20. Twenty

Twenty

Cass

The salty tang of the ocean fills my lungs as I take in the sleek lines of the boat I’ve rented. The early morning chill settles over me, heightening the anticipation. I glance warmly over at Kendrick and Cassidy, both staring at the boat with bright eyes. Cassidy bounces with excitement while Kendrick looks at me, her smile sparking a wave of awareness that lingers.

“Cass, are you serious?” Kendrick says, a laugh in her voice. “You’re taking us deep-sea fishing?”

I nod, grinning at their reactions. “Just us and the open ocean.” Looking down at Cassidy, I say, “I wanted your birthday surprise to be something happy and memorable.”

“Thanks, Dad! Best birthday gift ever!” Cassidy squeals, grabbing her mother’s hand and dragging her toward the boat. “Come on, Mom! This is going to be amazing!”

Kendrick rolls her eyes but lets herself be pulled along, and I follow, savoring the simplicity of the scene: just my daughter, her mother, and me heading out for a day where nothing else matters. Once we’re settled on the boat, I nod to the captain, who gives me a thumbs-up before we start heading out to deeper waters.

As we leave the shore behind, the sound of the waves becomes a steady rhythm beneath us, lulling us into a kind of calm that feels like something I’ve been missing for far too long. Cassidy’s leaning over the edge, watching the water with a look of anticipation, and Kendrick’s settled back in her seat, the breeze catching her hair and blowing it around her face. She looks free and at peace, and I can’t help but feel that I had a part in that.

After a while, the captain gives me the go-ahead, and I hand Cassidy a fishing rod, showing her how to attach the harness, hold it steady, and how to set the drag. “Are you ready to prove your fishing skills?” I tease. “This might be tougher than playing the guitar.”

Cassidy’s eyes light up. “I’m ready! Watch, I’m going to catch the biggest fish you’ve ever seen.”

Kendrick laughs from her seat, watching the two of us with an expression that’s warm, open, and unguarded in a way I haven’t seen since Derrick’s unexpected visit. Damn him, anyway. My eyes rake over Kendrick’s form. She’s wearing navy blue shorts that make her legs look impossibly long, and the form-fitting halter top shows off her golden-tanned shoulders. Just looking at her makes my heart pound faster.

“You two with your big talk,” Kendrick says, shaking her head. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Doubt us all you want,” I reply, flashing her a grin. “But today, we’re catching something big. Right, Cassidy?”

Cassidy nods eagerly, her grip tight on the rod as she waits for any sign of movement. I sit back, taking in the scene, letting myself soak up this rare moment where there’s no rush, no pressure, just the three of us and the endless horizon stretching out around us.

After a little while, I feel a tug on my line, and Cassidy gasps, watching as I pull back on the rod to set the hook and start reeling in the line. “See? I told you we’d catch something!” I say, pulling in a decent-sized Mackerel after about a 10-minute fight. Cassidy cheers, her excitement infectious, and even Kendrick laughs as she watches.

I inspect Cassidy’s fishing rod and encourage her to be patient. Promising that soon she’ll be reeling in her own catch. She’s focused and determined, reminding me of myself at her age. She feels a tug not long after and sets the hook just as she saw me do. With a stern look on her face, she intuitively pulls back on the rod and reels in the line as she brings it back down again and again until she successfully brings the large fish to the top of the water near the boat.

The captain reaches out with a gaff and hauls it into the boat as he explains approvingly, “This is a Bonito. It’s not too good for eating, but it’s really fun to catch.”

Noticing that Cassidy is thrilled but exhausted with her catch, I state, “Bonitos put up a good fight. They tend to swim to the bottom after getting hooked. But you wrestled that one like a pro.” Her entire face lights up at my praise. She stands proudly, and I help her hoist the fish high so that Kendrick can snap a picture. “This is quite a catch for your first time fishing,” I tell her, my voice filled with approval.

Cassidy watches as the captain carefully releases it back into the water. And I can’t help my huge smile, knowing this memory is one Cassidy will cherish forever.

As the sun rises higher, casting a bright glow over the water, Cassidy’s attention shifts to something else: the notebook I’ve pulled from my bag. She peers over my shoulder, curiosity written all over her face. “What’s that, Dad?”

I smile. “Just some ideas I’ve been playing around with for a new song,” I tell her. “I’ve been thinking about melodies that remind me of being out here with you two.”

Cassidy’s eyes light up. “Can I see?”

