The plane touched down on the private island with a smooth landing. The warm breeze greeted everyone as they filed out of the plane, stepping onto the soft sand of Sonny’s private island. Adela, holding Adrian’s hand, looked around, wide-eyed with excitement. “Wow, is this where you and Mama came before?”
Kristina, smiling warmly, nodded. “Yes, sweetie. Your mom and I had our honeymoon here, you were with grandma Alexis, but you were too little to remember
“Oh” Adela said, a little disappointed
Kristina noticed Adela’s disappointment, and smiled down at her
“but guess what?”
“What”? Adela said curiously.
“We get to make new memories”! Kristina told her
“Yayy!” Adela exclaimed.
Allie stood beside Kristina, her arm around her waist, her eyes scanning the familiar landscape. “It feels so good to be back here,” she said softly, looking at Kristina with a knowing smile.
Kristina nodded, her eyes sparkling with memories. “Yeah, it does. We had so many good times here, didn’t we?”
Carly, standing nearby, stretched her arms out, taking in the beauty of the island. “It’s been so long. It feels good to be back here.” She smiled at Sonny, who was proudly guiding them all toward the vacation home.
“Wow Sonny, Kept this place all to yourself huh?” Alexis said with a wink.
“It wasn’t exactly a secret” Sonny said smiling
“Mama, is this the place you told me that you and dad used to go all the time?” Donna said.
“Yeah sweetie, this is Puerto Rico, isn’t it beautiful”
“It is!” Donna said
“Mama Carly?” Avery said
“Yes sweet girl?”
“This place is huge! Dad owns the whole thing?”
Carly laughed “not the whole thing sweetie, just THIS Island”
“Woah” Avery said astonished
Michael, who had been here with Kristina a few times before, turned to her, his voice full of warmth. “It feels so good to be back here.”
Kristina gave him a soft smile. “Yeah, it really does. So many great memories. And now, I get to share them with the kids”
Adela and Adrian were already running toward the pool, their laughter filling the air as they darted around the large backyard. Danny and Scout followed close behind, eager to explore.
“Wow, uncle Sonny, this place is magical” Molly said, watching the kids run around.
“It is pretty amazing, isn’t it? ” Sonny said with a wink, leading the group inside the vacation home.
The house was just as Kristina remembered—open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the ocean.
The space was bright and welcoming, filled with cozy furniture and a tropical vibe. It was the perfect place for the large family to unwind and make memories.
“WOW,” Allie said, her hand brushing against Kristina’s.“
Kristina smiled, feeling a sense of peace as she looked around. “I’m glad you like it. It was always my favorite part of the trip- coming here, swimming, and eating dads incredible lasagna.”
Sonny, standing at the front of the group, grinned. “Alright, folks, get settled in! We’ve got two weeks of fun ahead of us. I’ll give you a tour of the rest of the island later, but for now, let’s take a moment to just enjoy.
Everyone dispersed into different parts of the house, the kids already in the pool, and the adults slowly gathering on the large terrace to sip drinks and catch up.
As the evening set in, the family settled around the dining table, the fading orange light of the sunset casting a warm glow on everyone. Sonny raised his glass.
“To family, to memories, and to the time we have here together. Here’s to making this trip unforgettable.”
Everyone raised their glasses, toasting to the beauty of the moment.
For Kristina, this trip felt like a beautiful circle coming full circle. The memories she had with Allie here now intertwined with their life as a family. It was the perfect way to blend the past and present, creating new memories with the people she loved most. It was going to be an unforgettable two weeks.