Page 44 of Between Two Shores

“Thanks, Dad. I intend to. I’ve learned so much from you. Now I can take that and help others in need in a different country.”

“I believe it, my girl. I’ll be with you in spirit all the way.”

She kissed his cheek. He kissed her forehead, then let her go. Her flight number called over the speakers. Time to find her footing in the big wide world. Smiling, she turned slowly in a semi-circle, memorizing everyone's faces. Then she stepped backward and collected her carry-on bag. Several suitcases had been checked earlier. All she needed to do was board the plane. Nick would be waiting for her in Los Angeles. They’d go to the marriage office the next day and replan a ceremony. But first, she had to get through twenty hours of flying.

To her right, a long line of passengers formed at gate nineteen. Her gate. Oops. She flicked her head back to her family. “That’s me. I’ll message the group chat as soon as I land. And I’ll send you the zoom link to the wedding ceremony as soon as I confirm the date with the registrar.”

“Bye, Beth. We love you,” Amy called.

One by one, they shouted their well wishes as she backed away, waving goodbye. Trudy’s eyes glazed with tears. Dad kept a smile in place, but his eyes were bloodshot. He was a softie under all that sternness. He cared too much—that was his problem. But Dad trusted her to go and make the right choices. And she would continue to make him proud.

Chapter Seventeen

Beth

Beth gazed out the passenger-side window, taking in as much of L.A. as her heavy eyelids would allow her. Nick hummed to the radio, steering with one hand and holding hers with the other. Palm trees of various sizes lined the streets beside the glow of traffic lights. Cars filled wide roads with several lanes even at 9 p.m. They’d already passed the central area and cruised on toward Glendale. Wherever that was.

“Excited?” Nick said quietly.

She looked over to him. “Yes. It’s different from Perth. Sydney is a bit like this, but L.A. seems to have no end. It’s huge.”

He grinned and faced forward. “There’s no skyscrapers and traffic where we’re staying.”

“How long do we have at your friend’s house?”

“Up to eight weeks of free rent. It’s not a house either. A one-bedroom apartment.”

Beth’s stomach dropped. She pulled her hand away. “Oh.” Where was she meant to sleep? Would he have to sleep on the sofa? She needed a bed for at least tonight. Exhaustion filtered through every muscle. She worked the kinks from her neck.

“The place isn’t much, but it’s only temporary, Beth. If I’d had more time, I might have arranged other accommodation, but I’ve only had a day here myself. I spent most of that scrubbing the place down. The unit must’ve been vacant for a while.”

How bad was it? The apartment blocks looked quite clean and upmarket so far. The bright lights flickering in the cabin phased into a blur as she closed her eyes. She was too tired to stress over it. Tomorrow they would work things out.

Beth awoke to a gust of chilly air and the creak of the car door opening.

“Home sweet home, my love.” Nick offered a hand.

She blinked to focus on his tall frame. Nick? America. Oh, she was here. Really here.

He smiled like a kid in a candy shop. What was he so happy about? Hadn’t he said the place was a dump? Home sweet home?

She unclicked her seat belt and took his hand. “I’d be more enthusiastic if I didn’t have jet lag. Sorry.”

“We’re here together. That’s what’s important. Don’t worry about the unit. Glendale is a great place. Anyway, we’re only here for a while. Onward and upward.”

She stepped out into an undercover parking lot. Several concrete pillars with painted numbers dominated the small area. Nick unloaded her luggage and rolled two cases for her to take.

He stacked the rest for him. “I don’t know how we’re going to fit all this in the apartment.”

“I packed as light as I could. There’s still a ton of my belongings in Australia. Amy’s sorting through some of it, selling what she can for me.”

He hoisted a large canvas bag over his shoulder and tilted the handle of the luggage cases. “I’m sure you’ve done your best. I appreciate all you’ve given up to move here.”

“Thank you.” After some sleep, she might not be so grumpy about it.

She followed Nick to a ramp that led to the ground level. The outside of the building looked fine. Beige brick, cream railings, small balconies, and concrete steps crisscrossed in several directions. The middle strip between two buildings had an artificial lawn and outdoor potted plants neatly spaced apart.

Nick nodded his head to the left. “We’re over there. Unit five.”

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