“Sure,” I say, handing her the notebook. She flips through it, pausing here and there to read a line or two, and I can see the wheels turning in her head.

Kendrick leans over, glancing at the notebook, too, and I watch her face as she reads one of the lines I’ve scribbled down. Her expression warms as she looks up at me.

“These are beautiful,” she murmurs, tracing her fingers over one of the lines. “It’s... raw. Honest.”

I nod, feeling a little exposed but grateful for her reaction. “Thanks. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this–like I have something to say. But being here, with you two, the urge to create is all coming back.”

Cassidy tilts her head, her eyes wide. “Oh! I have an idea!”

Kendrick hesitates, glancing from our daughter’s eager face to study mine. “Do you mind if we add our two cents?”

“Not at all,” I say, grinning. “Let’s see what you’ve got. You were always good with lyrics.”

We spend the next couple of hours passing the notebook back and forth, bouncing ideas off each other. Cassidy hums a melody, and I pick up on it, building on the tune until it starts to sound like something real, something worth holding onto. Kendrick adds in a line here and there, her voice blending with mine in a way that feels effortless, like we’re picking up right where we left off all those years ago.

At one point, Kendrick suggests a refrain, something simple but powerful, and when I try it out, it’s like everything clicks into place. The melody, the words, the rhythm—it all flows together, and I can feel the excitement building in me, the thrill of creating something new, something that’s truly ours.

“That’s it,” I say, looking up at them. “That’s the heart of it, right there. This song… it’s good—great even.”

Kendrick smiles, her eyes soft, and she nods. “Yeah. It is.”

Cassidy beams, clearly thrilled to be a part of it, and I realize how much this means to her, to be included in something that’s such a big part of who I am. This isn’t just a song—it’s another precious memory, a moment that we’re creating together, something that we’ll carry with us long after this day is over.

As the sun begins to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the boat, a sense of peace settles over me. I’ve spent so much of my life chasing after something—fame, success, validation—but here, with Kendrick and Cassidy, I feel like I’ve finally found what I was looking for. I am ready to let go of everything else and just be here, fully present, with them.

We head back to shore as the sun begins to set, the sky reflecting hues of pink and orange.

“That was so much fun! I can’t believe the fish we caught.” Cassidy chatters away about learning to fish and the memories we made. “And the song! It’s amazing!” Her excitement fills the air with a kind of joy that’s contagious. Kendrick listens, her expression filled with content, and I feel a surge of gratitude for this moment, for the chance to be here with them, creating something real, something lasting.

As we step off the boat and onto the dock, I reach for Kendrick’s hand, lacing my fingers through hers. She looks up at me, a question in her eyes, and I give her a reassuring smile.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, my voice filled with the weight of everything I can’t put into words. “For today. I feel Cassidy will look back on this day and smile from all the happy memories.”

Kendrick squeezes my hand, her expression softening. “Cass, thank you for arranging this birthday surprise. For us all to be together, especially for allowing Cassidy and me to be a part of your music.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell her softly.

We walk back to the car in silence. But it’s a comfortable silence that speaks of understanding, shared moments, and unspoken promises. Driving back to the house, I grin. Today was a really great day.

By the time we arrive home and have dinner, we’re all feeling exhausted from a day spent in the sun and out on the waves. Cassidy’s eyes droop as she drags herself tiredly to bed, but she has a happy smile on her face.

Glancing over as Kendrick enters the room, I give her a heated glance. “Cassidy will definitely sleep soundly tonight,” I say quietly, giving Kendrick a meaningful look.

I watch as a surge of color creeps up her throat. She had been very reluctant to come to my bed with Cassidy in the house. I tried to be understanding, but I’m glad Cassidy knows about us now. Kendrick’s actions confirm that she hasn’t had many lovers in the years we’ve been apart. I grimace as I can’t say the same. But looking back, I realize all the women meant nothing–not compared to the feelings I have for Kendrick. Feelings I don’t even want to examine too closely, at least not right now.

As she walks by, I grab her hand and give a tug, catching her as she falls onto my lap. “Finally, now I’ve caught something worth keeping,” I say smugly as I nuzzle her neck. Her light-hearted laughter makes me smile.

Carrying her up the stairs to our room, where I make slow love to her. Afterward, I pull her close, her head resting on my shoulder, and as her breathing evens out, I let the quiet realization wash over me—this is where I’m meant to be, with her, in this moment, finally at peace.