Chapter 81

• Alexis
• I stepped out of the car with Valen clutching my hand. His fingers squeezed mine as if he could sense my nervousness. Peter's parents' house was an inviting story building with a wrap-around porch. Its white paint had faded just enough to give it a rustic charm. The shutters were a soft blue, blending with the surrounding ocean views. Seashells and bits of driftwood lined the pathway to the front door, and I loved the garden bursting with tropical flowers. The air smelled fresh and salty, mingled with the faint sweetness of hibiscus.
• An elderly man with a broad smile stepped onto the porch. His white hair was neatly combed, and his warm eyes crinkled with genuine welcome. His wife followed, wiping her hands on an apron. She was middle-aged, with a youthful glow that suggested a lifetime of island sun and laughter.