Always by Sarah Jio

Author:Sarah Jio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2017-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

FEBRUARY 18, 1997

“Happy birthday,” Cade says, poking his head into my cubicle at the Herald. Startled, I look up from my computer screen to see him standing in my doorway holding an enormous bouquet of red roses. He wears a gray zip-up hoodie, jeans, and black Converse shoes. His hair is a bit tousled.

“You remembered,” I say, standing up to kiss him.

“Of course I remembered,” he replies with a grin. “And now I need you to go home and pack your suitcase, because we have a three-thirty flight to catch.”

I shake my head. “What do you mean?”

His smile is infectious. “I’m taking you to Big Sur.”

“Big Sur?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he continues. “I figure everyone should see the place where their parents met. And don’t worry, I talked to your editor. Your schedule is officially cleared for the next four days.”

I bite my lip, hardly able to contain my excitement. Big Sur! “But do you have the time? Can you get away for that long?”

“For you, yes,” he says with a smile. “James can handle things while I’m gone.”

I recall an argument he had with James last week, something about the purchase of a recording studio, but I don’t mention it. If he’s okay with the trip, then I should be, too. And I am. I’m happy, and excited, and touched, all at the same time. It’s been eight months since we started dating, and after Tracy and Mark went to New York last month, I’ve secretly been dying to travel with Cade, even just a simple adventure to the San Juan Islands, a few hours north.

“So you told her, then,” Jan says, appearing in the doorway with a satisfied smile.

I nod. “Thank you,” I say to Jan, reaching for my coat and bag. “I’m going to Big Sur!”

“I expect a column out of this,” she says half-seriously.

I nod, unable to stop smiling.

“Happy birthday, Kailey.”

—

Cade rents a convertible in San Francisco, and we put the top down and drive south to Highway 1, passing through Monterey and Carmel, cool wind in our hair, smiles on our faces, music blasting through the speakers. The road is narrow and winding, and I cling to my seat as the car hugs the edge of the cliffs that drop down hundreds of feet to the sea.

The terrain is breathtaking, the air intoxicating. I’ve never smelled anything like it, in fact—this aromatic blend of the bark of redwood trees and the spray of salty ocean air. No wonder my parents fell in love here. It’s magic.

I glance over at Cade, who looks a slight shade of green. “You’re carsick,” I say, feeling a little queasy myself.

He nods and pulls over at an outlook ahead, where a group of tourists are posing for the camera.

“Wow,” he says, taking a deep breath. “That drive is as beautiful as it is nauseating.”

We laugh together, and then he reaches for his camera in the backseat and tells me to pause by the ledge. “Right there,” he says, looking through the camera lens.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.