Chapter Twenty-Nine
Audrey
One Year Later
Catalina Island doesn’t change. It’s the same quiet, quaint, ocean-kissed gem I fell in love with. It still smells like coffee, salt air, and wildflower dreams. It still holds countless memories in its hills, some remembered and some you simply feel when the wind hits just right. Something has changed, though. Me... or more accurately, us .
I’m outside, curled up on a chair, my laptop balanced on my knees, the soft hum of the waves syncing with the rhythm of my fingers on the keys. The title glows across the screen. A Flight of Love — a novel by Audrey Young.
This novel is a book about a woman who ran... and a man who flew straight to her. Somehow, somewhere, they both learned how to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground while still allowing each other to lift off every once in a while.
I finished the novel, never expecting it to do anything more than live on my hard drive like a love letter to the man my feelings grow stronger for each day. I wasn’t brave enough to send it to a publisher. But my best friend was.
The call came. It was a literary agent, and there was a bidding war. I didn’t know what to think about it. By the time Wolf came home, my face hurt from smiling so much. Now, I’m sitting here, writing my next novel with confidence. Once I finished the first, I was a goner. I can never go back again.
I blame this all on one very sexy pilot, because a life with him is a life of adventure, a life filled with endless chapters of wild, wonderful, heart-pounding inspiration.
Today isn’t about writing; it’s about celebrating. We’re at the Catalina Wine Mixer, one of our annual gatherings of chaos, champagne, family, and wildly overdressed aviators having far too much fun.
I stash my laptop and rise, smiling as I look at Drake in his velvet blazer, attempting to take over the DJ station. It isn’t going well for him. Chloe is wearing sequins while chasing Peapod and trying not to splash wine all over herself. Jayden’s attempting to teach Sherman how to waltz, which has many bent over in laughter. Mona’s at a table reading auras as people grab oysters on the table beside her. It’s glorious.
Wolf finds me, as he always does, and hands me a glass of champagne. “To my beautiful bride.”
I smile as I gaze at this man I was smart enough to marry. There hasn’t been a single day in the past year that I haven’t thanked the heavens for bringing him into my life. I love him so much.
“I’m incredibly happy,” I tell him as he sips champagne. I set my glass down without him noticing, then walk with him at my side and pick up a glass of sparkling cider. A string quartet begins playing something slow and jazzy behind us. The sun dips low, casting the golden haze Catalina is known for across the water.
I tap my glass with a spoon, and the crowd quiets as all eyes turn our way. Wolf raises a brow but stays quiet as he remains at my side. He never knows what new adventure I’m about to throw his way, but he’s always game for something new.
“I just want to say...” I begin, my voice growing a bit choked as my heart thunders. I smile, take a breath, and continue. “I want to say I’ve never felt luckier to be surrounded by those I love most in this world. This past year has given me more joy than I ever thought possible. It’s given me a husband who makes me lift off every single day, a family who never stops showing me love, a book that’s brought me so much joy to share, and a life that shouldn’t be legal it’s absolutely perfect.”
Applause ripples through our friends and family. Wolf squeezes my hand, gazing at me like I’m the most amazing creature he’s ever seen.
“There’s another chapter coming into our lives,” I say. I pause, then gaze straight into Wolf’s eyes. “We’re having a baby.”
His eyes widen before he smiles, tosses his glass aside, lifting me in his arms, and spinning me while our friends and family cheer around us. Glasses clink. Chloe cries out in pleasure, Drake hugs Jayden who looks like he’s going to faint. My mother cries, and my father puffs out his chest. Everyone’s happy for us.
But Wolf, my sweet, charming, confident husband... his reaction is the best. He gazes at me like I’ve hung the stars, moon, and sun. He lifts me to the very upper heights of heaven, and there’s no chance we’ll ever fall from where we are.
“We’re having a baby?” he asks, his voice choked with emotion.
“We’re have a baby.” It’s been killing me to hold this information in for the last two weeks. But I wanted to be sure, and wanted to announce it in a big way. Our life has never been simple, and I hope it never is.
Wolf kisses me before setting me back down. I giggle and shake away the dizziness. “You’re going to have to be a bit more careful. This morning sickness thing is real.”
He throws his head back and laughs with raw joy. “I’ll bubble-wrap you and cater to your every need.”
I shake my head. “How about you stay my partner and we take care of each other?”
He looks as if he wants to argue, but he knows how stubborn I am. He nods before pulling me close, this time more gently. He kisses me in front of all our loved ones, and I relish the love.
“I love you, Audrey Young.”
“I adore you, Wolf Young.”
He then turns to the crowd. “We’re having a baby!” he shouts. They again cheer as if hearing it for the first time. This is our life, this is the perfection of a love too strong to ever shatter.
The music swells as we get hug after hug and more love than anyone can possibly handle. It’s overwhelming and beautiful at the same time. Our laughter carries to the stars above as they appear over us.
It takes a while, but we manage to slip away from the crowd, kick off our shoes, and walk barefoot into the gently rolling waves, our toes curling in the soft sand.
“How are you feeling?” I ask. He wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“I’ve never felt better. I have you, a bright future, and a family that keeps growing. I have the entire world in my hands, and I’m not sure how it all happened.”
The stars above sparkle like confetti. The wind carries the sound of music and joy behind us. In front of us is nothing but new horizons. Nothing can hold us back.
“Do you think we’ll ever run out of stories?”
He laughs. “There’s zero chance of that ever happening.”
“Remember that when we’re exhausted from a screaming baby.”
He laughs. “I’ll never forget my vows to you, Audrey. You’re my world. This little peanut inside of you will be our world. We’ll share it together and create stories for the rest of our lives.”
I lean against him, once again counting my blessings, once again wondering how I was so fortunate to get this lucky. I won’t question it, just allow myself to bask in the beauty of the moment. I can’t wait to see what comes next.