Paradise in Progress

Epilogue

Four Years Later

It’s funny how one place can hold so many memories. St. Lucia isn’t just an island anymore—it’s part of our history, woven into every major change in our lives.

Almost four years ago, this island was just another dot on the map. A location for a project with a hard-to-hit deadline, long hours, and more than a little tension between me and Kennedy. Now it’s a living scrapbook holding every milestone, every turning point, and every new chapter of my life.

The private jet jolts as turbulence shakes us mid-descent, and I glance out the window to see the island’s familiar coastline coming into view. Turquoise waters glisten in the sunlight as a wave of nostalgia hits me. Years later, this sight still affects me the same way with a mix of excitement and curiosity for what’s to come. But the subtle dip of the plane drags my focus from the ocean back to the woman sitting beside me .

My wife’s fingers are white-knuckling the armrest as if that’s the only thing holding us in the air. Her face is calm, but her body betrays her.

“Still?” I tease, keeping my voice low as I fight the grin desperate to break free. “After all this time, I thought you’d be used to flying.”

Her eyes dart to me, narrowing slightly, though her lips twitch like she wants to smile. “Oh, shut up,” she murmurs, nodding toward my lap, where something—someone—sleeps soundly, completely unaware of the world around her. “This time, it’s different. Now I have more to lose.”

I let her words hang in the air for a moment, the weight of them sinking in as I look down at the tiny form curled up in my lap. My heart skips a beat.

There she is. Our daughter.

Lucy.

She’s only a year old, but already she’s got the kind of presence that demands attention. The soft curve of her face and her bright red curls just like her mother’s. Lucy’s little hand is nestled against my chest, her fist gripping my shirt as she rests peacefully in my arms.

The island below us stretches into the distance, but I can’t help but focus on her, my daughter, the tiny miracle that changed everything.

We come back to this island for so many reasons—romantic, professional, nostalgic. But it’s never been more meaningful than it is right now. Lucy is named after this place, a quiet homage to the island that brought Kennedy and me together to work out our issues and embrace the chemistry that had been swirling around us all those years ago. It feels fitting, almost like fate .

Looking down at Lucy, I can’t help but marvel at how much life has shifted.

The last few years have been a blur—engaged just six months after we started dating, married a year later in a ceremony that felt like it could’ve been plucked from a dream. Our honeymoon here, followed by the shocking, incredible news that Kennedy was pregnant, something neither of us expected, but both of us embraced wholeheartedly.

Then the birth of our daughter. The sleepless nights and endless days, but also the overwhelming joy that came with it all. Watching Kennedy step into her new role as a mother, all the while continuing to lead as the head architect at our firm, made me fall even more in love with her.

Now, here we are again, four years later, returning to where it all began—with Lucy in tow.

I glance at Kennedy again, her eyes soft but focused on the island below us. As the turbulence settles, I see the small smile on her face. For all the changes, for all the growth and challenges we’ve faced together, she’s still my Firecracker, the one I’ve always loved, and now, the mother of our daughter.

I kiss the top of Lucy’s head, then look out the window again, at the island waiting for us. And as the plane begins its final descent, I know one thing for sure: there’s no place I’d rather be.

As we pull into the resort’s circle drive, the car slows, and I watch as the familiar entrance of the resort comes into view. The lush greenery and towering palms are as beautiful as ever, and the soft hum of the ocean breeze carries with it a sense of calm that never quite fades when we’re here.

We park, the tires making a soft sound as we stop in front of the grand entrance. The moment the car door opens, the warm, tropical air rushes in, wrapping around us like a familiar embrace. I take a deep breath, the salty sea air filling my lungs, and I can’t help but smile. Moving around the car to the opposite side, I remove Lucy from her car seat.

The newly appointed assistant manager is already walking toward us, his wide grin as inviting as the sunshine overhead. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen Jayden, but his enthusiasm is as contagious as ever. After our time on the island, it was a no-brainer to promote our favorite driver to the assistant manager position he deserved. Jayden’s the kind of person you can’t help but be happy to see.

“Mr. and Mrs. Nelson.” Jayden’s beaming smile greets us before stretching his hand out.

“Jayden,” I say while Kennedy takes Lucy from my arms, allowing me to take his hand to shake. “Assistant manager looks good on you.”

He smiles before turning his attention to my wife and daughter. Kennedy lights up. “It’s so good to see you again!”

“Always a pleasure,” he replies, beaming. “And this little one. I can’t believe Lucy’s finally here! You’ve got to be excited to share this place with her.”

Kennedy’s smile softens as she cradles Lucy against her chest. “We are. She’s already making the most of the air here.”

I nod, unable to take my eyes off the way Kennedy looks at our daughter, the glow of the sun casting a golden halo around them both. It takes my breath away .

How did I get so lucky?

Jayden claps his hands together, clearly eager to help us settle in. “I’ll have your bags waiting in the presidential suite. Feel free to take your time and enjoy the resort. The new restaurant is incredible.”

We exchange a glance, both Kennedy and me eager to try out the new Italian restaurant that Michelin star chef, Scott Mariano, wanted to open at our resort after vacationing here a few years ago. While we haven’t had a chance to try out his cuisine, we’ve heard so many incredible things about the menu.

The resort may have changed a bit, but the core of it—the magic that first brought us here—has remained the same.

We thank him, and he heads inside as we begin our stroll toward the beach, bypassing the main entrance. The entrance I remember suggesting and Kennedy glared at me for even daring to question her design. Golden light from the setting sun shines down on us, and I glance down to find Lucy gazing out over the water, her bright hazel eyes wide with wonder.

She squirms in Kennedy’s arms, eager to explore, and Kennedy asks, “What do you think, Luce? Should we let you take your first steps on this sand?”

I chuckle as Kennedy lowers her to the ground. The tiny soles of her feet sink into the warm sand as she looks up at us with that familiar look of curiosity, as if she’s just beginning to realize how big the world around her is.

The ocean, sparkling in the soft light of the afternoon, calls to her. She reaches out toward the waves, and Kennedy carefully helps her take her first steps into the surf .

I pull out my phone, capturing the moment—a memory that feels as sacred as the first time I saw Kennedy take those steps into the ocean. There’s beauty in this shared experience, one that connects us, not just to this island, but to each other, and now to our daughter.

Watching Lucy take her first steps into the ocean, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. This island, our oasis, has been a place of new beginnings, but it’s also become a constant reminder of everything we’ve built together, everything we’ve overcome, and the love that has only deepened over time.

The golden hour fades, but the warmth of the moment lingers as I snap another picture. This is the start of a new chapter for us, and as much as this island will always be our past, it will continue to be our paradise in progress.

The End