Chapter 85 Dreams By The Poolside

• Rachel POV
• The late morning sun spilled across the garden, casting a golden glow over the pool, its surface rippling gently in the breeze, reflecting slivers of light like scattered diamonds. I sat cross-legged on the grass, the blades cool and slightly damp beneath me, a faint earthy scent rising from the earth. The puppy Jeremy had bought me—a fluffy bundle of energy with floppy ears and a mischievous glint in its eyes—bounded around us, chasing a squeaky toy with relentless enthusiasm. Its tiny barks echoed through the garden, a joyful counterpoint to the quiet hum of the day, and I couldn’t help but laugh as it tripped over its own paws, tumbling into a heap before scrambling back up.
• Jeremy sat beside me, his legs stretched out, his laughter warm and unguarded, a sound that wrapped around my heart like a favorite song. The garden was a small oasis behind the house, bordered by blooming jasmine vines that filled the air with a sweet, heady fragrance, their white petals stark against the green. The poolside chairs were neatly aligned, their cushions faded from years of sun, and a faint chlorine tang mingled with the scent of grass and flowers. It was a perfect moment, one of those rare slices of time where the world felt soft, safe, and ours. Jeremy’s presence, his easy smile and the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, made it all the more precious, especially after the storm of emotions that had gripped us lately—Cody’s arrival, my parents’ fears, the weight of secrets and threats that never seemed to fade.