Epilogue
Edith
Two years later
“ Y ou okay up there, baby?” Joel asks, looking up at me from his spot in the ocean. The crisp turquoise water looks so inviting as he swims around, but I’m just happy to take this moment to absorb the tranquillity and the love I have for my surroundings.
The weather is warm, the atmosphere so quiet you can hear a pin drop and this mocktail is going down a treat.
For my birthday, Joel surprised me with a two-week trip to the Maldives, and to say I was speechless is an understatement. We’d wanted to have a holiday earlier but with the opening of the new salon and Joel’s busy schedule, it had been delayed for another year. We’d also decided to make it a family holiday and have brought Dad, Daniel, Teddy and Daisy along, too.
I’ve wanted to come here forever, and the fact that he’d remembered had me jumping on him and ripping his clothes off.
Life has been pretty crazy back home since opening and running the new salon. The client turnaround has been bigger and better than I could ever have asked for. Joel has been amazing—helping me design the rooms and the party/chillout lounge—and business has been better than ever .
Six months after opening, myself and Alice decided it was time to bring in a third member to the team and took on Lance, who is our masseur and very popular with the ladies. Helping out with girl’s nights and hen parties, he’s one of the best investments I’ve made and I’ve never looked back.
I watch Joel head up the steps to the decking, water droplets covering his tanned skin as he makes his way over to me.
He presses a loving kiss on my lips. “I thought you were coming in with me?”
“I was. But I decided the view from up here was a lot better.”
He kisses me again. This man is always kissing me, but I don’t complain about it one bit. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. My headache isn’t so bad now.”
“You’ve been getting a lot of those. I’m worried it’s stress.”
I lift my sunglasses to look at him. “How can I possibly be stressed when I have all of this?” I extend my hand out over the decking. “It’s just heat adjustment. This weather makes a real difference from the country life of Appletreewick.”
“Hmm. If you say so. I’m going to dry off and take a lie down. Do you want to join me?”
“I will in a second. I’ll just finish this.”
“Okay. But be naked. I want some alone time with you before we all head out to dinner.” He flicks his towel over his shoulder, his hard body in fine form as his wet swimming shorts mould to his arse perfectly. I bite my lip, trying to restrain myself from jumping him because I can’t get enough of him these days.
Considering all of us have come on holiday, we have each kept ourselves to ourselves. Dad is happy to relax in the hammock with a book. Daniel and Teddy have been exploring the island, and Daisy has her eyes on any hot guy in speedos. However, we all meet up each evening for dinner and enjoy much needed family time.
Finishing my drink, I head inside, making sure he is on the bed like he said he would be before I head over to the living area.
I look at my white lace dress hanging up on the door frame and butterflies take flight once again, causing me to smile. Heading over to the sofa, I pull out a small box from under it. I’d had all of this planned out in my head and was ready to surprise him, even before we came away. I put it all together this morning whilst he was in the shower, and I’ve been both nervous and excited to give it to him all day. I was going to do it after dinner but the need to have him know is too much.
“Edie, come join me. It’s too hot out there now.”
“Coming, babe.”
I head over to him where he lies with his head at the foot of the bed and put the box down at my feet.
Leaning over, I place my hands at his temple and lean down to press a sweet kiss on his forehead. “I love you,” I whisper.
A smile tugs at his lips and his eyes open, holding me. Reaching up, he lightly runs his finger under my chin. “I’ll never get bored of hearing you say that.”
“And I’ll never tire of saying it,” I whisper back. “But I need you to sit up for me.”
He does as I ask, turning himself around to face me. “Why do you look guilty? You were the same this morning after I showered.”
I hold my hands up. “I’ve nothing to be guilty for. But I do have a something for you.”
“Okay,” he says curiously.
Picking up the white box, I place it on his lap.
“What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
He gives me another look before he takes the lid off and my stomach does summersaults waiting for his reaction.
At first, he stares at it. Then his eyes widen, and he looks up at me with joy in his eyes.
“Is this…” he whispers.
I press my lips together, nodding, trying to stop my emotions from spilling because I’ve been sitting on this little secret for three weeks.
“We’re pregnant?”
“We sure are.”
Within seconds, the joy in his eyes turns to pure emotion.
Moving the box aside, he pulls me towards him, presses his head to my stomach and cries, and my God don’t my emotions feel it. I’ve always known how much being a dad means to him, and I hadn’t wanted to just announce it any old way. He pulls back, wiping his eyes before he lifts the tiny baby-grow out of the box, holding it up and reading the words.
To Daddy, I can’t wait to meet you.
“Is this for real?” he asks, his eyes full of fresh tears.
“It’s real. I took six tests to be sure.” I smile, my own tears threatening.
Kneeling to his level, I hold his face in my hands, wiping his tears away as his words make the lump in the back of my throat thicken.
“I’m going to be a dad. ”
“And you will be the best one ever.” I kiss him on his lips. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too. Thank you for making my life with you even more amazing. You have no idea what this means to me, Edie.”
“Believe me, I know exactly what it means to you.”
Which is true, and I know that no matter what, Joel Fitzpatrick will be the best daddy in the world because he’s the best friend and husband I could ever have asked for.
The End