Page 130 of See You Next Month

“Oh, Bella,” Kelsey said, her face softening with emotion.

Emma smiled at them. “Focus, please.”

They both looked at her. “Isn’t it obvious we’re in love?” Isabella said.

“I think you take us, as followers, to Honeymoon Beach and then to Peaches where you danced,” Emma said.

“Okay, we can do that.”

“Isabella, I hate to do this to you,” Emma began, “but you may need to tell your coming out story. You never thought of another woman until you met my mom, isn’t that correct?”

“Yes, and then I met the people at Peaches and saw the possibilities,” Isabella replied.

“There may be a lot of women who are divorced and in a similar situation,” Emma said. “You could help them, be a role model for them.”

Kelsey looked at Isabella and smiled.

“And Mom, you need to tell your story. You made decisions for yourself with your two daughters in mind. Now we’re about to embark on our careers and you can do something for yourself,” Emma said.

“So you’re saying we might help others by telling our stories?” Kelsey asked.

Emma nodded. “Neither one of you told the other about your feelings for months, so you weren’t being dishonest or trying to hide your relationship. You were trying to figure out your feelings. That’s honest. And now you want to share this with your followers. You’ve got to make them want to see what happens next.”

“We should ask them to go along with us on this trip and to give us one more trip the next month,” Kelsey said. “We should move up the family vacation. They need to see how our family has come together and if they don’t like us after that then we can stop the trips. It’s indulgent, but it’s open and honest.”

“That’s a great idea,” Emma said. “School will be out for the boys and Dana and I already told our employers about this trip when we were hired.”

“Now that I think about it, we’ve never been dishonest or hidden anything,” Isabella said. “We had to figure this out for ourselves first, and then as a couple.”

“I still say the islands are a magical place and we’re the perfect example of what can happen,” Kelsey said.

“I’d be happy to work up a statement or two for this upcoming trip. I could give you some ideas of what to include when you get there and then build up Honeymoon Beach. The next day your followers get to experience it with you. I can outline the points you need to make at each place. Then you can invite them to meet us next month. It would just be a guide,” Emma said.

Kelsey smiled. “Bella, would you listen to my smart daughter?”

“I hear her.” Isabella put her arm around Kelsey. “I don’t know about you, but I’m very proud at this moment.”

Emma chuckled. “Stop it, Moms. You’ll make me blush.”

Kelsey and Isabella laughed.

“We’re missing the movie,” Emma said, getting up and walking to the door.

“We’ll be there in a minute,” Kelsey said.

“I had a feeling something was going to happen when Carmen asked us to keep this quiet,” Isabella said.

“I did, too,” Kelsey said.

“After I told Spencer, I got the same feeling. But I didn’t think he’d do something like this,” Isabella said.

Kelsey swung around and faced Isabella. “I don’t care what comments are made or if we finish these trips. Spencer can try to undermine us all he wants, but I won’t leave you, Bella. I love you and my life is with you. I’ve waited a long time to find my person and here you are. I’m holding on tight and I won’t let go.”

Isabella felt her heart overflow with love. With Kelsey’s promise to hold on to, how could anyone or anything stop them? “I’m not letting go,” she said softly and touched her lips to Kelsey’s in a tender kiss.

When they pulled away Isabella raised her eyebrows. “Do you think we could sneak into your room while they finish the movie?”

Kelsey giggled. “What ever would we do there?”

---