The Pathway To Us by Elle Vassar

Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, wearing a safari-like hat and khaki shorts. He handed her a large straw hat almost identical to his and a pair of dark sunglasses. Lily turned questioning eyes to Logan.
    He squeezed her hand to reassure her. “There’s a lot of media people outside waiting for us. The glasses will protect your eyes from all of the cameras flashes going off. It’ll be almost blinding without them. The hat is our attempt of trying to keep your face from being splashed all over the newspapers.”
    Her voice was soft and completely trusting. “Okay.”
    Logan bent and spoke into her ear. “Just hold my hand and follow me. There’s a car waiting to take us away from this madness. We can catch our breath there.”
    The crocodile hunter looking dude clapped his hands. “All right, are we ready?”
    Single file, they left the boat Lily holding on tightly to Logan’s hand. It. Was. Insane ! Lily couldn’t believe the scene before her. Everything was surreal. It was worse than anything she could have ever imagined. There were so many people, and they were all pushing and shoving their circle of people. It was so bad that she could barely stand or walk. Logan held her hand even tighter as she did her best to keep up with him. Lights were flashing, people were shouting questions, and cameras were being stuck into their faces. She kept her head low, put one foot in front of the other, and just focused on Logan. It was a short walk from the port to their car, but it felt as if it were miles.
    Logan never let her hand go. Once they were inside the car, she took off her glasses and so did he. Logan was worried about Lily because she’d never been in the public eye before and this was a circus. His concerned eyes connected to hers. “Are you okay?”
    It was the first time since they’d left the island that he’d looked at her with such unvarnished love and concern. If she hadn’t been fine before, the look he’d given her made her feel as if she could fly. Her voice came out light as air. “Yes. I am now.”
    Logan’s father had entered the car and sat back on the other side of the limo watching the exchange. After giving them just a few minutes of time, he cleared his throat. “Logan, your mother and Bree, are going to meet us at the hotel. They are both anxious to see you. I tried to get them to hold off just a bit on a reunion, but it was impossible.”
    The reality of what was going on wasn’t lost on Lily. Logan had a mother and a fiancé who were probably sick with worry and more than ecstatic he was alive. She would be.
    He removed his hand from hers. The tight mask he’d worn earlier returned and all the unspoken realities of their situation exploded. Lily could no longer pretend that it was just them against the world. When the car started to move, it was as if she were on her way to a funeral. She turned her head and looked out of the window willing herself not to cry at this impossible situation.
    They arrived at the hotel much faster than she would have liked. The drive was made mostly in silence. This time, when they exited the car, Logan didn’t hold her hand. Her heart felt as if it were in a vise grip. Lily was grateful for the glasses. She’d put them back on before getting out of the car because they hid the tears that threatened to spill over.
    As soon as they walked into the lobby of the hotel, there were more flashing lights and someone shouting at them.
    “Logan!” The circle of security that surrounded them opened up. An older woman who had eyes just like his was allowed to get through, Lily could only assume it was his mother. Her face was wet with tears as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him to her fiercely as her voice broke. “It’s you. It’s really you.”
    Logan returned his mother’s embrace with a hug as fierce as hers. His own voice was thick with emotion. “Yeah, it’s really me. I’m home.”
    She looked up to the heavens. “Thank you, God, for