"Everyone could tell you wanted some alone time with me. They couldn''t just hang around and y third wheel, could they?"


    Sophie snuggled into Colby''s arms, whispering, "Colby, just now... your heart was racing."


    Colby gently tousled Sophie''s damp hair and said, "You know how to get me all nervous, yet you still love watching me squirm."


    "That''s because you''re adorable when you''re all flustered over me."


    Colby wasn''t sure if he shouldugh or pretend to be annoyed. He yfully tapped Sophie''s nose, teasing, "You''re such a little rascal."


    Sometimes, it was hard for Colby to believe they were both over forty. Sophie still had that sameugh she always did, and their life hadn''t really changed much over the years. The more ordinary the days, the more time seemed to slip by unnoticed.


    On a quaint little ind stood a vi. The Pord family once had ns to turn the ind into a tourist hotspot, but Sandy fell in love with its charm. So, Kiran scrapped the original n and decided to keep the ind as it was, building a single vi at its center and never opening it to the public.


    Sandy might have been half-joking back then, but her brother took her seriously. Over the years, they never set foot on the ind, much less stayed there.


    When Sophie and Colby stepped inside, everything was brand new, with a soft hint of jasmine in the air. "Not too shabby," Sophie remarked, taking in the fresh furniture.


    There were no traces of anyone having lived there, and the vi had aid-back vibe. Sophie suddenly remembered a small ind they had lived on twenty years ago. Back then, they found a peace and seclusion they had never experienced before.


    Later, they spent some time at a mountain cabin Colby had personally crafted, enjoying a truly beautiful period.


    Ever since Sophie got pregnant, Colby had been doting on her like never before. Having never been a father, he took the time to learn everything he could, even practicing with Alec to hone his skills


    During those ten months of pregnancy, when Sophie was gued by severe morning sickness, Colby never left her side, making sure she was always within his sight.


    Then Fiona was born. After her arrival, their chances to travel dwindled Though they could have hired a nanny, neither Sophie nor Colby liked the idea of having one at home. So, unless they both felt toozy to tidy up, they rarely hired outside help. Colby ended up taking on most of the household chores.


    "Colby, do you think we''re being irresponsible, hiding away like this?" Sophie asked, leaning into him as they watched the sun dip below the horizon.


    Colby raised an eyebrow and said, "The kids are grown now. It''s time for us to enjoy our own lives."


    Colby had been eagerly waiting for Fiona to turn eighteen. Now that she was off to college, in the Costello family tradition, that meant she was an adult, ready to spread her wings.


    "Colby, all these years of marriage, and I still haven''t heard much about your childhood. Will you tell me?"


    Usually a man of few words, Colby was more talkative with Sophie than with anyone else. To strangers or casual acquaintances, he was a man of mystery.


    "My childhood stories..." Colby smiled softly, saying, "That''s a very, very long story..."