Page 32 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

“Sutton is twenty, she’s at Uni but home for the holiday, Lochie is sixteen, and Charlotte is ten.” My eyebrows rise and Eve chuckles. “We weren’t expecting it either.” She shrugs. “She’s fiery that one—her and her sister.” She runs a hand through her hair and huffs. “Where all my bloody gray hair is from.”

I laugh and think of how different Cheyenne was growing up. My girl had always been on the outside looking in, quiet and sweet as pie, and I loved that about her, but seein’ her find her voice and her way in life makes me damn proud to be her mama.

Eve and I hold our glasses of wine as we walk onto the back patio as the sun begins to set. It’s something Flora and I have done countless times before, but something about this experience warms me from the inside out.

“Tell me about Tennessee,” Eve says as she leans back in her chair, the water in their inground pool sparkling in the setting sun.

“I’ve lived there my whole life.” I take a sip of my wine. “Raised my daughter there, started a business I get to run with her, and fell in love just when I thought I’d be single forever.” I chuckle as Eve smiles over the rim of her own glass.

“Your story is brilliant,” she says and I smile.

“What about yours?” I ask and she shrugs.

“Been married for over twenty years.” She sighs but it’s happy, content.

“How do you do it?” I ask because here, in this foreign land with my new friend and a bottle of wine, I feel like I can finally voice the one thing that’s always in the back of my mind.

“Balance.” She grins. “And a good romance book.”

“That sounds promising.” I giggle and she throws me a wink.

“Sutton is at Uni, and Lochie will finish up his schooling in a few years and then be off, but we have what feels like a whole lifetime with our Charlotte. We have to make time for us and not just the kids.” She takes a sip of wine and looks out in the distance before speaking again. “It’s easy to get lost in everyday life. You’re being pulled in all different directions, but one day you realize you’ve somehow lost the thing that started it all.”

“What’s that?”

“The connection with the man you married. The love and passion and friendship, the basis for the life you promised each other.”

My heart is in my throat at her words, and memories of my own failed marriage loom in the back of my mind. I think back on the broken promises and realize it was nothing like what Eve is describing. My ex-husband hadn’t put up a fight for me, and he sure as hell didn’t fight for his daughter. He hadn’t deserved us andthatwas his mistake, not mine.

Cullen’s face flashes in my mind and there’s no use trying to stop the smile from spreading over my face.

“What changed?” I ask.

“We decided to actively make time for each other. I read to him. He listens”—she raises an eyebrow—“and then complains when we have to get up like we don’t actually have to make sure the kids are alive downstairs.” We laugh and she shakes her head. “It’s not always easy but we’re worth it.”

I hold my glass out to her and she clinks her glass against mine. “Hell yes, you are,” I say, my accent heavy with the conviction in those two words.

“Besides,” she says and then takes a sip of her wine, “we’ve had plenty of new things to try. You know, spice things up a bit.” Her grin is firmly in place, and I throw my head back and laugh, and now I’m the one nodding. “Some days he’s chasing me around the kitchen and I have to fight him off with a towel before dinner gets burned.” Her expression tells me she’s equal parts exasperated and loving it.

“It sure is different now that we’re older,” I concede. “I’ve never felt so appreciated.” Holding my glass to my lips, I add, “Both inandout of the bedroom.”

She cackles and then she’s holding her glass out in a toast and then we’re gossiping and talking like we’ve known each other for years instead of just a few hours.

Riley and Cullen arrive back with fish and chips takeaways and I can’t think of a more perfect day. Cullen drops a kiss on my cheek, and I practically melt against him at the slight contact. He grins, eyes sparkling with the perfect mix of adoration and heat.

“Thank you for doing this with me,” I whisper, and he drops a sweet kiss on my lips.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see you just like this, Red.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, and it has Riley making anawwsound as Eve chuckles. Cullen’s grin widens, and

I feel like I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be loved by this man.

And tonight, I’m going to show him just how lucky we can be together.

19

CULLEN

We meet up with Eve and Riley a couple more times over the next few days. We see waterfalls and rock gardens and the most exquisite flowers and birds. They show us some local haunts and explain some of the legends and native culture and customs. It has been fascinating to be somewhere so well loved by the people and not just because they happen to live there.

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