Chapter 47

Cecilia

The morning sun was already brutal by the time Sophia pulled up in a white Range Rover.

Alice emerged from the villa a moment later. She was wearing another one of those dresses—pale yellow this time, with ruffles at the hem and a bow at the waist. She looked like she was about to attend a child's birthday party, not spend a day at the beach.

"Alice," I called out, forcing brightness into my voice. "Come on, get in."

She climbed into the backseat beside me, and Sophia started the engine.

"You okay?" I asked quietly.

Alice nodded and met my eyes, saying happily, "Yeah. I'm fine. "Even though I'm forced to wear this kind of dress again, at least I get to go out with you."

The drive to the cove was beautiful—winding coastal roads with the ocean stretching out endlessly on one side, the water shifting from deep blue to turquoise as we got closer to shore.

Sophia kept up a steady stream of chatter about the area, pointing out landmarks and telling stories about her previous trip here with Carter. Her voice was light, almost nervous, like she was trying too hard to fill the silence. Alice stayed quiet, staring out the window, and I let her be.

When we finally arrived, the cove was even more stunning than Sophia had described. It was secluded, private—the kind of place you'd see in a travel magazine and assume was too perfect to be real.

"Wow," Alice breathed, her eyes widening as she took it in.

"Right?" Sophia smiled, looking genuinely pleased. "It's one of my favorite spots."

I grabbed the beach bag from the trunk and turned to Alice. "Before we do anything else, we're getting you out of that dress."

Alice blinked. "What?"

"That dress." I gestured at the yellow monstrosity. "It's beautiful, but it's not you. Come on, I brought some of my clothes. Let's find something you actually like."

I led Alice over to a shaded spot near the trees and pulled out a duffel bag I'd packed that morning. Inside were a mix of my clothes—denim cutoffs, tank tops, a leather jacket I'd thrown in on impulse because I remembered the way she'd looked the first time we met, all sharp edges and raw confidence.

"Pick whatever you want," I said, spreading the options out on the sand.

Alice's eyes lit up as she rifled through the bag, her fingers brushing over the fabrics with something close to reverence. Finally, she pulled out a pair of denim cutoffs and a loose black tank top. "It's my favorite style."

"I think it suits you too." We smiled at each other.

She changed quickly behind a palm tree, and when she emerged, she looked like a completely different person. Gone was the doll-like, fragile girl in ruffles and bows. In her place was someone confident, sharp, alive. She even tied the leather jacket around her waist, and I grinned.

"Now that's more like it," I said. "You look like you again."

Alice smiled—really smiled—and it was like watching the sun break through clouds. She threw her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder.

I hugged her back, my chest tightening.

When we walked back over to where Sophia had set up the lounge chairs, Sophia looked up and gave Alice a tentative smile. "You look great."

Alice didn't respond, but she didn't look away either, and I took that as progress.

We spent the next hour wandering along the beach, the waves lapping at our feet. The air was warm but not stifling, and the sound of the ocean was soothing in a way I hadn't realized I needed.

Alice walked close to me, her shoulder occasionally brushing mine, and I could feel some of the tension leaving her body with each step.

Sophia trailed a few feet behind us, quiet, and I didn't try to fill the silence.

Then we heard it—a piano.

The melody drifted over the sand, soft and haunting, carried on the breeze. I turned toward the sound and saw a man sitting at a grand piano set up near a cluster of palm trees further down the beach, his fingers moving over the keys with practiced ease. The music was classical, something that felt like it belonged to the ocean itself—fluid and endless and full of longing.

Alice's face lit up. "Oh my god, do you hear that?"

Before I could answer, she grabbed my hand and took off running toward the sound, her laughter ringing out over the beach. I let her pull me along, both of us stumbling and laughing as the sand shifted under our feet. Behind us, I could hear Sophia's footsteps as she followed at a more measured pace.

As we got closer, I noticed Sophia had picked up her pace and was now walking ahead of us, drawn to the music like a moth to flame. By the time Alice and I reached the piano, slightly out of breath, Sophia was already standing near it, her eyes closed and her face tilted up toward the sky. She looked like she was somewhere else entirely, lost in the music.

Alice stopped a few feet from the piano, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's so beautiful," she breathed.

I glanced at Sophia, who seemed completely unaware of us. Her hands were clasped in front of her, and there was something almost peaceful about her expression, like the music had stripped away all her defenses.

"Sophia!" I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the piano.

She blinked, her eyes snapping open, and for a moment, she just stared at me like she didn't recognize me. Then she shook her head and walked over to where Alice and I were standing, her expression shifting back to something neutral and polite.

"Sorry," she said breathlessly. "I got distracted."

I didn't say anything, just turned back to Alice, who was still swaying slightly to the music. We stood there for a few more minutes, letting the melody wash over us, before I finally tugged on Alice's hand.

"Come on," I said gently. "Let's go snorkeling."

The water was warm and clear, and the reef below was teeming with life. Sophia swam nearby, keeping a respectful distance. She didn't try to join us, didn't try to force conversation. She just... existed.

When we finally surfaced, all three of us were breathless and grinning.

"That was amazing," Alice said, her voice full of genuine joy. "I've never done anything like that before."

"Never?" I asked, treading water beside her.

She shook her head, pushing wet hair out of her face. "Max doesn't like me going in the water. He says it's dangerous."

"Well," I said, forcing my voice to stay light, "Max isn't here right now. So let's make the most of it."