Epilogue
Eight months have passed and here we are. My handsome Australian man is by my side as we stand together… and try to work out how the hell this contraption works!
“Shit. The bloody thing won’t lock in!”
I can’t help laughing when I see Daniel trying desperately to cope with the baby seat his son is sleeping in. We are both a little nervous about leaving the safety of the hospital and being at home alone with this tiny person who will rule our lives for the next twenty years at least.
“Language, Daniel!”
“But it doesn’t work! The stupid arse thing does not work!”
He’s getting angry so I take it away from him and lock it into the cradle on the back seat. His mouth drops and his hands fall to his hips. “How the… how did you do that?”
“I don’t know, it just slotted into place.
” He is so sexy when he’s frustrated. I wink at him as I climb in the back of the Range Rover, but screech from the slight sting of his hand as it swipes my arse.
“That’ll teach you to be so smug,” he smirks as he pushes the door shut behind me.
I can’t help but smirk back. I angle my seating position so I can look at our son while we travel and Daniel gets in the front with Jack who is waiting in the driver’s seat.
I shiver as I put on my seatbelt. “Thank God for good heating. It’s bloody freezing out there today.”
“I suppose at some point I’ll get used to being cold in January,” Daniel says while turning back to smile with those smouldering eyes, “but I’ll never get used to having a baby out of marriage.” Then he turns back.
DANIEL
Times up, Hannah May. If you think I’m waiting any longer for you to become Mrs Daniel Grant, you have another thing coming.
Although we’re not yet married, my beautiful girl will always be mine, and she’s given me the greatest gift; my handsome son.
I still think about that crazy girl. Sat on her arse, covered in dirt, swearing at Storm.
I could never imagine she would change my life for the better and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without her.
She is my crazy girl, my strength, my heart, my love and soon, she will be my wife. Where she is, is where I’ll always be.
HANNAH
Once I discovered I was pregnant, it put the brakes on our original wedding plans. I’ve always wanted the fairy tale with the princess dress, so although I’d found my prince charming, the glass slipper would have to wait. I didn’t want to be an elephant walking down the aisle.
Daniel didn’t like it, but eventually agreed to delay our plans until after Charlie was born.
“Stop being so old-fashioned, Daniel. Not everyone who has a baby has to get married,” I laugh. I can say these things to him now. There was a time when all I did was worry about what I’d said, or if I messing up. Not anymore. He’s taught me that our life together is equal.
He turns back. “I don’t feel I have to marry you, I want to. I want you to be my wife and I want everyone to know—”
“Know what?” I ask, teasing him.
“That you belong to me. You’re mine and I’m yours and that little fella in there is the result from our love. Come on, Hannah, Charlie is here now, and you’ve had that engagement ring on your finger for far too long. What do you say?”
What do I say? My mind wanders to the time when Daniel returned to Sydney after I’d accepted his proposal.
That’s when I realised I’d grown as a person and we had something indestructible.
I no longer spent endless days wondering if he would come back.
I knew he would. Finally, I’d met a man I could trust with my heart and soul.
He wasn’t exactly husband material in the beginning, but now we have this unbreakable bond and love that has no boundaries. We’ve been to war and survived.
Daniel also assisted his dad and Richard in successfully prosecuting Matthew.
After that awful day when Matthew showed his true colours in the office, I passed on my findings to Richard and Daniel together.
My loyalties are to both of them in unique ways.
They could never prosecute Matthew for his original crimes against his colleagues, neither could they do anything about his seedy behaviour.
However, after digging a little deeper, some evidence regarding a dodgy bank account in Switzerland turned up.
I’m not sure of the details or how they found it, but let’s just say, Jack is very good at his job.
Matthew will find it very difficult to work in the building sector again.
After a month sorting out all his business and personal affairs (and this time, I’m not talking about women), Daniel returned, with Jack in tow and to the news there was a bun in our oven. To say he was ecstatic would be an understatement. The memory still causes me to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” He eyes me with curiosity, and I realise what my reaction must look like.
“Oh no, nothing… just thinking.”
“About your answer? I’m still waiting.”
“Oh… oh… I can’t make a snap decision now. I’ve only just got out of the hospital and can we have this conversation later, please?”
My chin flicks frantically towards Jack, and Daniel grins.
“Got it,” he mouths, taking the hint. Jack appears oblivious until I catch a wink in the rear-view mirror.
As always, he is incredibly discreet. We were so pleased when he agreed to join Daniel in the UK because although he’s our driver and protector, he is also one of our most trusted friends.
Having said that, Daniel has to learn some things are best discussed in private.
While we fight our way through the rush hour traffic, I brush the fine, silky strands on my baby son’s head. I can’t believe he is mine and I have the most gorgeous, caring man to share him with.
Our life here is so much more than I thought it could be. Daniel seems so happy, and I’ve seen a whole new side of him. He is free from his moods, worries and fears and it wasn’t until we began our lives here I realised how restricting Sydney had become for him.
We’ve bought an old farmhouse which needs a new… well, everything really. There’s a good amount of land and Daniel plans to build an equestrian centre, eventually. His love of horses is still so evident, and he misses his family home and especially Storm.
The house is close to where dad lives so I can keep an eye on him.
When I’m not able to do so, Jack fills me in on what he is up to.
