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“What’s this?” I gasp, holding it up. Georgie stills, anticipating the sound, her eyes jumping from me to the ball. “Are you ready?”
She kicks once.
And I slowly squeeze, forcing the most obscene sound from the ball, something between a squeak and a fart. Georgie breaks out in fits of gurgling giggles and, I swear, the sound is life. My wife falls apart next to me too, both my girls beside themselves, Georgie over the ball, Beau over our baby girl’s uncontrollable, addictive laughter. I could watch them all fucking day.
I lean down, a small chuckle falling past my lips, and push my mouth to the top of Beau’s head.
She’s no longer full of hate, only love. My darkness has always been her light, and her darkness has always been mine.
I didn’t think Beau Hayley could get any more beautiful.
Turns out Beau Kelly, mum and wife, is beyond that.
She’s no longer toxic, but she’ll always be my balm. And I’ll always be fatal, but to Beau and Georgie, I’m life.
Husband and Daddy.
Killing our enemies didn’t free us.
Georgie did.
She’s the brightest light.
Epilogue - Part THREE
DANNY
* * *
“Rose, darling, this is”—I scan the spread, the marque on the terrace, the balloons in the pool—“a lot.”
“It’s a special day.”
“Yes, but you know Brad and Pearl. They don’t like too much fuss.” I round the corner of the villa, still in my wetsuit, Maggie sitting on my forearm still in hers too, following Rose as she hurries off with a tray of canapés.
“It’s not too much,” she protests over her shoulder. “Just a little party.”
“Jesus Christ, Rose,” I blurt, coming face to face with a balloon arch off the door from the dining room. “Where the hell did that come from?”
“It was erected while you took Maggie out on your jet ski with Lennox and the boys.”
She places the tray down on the tall table by the arch. Next to the other tall table laid out with champagne. Not too much? Then she marches off again, brushing her hands off.
Maggie’s palms slap my face, squeezing, and she pushes her nose to mine.
“Dada telling mummy off,” I say peeling her clawing hands off my cheeks. “Watch.” I go after Rose and enter the kitchen.
“Out!” she yells, making me jump and step out onto the patio again. “Oh, for God’s sake, Danny, look.” She points to the small puddle just inside the door before getting the mop and angrily wiping it up.
“Dadadadada!”
I flinch when Maggie’s hands land on my cheeks again, squeezing, her face coming close, her eyes blinking against mine, our lashes tickling each other’s. “You giving me angel kisses, my girl?” I wrinkle my nose, bat my lashes, and she breaks out in laughter, bouncing in my arms. Then something catches her eye—I know what—and she yells, excited. I look back and see Daniel traipsing down the path, his surfboard tucked under his arm.
“Where are you going?” I ask. We just got back.
“Me and Barney want to catch the evening waves.”
“Not a chance!” Rose yells, appearing. Daniel exhales his exasperation. “It’s Brad and Pearl’s party.”
