventure.
“To new beginnings,” he says, raising his glass.
“To new adventures,” I echo, clinking my glass against his.
As we sip the wine and watch the Eiffel Tower illuminated against the velvet sky, I feel a profound sense of peace wash over me. For so long, I had clung to my responsibilities at El Ocaso, using them as a shield to protect myself from the vulnerability of opening my heart again. Yet looking back, I realize that every step of my journey, every trial and triumph, has led me to this moment—to a love that has stood the test of time.
It’s a new beginning, one that will take me away from El Ocaso—at least for a while—but it also opens a door to the start of an extraordinary journey Hiro and I get to embark on—this time, together.
* * *
Note to the Reader:
Thank you for reading Timeless: A Later in Life Second Chance Romance. Their story was a joy to write, giving me an excuse to visit so many historical places around Southern California and learn so much, including the incarceration of Japanese families during WWII.
Hiro and Lucia’s story continues in a (steamy) bonus story at lizdurano.
Curious about Daniel Drexel?
Daniel is the patriarch of the Drexel family featured in my series
A Different Kind of Love.