Jack has been dad’s tenant for the last six months and is an arrangement that works for everyone.
Dad enjoys the company, Jack likes the home comforts and I have peace of mind.
Dad is doing so well. As well as a new lodger, he continues to enjoy his theatre nights and is often joined by Jill. It’s companionship for both of them.
We still have our house in Seaforth and although there hasn’t been a chance to return yet, we’ll keep it for the future and visit as much as we can.
I love Australia and want to see more of it and I’d like to think one day, we could go back to live there permanently.
I called it home at one point, but ever since Daniel and I returned to England, I’ve realised my home is more than just bricks and mortar or the country you choose to build it.
It’s about the man I love and now my son too.
Diana and Peter are staying with us for a few weeks.
They wanted to be here for the birth of their first grandchild.
I love Diana so much and she has been the most incredible source of support.
Not having mum around obviously hurts. I wish she could be here to see Charlie and to watch me marry the man I love.
Mum never met Daniel in person, although they had spoken and she made it plainly obvious she like him.
That was a comfort. I will never get over losing her, but I am learning to live with it, one day at a time.
It’s because of this I got over my problems with Peter.
Often, we worry about situations we have no control over, but we have control over how we treat the people in those situations.
I don’t want any regrets when it comes to family relationships.
The people we love are often taken from us too soon, no matter what we do.
I want to cherish every moment with every member of our family.
Peter is now part of that family and I won’t waste my time holding a grudge against him when he was only trying to do what was best. He is my fiancé’s father and my son’s grandfather.
I love him for being the best in both roles. He is ultimately a good man.
Joe is flying over in a couple of weeks to meet his nephew.
Freya will not be joining him. Not long after we left Australia, she suffered a nervous breakdown and finally agreed to accept some help.
Joe found a private clinic in Sydney, where she is making slow, but steady progress.
He is hoping that one day they can go their separate ways and lead the lives they wish for.
Until then, Jennifer waits patiently in the wings.
I don’t necessarily agree with what they are doing, but I can understand it.
Jennifer keeps him sane and for that, I’m grateful.
I still feel guilty about stealing Daniel away from his brother at such a tough time, but Joe has been our biggest supporter.
Lucy is happy and seeing someone for the first time in a few years.
His name is Harry, and he’s a Lord, would you believe?
They are perfect together and I can see in his eyes how much he loves her.
They make a great duo as do Daniel and Harry.
Thank God they get on so well. Too well sometimes.
We often catch them up to no good. We live close to Lucy so it’s great to get together and talk about boys again.
I missed this stuff while I was away. Childhood friends are precious, as are the new ones I made in Sydney.
I’ll never forget Maddie’s love and support while I lived in Sydney.
I may have gone mad without her. We FaceTime at least once a month and message constantly.
She’s coming for a visit next summer. I can’t wait to see her again and introduce her to our son.
True to form, Rob left his girlfriend for someone else and then did a moonlight flit to Australia.
I hear his last girlfriend was left devastated by his departure, a complete mess apparently.
He is a first-class bastard and doesn’t deserve to be happy.
His balls should be chopped off and stuffed down his throat for good measure, but that's just my opinion. On a happier note, I can report he was later sent to Perth so if we do ever get back to Seaforth, there is no danger of bumping into him in Sydney. It’s ironic how he is now living on the other side of the world and I’m staying in London.
You never know how things will turn out.
Richard and his family are still happy in Australia.
They love it there and I doubt they will ever return.
Once Daniel and I had made final plans to lay our roots here, I had to decide about my job.
I reluctantly resigned. He needed someone close at hand and there was only so much I could do with the miles between us.
Instead, I worked with Daniel for a while.
He has always shared Jennifer’s PA skills with his father, but decided he preferred his own PA.
I think he just wanted me near. Now baby Charlie has arrived, I’m no longer working.
I want to concentrate on our boy and my husband-to-be.
Living with the Chairman’s son really had some perks.
The Chairman . How formal it sounds now.
I’ve only ever known him as Peter. Yet just two years ago, he frightened the life out of me.
Soon I’ll be calling him dad. I don’t find that scary at all.
I shake my brain into gear and briefly watch the world pass by my window.
I reach forward and touch Daniel’s shoulder.
He places his hand over mine and looks back at me.
We smile for a long time as I reminisce about the journey I’ve taken to be here and to be with him.
I feel like the luckiest girl on earth. I thank God for giving me the kick up the arse I needed to follow my dreams and travel to my destiny.
Daniel squeezes my hand, “What’s going on in your head, beautiful? ”
I laugh, “Oh nothing, it’s just… you and Charlie, and… well, how this all turned out.”
“We’ve come a long way.”
“We have and now it all feels so… right.”
He holds my hand tight and looks into my eyes. “Absolutely right.”
“So, you don’t miss home?”
His enormous hazel eyes widen to capacity. “You just don’t get it, do you, Hannah?”
“Don’t I? Maybe I get it more than you think. I just like to hear you say it every now and again.”
Daniel takes in a huge breath and lets out a sigh to match.
“Baby, listen to me, it’s not always the things and places around you that count.
It’s the people. Those that make you tick.
You make me tick, help me breathe and fill my world every day with a life worth living and an ocean of love.
I can’t function without you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
You’re it for me, Hannah May. You’re it. ”
THE END