He’s about to get his best friend back. And he’s also about to get his first child.
The first of many he told me last night when I told him.
I couldn’t agree more.
We’ve got a lot of work to do to fill up that house in Bali. It’s too big for the two of us, but a house full of kids?
Just right.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Oliver
Ten years later
“Go ahead and toss the anchor, mate,” I say to our oldest son Lachlan.
He throws the anchor overboard just like I showed him at the port and I throw the anchor out the back. The boat comes to a standstill a few moments later.
“All right, kids. Last one to the shore’s a rotten egg,” I yell.
Lachlan, age nine, is immediately out the front and into the water. He’s paddling towards the shore as fast as he can in his life jacket.
Matilda, our seven-year-old, it out the side of the boat right after him and she’s close on his heels…also in a lifejacket.
I give the kids a good head start and then I’m in the water.
Charlotte stays back with Georgia, our three-year-old. She already told me she wanted to get some sun on the deck before the crowds started to roll in.
We’ve been sailing around the Croatian islands for ten days now. As an Aussie sailing is practically in my blood, and I want it to be something my kids experience at a young age as well. I hope they love it as much as I do so it’s something we can share for years to come.
So far, so good. The kids have been great and are really enjoying our trip.
But today is something special. We’re at Stiniva Cove in Vis, Croatia. It’s an island that’s harder to get to compared to some of the others and the beach we’re at was named Europe’s best beach a few years back. It looks like something out of a James Bond movie, which intrigued me. And the privacy aspect of the way it’s laid out made me want to check it out even more.
I’m all about days with just our family and our family only. I don’t want to share them with anyone on this trip. They do enough running around with their sports, and recitals, and other school stuff during the year. This time is our time, our family time.
Dad made sure of that.
As soon as I reach the shore I see another boat off in the distance making its way towards the cove.
I quickly high five the kids for a great swim to the shore and tell them to sit tight on the rocks. This is a peaceful place and no one will bother them…and I’m going to make sure no-one will bother my family either.
I paddle out towards our boat and motion for the other guy to turn around.
“Not right now, buddy,” I say. “We were here first. It’s our beach until the top of the hour and then anyone can join.”
The man looks at me and opens his mouth like he’s going to pop off, but he sees the intensity in my eyes and puts the engine in reverse and backs away. Wisely he doesn’t mumble anything under his breath.
I keep an eye on him until he’s far enough away and then I board our boat again.
“You’re getting better,” Charlotte says.
“Nobody compromises our happiness. We were here first and this beach is ours.”
“After forty-five minutes or so the kids will be ready to try out somewhere new and he can have it all to himself.”
“Exactly,” I say. “As long as he doesn’t lose his mind and try anything crazy before then,” I say.
“Come here,” Charlotte says.
I kneel down on the deck and she kisses me on the cheek. I’m still watching that boat to make sure he drops anchor.
“Honey, it’s okay. We already won. You already won. We’ve got the beach to ourselves for a while. Let’s enjoy it.”
“I am enjoying it,” I say. “I get more satisfaction out of giving my family the best things in life I can and a moment here alone to have this beach to ourselves is priceless.”
“You’re priceless,” she says.
I turn to her and the reflection of the morning sun off the water sparkles in her beautiful big brown eyes.
“You’ve been watching over us for ten plus years now and I thank you for it…and love you for it,” she says.
“You still have that beautiful swan-like neck that I love so much,” I say. “Wait. What is this?” I say seeing a bruise on her neck. “Where did this come from?”
“Very funny? You don’t remember?”
“No. Tell me.”
Her finger comes up to my lips. “Your kisses got a little carried away last night Mr. Hickey Giver.”
“I did that?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t remember.”
“I told you long ago. When we get together it’s like lightning strikes me. I lose control every time. I get totally lost in consuming you, being one with you, feeling that first time all over again, my love.”
“What does my love mean?” Georgia asks.
“My love is what you call a person you love,” I say to her. She’s so adorable.
“Should I call you mommy and daddy or my love?”
“Come here, precious,” I say bringing her close to me and holding her tight.
“My love,” she says.
“You’re my love,” I say to her.
“Dad! Hurry. Let’s jump from the side of the canyon.”
“That boy is fearless, Oliver. Can you please keep an eye on him?” Charlotte asks.
“Only when my eyes aren’t on you…so I can’t promise anything.”
I give her a wink and turn to see Lachlan climbing the side of the cliff in his life jacket.
The cliff faces in at an angle and his lifejacket is on tight so I know he can’t do anything other than have fun. Plus I studied the underwater geography before we came and looked at it on our underwater map that our sonar system provides when we arrived.
No way am I ever letting anything happen to my children or my wife.
They are mine after all. Mine all mine.
Forever and always.
“Beat you to the top!” I say.
I turn back and look at my beautiful wife. The mother of my children. My soul mate. She gives me a wink and slaps me on the ass which I use as an excuse to playfully fall over the side.
“You’re strong,” I say when I breach the surface.
“My love for you. That’s what’s strongest,” she says.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you,” she says.
“My love!” Georgia says pointing at me.
“That’s right my love!” I say pointing back at her.
She giggles and her mom tickles her making her laugh even more.
This is what life’s all about. Time together as a family. Our time.
And no matter how hard I try I can’t ever get enough.
“Hurry, dad. Matilda’s beating you too!” Lachlan says.
I turn and see my two oldest children already a good five or six feet up the rock.
“I’m coming for you!” I say and swim towards them.
“And I’m going to catch you,” I say to myself. “Because you’re mine.”
“My love!” Georgia says again.
“That’s right! My love,” Charlotte yells.
That’s my family all right. One for all and all for one.
And we do it all for our love of each other. Just the way it’s meant to be.
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian