Well after a rather eventful Valentine's Day, we've decided that for the last few days of our trip we will spend it in the company of Julia and Evelyn. Apparently an old friend of the family owns a small boat and is allowing the four of us, and herself, to take a ride out onto the lake - which I'm really excited for. Julia is packing a small picnic for us to eat on the boat and we've left her avant guarde ways in the kitchen; she's barely put the cookbook down since we arrived, although Odette did mention that her mother always used to cook homemade meals for her and Evelyn - I'm assuming Julia's recent love for the topic is due to having both of her girls back home.

Odette and I are sat in her back garden waiting for Julia to finish preparing the picnic basket. I did offer my assistance, however Julia kindly declined and told me to spend time with her daughter - which is something I will never object to. At first when I walked out Odette was nowhere to be found, the garden is long and wide filled with flowers that burst with life; colours distracted me easily as I searched for the blue eyed beauty with no avail. However after several persistent minutes I located her in a small concealed area at the bottom of the garden, her petite body hidden by the large wooden love seat that she occupied. So beautiful.

Velvety white roses outline the love seat, the occasional pink and red ones make an appearance too, but mainly white. I remember deciding that it was my favourite flower, now I'm perfectly certain - this view has just confirmed that entirely. We've been out here for twenty minutes, Odette is sat on my lap and we stare out at the view before us; to our right is the lake, stretching beyond the eyes reach, and to the left is the village - small houses and the quiet bustle of neighbours or shopkeepers. My hands rest around Odette's delicate ones and I subconscious run my thumb back and forth against her skin, a soothing notion that she always seems to find comfort in. 'I love this view,' her in,blue fingers tear from mine as she begins the conversation.

'So do I.'

She sighs, 'I use to come out here when I felt that I couldn't handle all of the constant staring or the hushed whispers. The view just took my breath away, I didn't care about anything else when I sat here.' She relaxes her hands once again and I tighten my grip.

'You don't have to worry about any of that anymore.'

Odette turns around to face me, 'Harry, you can't protect me from everything.'

'No, you're right. But I can take your mind off it completely, just think of me as your new view.' I wink cheekily resulting in a chuckle and a light blush.

'You're a pretty good view.' I smile inwardly at her comment, I love how she's becoming more confident and a lot cheekier in my company - it makes me happy to know that she's comfortable when we're together and she can be herself, not having to worry about what people think or how people look at her pitifully. I bite my lip and suppress my own blush, she's incredible; she can just completely turn the tables and leave me absolutely speechless - she is a vision.

I sigh contentedly. I love her so much and I'm almost certain the feeling is mutual - it's like our affection bounces off of each other, it hits us like a wave at times, I can simply look at her and fall in love with her by the second; it's endearing and somehow we don't have to actually say it, we just know. Whatever is happening between us isn't just a crush or a small fling, this is real, it's so completely and utterly real.

"Are you two lovebirds ready? We're set to go." I turn my attention to Julia only to find her struggling with the weight of the large woven picnic basket and the tartan blanket that is lay across it.

I jump up immediately to assist, much to her dispute. The basket is fairly light and I carry it with ease, using my free hand to grasp Odette's waist; Julia simply smiles at my subconscious action as Odette buries her now reddened face into my chest as usual, "so we're going on your friends boat Julia?" I chuckle.

"Yes, she's very excited to see you both." A knowing smile traces her lips as we walk through the house and into the living area - according to Julia, her friend is going to be meeting us here and then we'll drive to the docks; I think I'll offer to drive, it would be nice for the ladies to catch up after all this time apart.

"Julia, do you mind if I drive? Then all of you can talk without one being excluded."

"Oh no Harry you don't have to do that," she replies modestly, her hospitality flowing as she offers to drive yet again, "you want to spend time with Odette, I'm perfectly happy to drive, but thank you for your offer."

"No it would be nice to get to know the area, Odette and I have spent a lot of time together, it would be nice if she had some 'girl time'." I use my fingers to infer quotation marks and Julia chuckles, she nods in surrender and I take the car keys as a large gust of wind passes us.

'Do I not get a say in this?' Odette's delicate fingers sign and a smile overtakes her lips, amused at the fact her mother and I forgot about her presence...she's so quiet though, in my defence.

"No baby." She laughs at my bluntness and I smile down at her lovingly, just as Evelyn enters with the dance teacher from mine and Odette's Valentine's Day venture.

"Ahh María!" Julia squeals and jumps up from the couch opposite us to greet her old friend. I sit flustered, this woman has seen my mediocre dancing skills, and now she's here...this is humiliating. "You remember Harry right?" Julia smirks. How does she know? Did someone tell her? Was it Odette?

