“It was fantastic,” Lucas said. “It reminded me of summer camp.”He paused before adding, “Can Noah join us for the next one?”
Cole smiled warmly.“That’s a good idea, Lucas,” he said. “I’ll check with your Mama. She can talk to Elle, and we’ll try to arrange something.”
I layin bed one night with my head resting on Cole’s chest, listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear like someone who listens to waves on a shore. The room was quiet except for thefaint rustling of the curtains as the night breeze slipped through the slightly open window. His arm was wrapped loosely around me, his fingers occasionally tracing slow, absent circles against my arm as if he were just as content as I was to stay in that peaceful moment.
“I don’t know much about your parents,” I said, lifting my head slightly so I could look at him. “What were they like?”
Cole shifted a little beneath me and laced his fingers through mine.“Well,” he began thoughtfully, his voice warm with affection, “they were great parents. They were the kind of couple you look up to, you know… the kind of couple you hope to become as you get older.”His gaze drifted somewhere past the ceiling, as if he were watching memories play out in his mind.“I wish you could have met them.”
“Me too,” I said, kissing his chin.
I loved these moments with him and the way I kept discovering the small details about his life—the experiences that had shaped him into the man he was now.
His past, his family, and the love he once had for his late wife and daughter all mattered to me.
“I never saw them fight, to be honest,” he continued. “If they did, it was probably behind closed doors. Never in front of Liam or me.”
“What was your mom like?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Liam and I both look like Mum, but we got the height of our father… at least that’s what everyone says.”He chuckled softly before continuing.“She was a fantastic mum and an amazing cook. She made sure that she was present in every way possible for both of us.”
I watched his expression as he spoke, noticing the pride and love in his eyes.
“My parents came from Australia in their forties and settled on Vancouver Island,” he went on. “Dad worked hard to start thecompany and build it to where it is today. Liam made his dream come true with the heights he took it to.”He looked down at me and smiled.“And I got Dad’s love of photography passed down to me.”He leaned forward and kissed my nose.
I loved having Cole beside me. Waking up next to him in the morning and falling asleep beside him at night whenever he stayed over had quietly become one of my favourite parts of life.
Spending weekends with Liam’s family had slowly become a routine for us as well.
“Sweetheart, did you buy the gift for Tristan?” Cole asked one afternoon while we were getting ready to leave.
“Yes,” I replied. “I left it on the table.”
It was the end of November, and we were heading to Liam’s house for his son’s birthday party.
“Got your camera?” I asked him, adjusting Emma’s jacket.
Cole lifted his camera with a grin before picking Emma up into his arms.“Check, ma’am.”
The birthday party was lively and full of laughter. Children ran across the yard while colourful balloons bounced in the breeze. I spent time chatting with other parents while Cole moved around the yard, capturing moments through his lens. Lucas bounced enthusiastically in the inflatable castle with the other kids.
“He seems very happy,” Liam said to me as we stood near the patio watching the children.
I followed his gaze to where Cole was crouched down, showing Lucas one of the photos he had just taken.
“I’m so glad he’s found you,” Liam continued warmly. “You and your children are the best things that have happened to him. I hope you know that.”
A smile spread across my face.“I do,” I said. “He’s the best thing that has happened to me too.”
Later that night, after the party ended, we drove home with the children and Geeta asleep in the back seat.
Cole reached across the console and held my hand.
“I was thinking…” he began cautiously. “What do you say about us moving in together?”
I laughed softly.“You practically have already.”
He chuckled.“Yeah… that’s true,” he admitted. “But what about me officially moving in… and all of you guys moving in with me… into a new home?”
