Penny was all smiles as she led the way through the front doors of the resort, having felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders the moment they landed on the island.
A whole week of no work, no college courses, no boyfriend... no real responsibilities, which is something she wasn't used to at that time in her life.
She was excited to be away from the chaos of the world around her and in a place that felt as close to paradise as one could get.
"Slow down, speed racer." Lindsey chuckled softly, already carrying a drink in one hand and using the other to put on the Hawaiian lei that he was given outside.
"She's excited." Erin was trailing along side him, a smile on her face as she watched Penny travel down the hallway.
She was only thirty- five and even though her relationship with Lindsey's daughter hadn't come easy or natural, she was trying her best... She expected to eventually be more than just the girlfriend and she knew that there was no way of that ever happening if Penelope didn't approve of her.
She came first in Lindsey's life- she always had and she always would, no matter how old she got... And Lindsey had always made that clear to every other woman that entered their lives.
"We should go to the pool?" Penny glanced back over shoulder, holding her room key in hand as they made it to their side by side suites.
Nodding his head, Lindsey gave her a thumbs up. "Sounds like a plan, kid." He smiled softly, leaning into the wall as he waited for Erin to open their door.
She slipped in first and he waited in the hallway to make sure Penny made it inside her room before he headed in behind Erin. "I think this will be good for us." She announced the second they were alone.
She wanted nothing more for Penelope to like her and in return, she wanted to also like Penny... It was hard when her attitude was through the roof, occasionally.
Erin felt like she was a bit spoiled and it wasn't easy for her to see eye- to- eye too often.
"I think so too."
~~~
"It's very nice." Stevie was standing outside on the bedroom balcony, overlooking the vast blue water.
Nodding his head, Dan carefully wrapped his arm around her waist from behind. "You are so beautiful..." he whispered, chin meeting her shoulder as he stared out over the beach as well.
They had just gotten into Maui and since both of his daughters were in bad moods from the long flight, they all split up and went their separate ways to take naps and get some much needed time apart.
Tilting her head to the side, she felt him leave a couple of soft kisses on the curve of her neck. "Uh, huh..." her heart was already beating a mile a minute as she set her cup of coffee down on the railing to have free hands.
He smirked softly, taking the hand that had the diamond ring he'd just given her on it. "I love you." His voice was soft, playfully nibbling on her wrist to get her to laugh a little.
And it worked- a soft giggle escaped her and she sank back into him a little more. "I love you." She repeated, brown eyes shifting to stare at him out of the corner of gaze. "But I need to finish my coffee so we can go down to the pool." She chuckled, slipping her hand away from him.
She wasn't an overly affectionate person, not often... not anymore. After years of therapy, she had come to the conclusion that that was no longer one of her love languages. She didn't find comfort or solitude in being held or admired... She used to appreciate it, but the older she got, the harder it become and even though Dan had only been present the last couple of years of her life, he already understood that.
Patting her hip, he gently let her go to sink back into the railing next to her. "The girls said something about going with you to the spa tonight...." He lingered, knowing already that she'd like to hear that.
She has never raised children... He didn't know that she even had children, so for her, being with his kids was kind of difficult at times. She wanted to be a good step mom, but there were occasions when it didn't feel right to be there for two daughters that weren't hers, but she was trying her very best.
"That'll be a lot of fun for us." She nodded in agreement, pushing herself away to head back through the French doors and into the suite, where the sound of the radio that she'd turned on immediately welcomed her. "I'll get around for the pool and then we can head out, if you want." She shrugged softly, biting down on her bottom lip as she let her shawl fall off her shoulders and hit the accent chair.
"Can't wait." His eyes scanned over her side profile, watching as she began to take out her earrings and get ready to leave.
He loved her, he really did, even though it had always been a bit more complicated than most relationships... He always felt like there was something more to her story- something she wasn't quite open about.
"I'll mosey across the hall and tell the girls." He announced, which caused her to chuckle in return.
She waited until he had left the room before she put on her one piece swim suit with a coverup hiding it, along with a pair of wedges, big sunglasses and a hat to shield her skin from the hot afternoon sun.
She wasn't that excited for a week in Hawaii, not when it brought up so many memories and so many regrets... She'd lost one of the most important people in her life there.
Anywho, she tried to push all that to the back of her mind and by the time she was stepping out of the room, a young blonde was traveling right passed. And before either of them noticed the other, they ran right into one another.
"I'm so sorry." She let out a soft laugh, grabbing ahold of the older woman so she didn't fall.
Stevie froze instantly, eyes melting into the identical brown orbs that she hadn't seen in two decades... Her brown eyed girl.
"I should have been paying more attention." Penelope shook her head, becoming super embarrassed instantly. "I'm so-"
Stevie held up a hand as she very clearly scanned over every detail of her daughters face. "It's okay, honey." She assured, heart actually skipping a beat.
She had only imagined what she looked like for years... But she was far more beautiful than Stevie could even think up.
Giggling lightly, she nodded her head. "Have a good time." Penny patted her arm, rolling her eyes at herself as she started to head back down the hall.
Stevie waited until she made it to the elevator and then she fell back against the wall, tears filling her eyes as she tried to catch her breath.