My beautiful neighbour runs over to María and embraces her, it must be so hard for her to relive the life she's tried so hard to forget - It just reminds me of how proud I am, she's come so far to be back here, and I'd like to think that I've helped that. The two women have a private conversation in FSL that I don't even attempt to understand, I've learned now that they're most likely talking about me so I just turn my attention to something else. "Harry it's a pleasure to see you again, Julia has told me so much about you..." Ah, so I've found the culprit! "I've heard you're taking very good care of Odette."

I laugh, "I'm doing my best."

"Well, keep doing it, I've never seen her this happy in my entire life, and I've known her since she was born."

"Yes ma'am."

The drive to the docks wasn't that bad in all honesty, with Odette sitting sideways in the passenger seat it enabled her to gabble mindlessly with the remaining women located in the back seat - I've heard nothing but constant compliments today from them, even if I do the most minuscule thing they always seem to pick up on it and coo like the mothers they are; Evelyn hums happily to herself as she admires the passing scenery from her window, she looks really contented and I'm happy to see her so gleeful.

Once there, I park the car in a desolate piece of land that María directs me to and grab the picnic basket from the boot, immediately I grab Odette's hand in mine resulting in subtle squeals from Julia and María; I can't help but smile at their childish gesture, they're like big kids and it's wonderful to see - especially after all that Julia's been through, it's nice to think of how happy she is now in comparison to all the tough times her and her daughters have had to face. María's boat is absolutely brilliant, it sits looking magnificent as it waits patiently to sail once more; she mentioned that it was an anniversary gift from her husband a few years ago, and how she has adored it ever since.

Luckily enough all of the women here are equipped with the mechanics and can successfully drive the boat, apparently Evelyn has driven it too - with supervision of course. I was reassured that we weren't going to go too far into the water, just enough so that we can anchor down and enjoy our picnic in peace, floating on the delicate blue ripples of the lake. "Who's having the ham sandwich? Was that Evelyn or Odette I can't remember." María sighs trying to be a good hostess.

"I'll do that María, don't worry, you go and sit down mon ami." Julia takes over and María places herself next to me. I fail to acknowledge her as I'm too entranced by the tickle fight taking place in front of me between Evelyn and Odette, their smiles light up the sky and I can't help but chuckle at the adorable sibling encounter.

"Ah to be young and in love again."

I glance at María with a smile, "I must admit it's an incredible feeling." Once again I'm admiring my wonderful neighbour as María continues the conversation - my attention seems to drift in an out to the sound of her voice as I watch the scene in front of me, however I almost miss a vital piece of information for a second and have to do a double take just to make sure I've heard her correctly, "wait, niece?"

María pauses her sentence and smiles at me, "yes, Evelyn and Odette are my nieces. Did you not know?" So this means that I'm on a boat with two lots of sisters? Well I'd never have guessed - although it seems understandable considering how close Julia and María are, they're obviously more that just old friends.

Seagulls honk in the clear sky above us as we finish the well made picnic. I don't know how but Julia seems to make any food imaginable taste like it's been sent from the heavens, she's a true master in the kitchen - her culinary skills are impeccable. After a small game of cards with Evelyn and a lengthy conversation with Julia I finally find time to spend with my favourite person, she's lying on the wall that borders the boat and holds tightly into the metal rail that surrounds it. She obviously wants to get a tan, but doesn't want to fall off the boat - her eyes are closed as she relaxes and I can't help it... I have to do it.

"I'm in love with you." I say in a voice that's just louder than a whisper. She doesn't hear me of course but that doesn't matter, I'm proud that I've finally found the courage to say it to her - it feels like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders as I watch her, so graceful and beautiful. She has no idea how incredible she is, I love her, I truly love her. My lips, like magnets, connect with her lips straight away and she doesn't hesitate in the slightest; she knows it's me: my body, my warmth, my smell, it's always been me, and I hope it will be for a long time in our future.

"You didn't tell me that María was your auntie." I whisper against Odette's cheek, praying that she's able to decipher my words, and as always she doesn't disappoint.

'Yeah,' her fingers manoeuvre gracefully for me to read.

"Well I can see the resemblance, María and Julia do look quite similar." I kiss the side of her head, our positions have changed and I'm now lay down with Odette lying between my legs, her back against my chest and her cheek against my lips.

'María is Peter's sister, not my mothers. Some of his family lost all respect for him when he abandoned us.' She explains and everything seems to slot in to place like a jigsaw puzzle, the clogs in my mind turning slowly as more of her mystery unravels itself.

I lighten the mood and highlight my most obvious mistake, "maybe they don't look like each other then." Her beautiful laugh erupts in a small whisper and I can't help but wriggle my fingers into her side, just to hear it again - that incredible sound from her forms a flutter in my chest...oh to be young and in love.

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