Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Nicholas and I each carried a tray over to where Blair and our daughter, Destiny, were just stepping out of the pool. Water droplets glistened on my beautiful wife’s arms.
Blair’s eyes widened as Nicholas and I approached. “What’s with all the drinks? We’re a party of four, not eight.”
“These will last us the afternoon. I didn’t know what you girls would want, so I brought a variety.”
Blair dried our daughter off and got up on her tippy toes to kiss me. “I want the hot dad,” she whispered in my ear.
“Some things never change.” I winked. “Don’t you find it ironic that when you met me you assumed I was someone’s dad, and now I am the dad to your two kids?”
“That’s one of many ironic things about our story, but yes.”
“Very true, baby.” I smiled.
This was our first family vacation since Destiny—whom we called Dessy for short—had been born three years ago. Midnight Key seemed like the obvious choice, not only because it cost us next to nothing, but because Blair and I hadn’t been back here since the time we’d met. Our triumphant return to the place where it all started had been long overdue.
Nicholas was now eight, and I was having the time of my life raising these kids. Blair and I had gotten into a real groove over the past few years. I’d coordinated my work schedule around the three days she worked twelve-hour shifts as a labor and delivery nurse. That way one of us was always with the kids.
About a year after we’d gotten engaged, we got married. We had a traditional church wedding and reception—the whole nine. Blair had said she didn’t care about all the fanfare, but I still found myself self-conscious about having taken opportunities from her, and didn’t want her to miss out on anything. So I’d insisted on the big wedding, afraid she’d regret it if we didn’t. I still struggled with occasionally feeling like I didn’t deserve her or this life, but nevertheless, they were both mine, and I never took that for granted.
Taylor had been my best man at our wedding. I think becoming a father to Delaney had helped him to see how imperfect we all are as parents, and my granddaughter was the glue that helped put our family back together. I’d always be thankful for Taylor’s forgiveness and the true second chance he’d given me after working through his issues with Blair and me. Taylor and I hanging out in the yard with our two little girls was always a sight to see. Every day with my family felt like a gift.
I looked over as Nicholas reached for a napkin and wiped his sister’s bathing suit after she spilled some of her red slushie on herself. He was a good big brother and coming into his own. Nicholas loved flying drones and building stuff, while dancing was Dessy’s thing. I’d sometimes take her to toddler dance classes on the afternoons Blair had to work. That was about the last thing I’d imagined I’d be doing in my mid-forties. But Blair’s father’s curse had fully come true, and with every year that Dessy got older, I braced myself. Of course, she had to look just like Blair, except with my dark hair. I was gonna be in trouble someday. At least she had two older brothers to back me up.
Blair took a sip of her iced coffee and turned to Nicholas. “Did you know this is where I met your daddy?”
His eyes went wide. “Midnight Key?”
“Yup.”
“How old were you when you met him?” he asked.
Oh boy.
She glanced over at me. “I was nineteen.”
“Almost twenty.” I cleared my throat.
Blair laughed.
“How old was Dad?” he asked.
“Thirty-six,” she offered.
Nicholas’s brows drew in. “Did you think he was weird, Mom?”
“Not at all.” She laughed. “I was sort of the weird one back then.”
“I can attest to that.” I raised my hand. “But meeting your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
His forehead scrunched. “What did you guys do here?”
“We went kayaking and…ate a lot.” Blair cleared her throat.
Right. I remembered being very hungry on that trip. “We explored the jellyfish a bit, too…” I smirked over at Blair.
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “So I wouldn’t be here if you’d never met?”
“That’s right.” She pinched his cheek. “And I couldn’t imagine that.”
“Me neither.” He sipped his slushie.
“You know what we can do later?” I tickled my daughter.
“What?” Dessy squeaked.
“There’s a dessert bar, and you know what they have?”
“What?” She kicked her legs excitedly.
“Your favorite. Strawberries dipped in chocolate!”
“My favorite, too,” Blair chimed in.
“Your favorite thing to torture me with, yes,” I murmured. “I’ll never forget that.”
“It was all part of my evil plan.” She winked.
I had my own evil plan tonight and could only hope the kids would sleep soundly so I could get some action. At least we had a suite with a separate bedroom. Wish me luck.