Page 10 of Paradise Ties

“Yeah well, her bump is small but apparently normal, and she’s been able to hide it with frilly tops and handbags.”

“Well, the others won’t hear it from me but I’m ecstatic for you two.”

He really was. Aaron and Leah had taught him that being a father changed a person. Nothing on earth was more important to him than the two monsters who were right then eating the sand. Not even Lauren, and he loved her more than he thought it possible to love another person. But the love he had for her was different, and while he knew he would love her until his dying day, the love for his kids would always trump that.

Noah came running up the beach with Riley, Paige, and Mateo as Daniel and Zack sauntered behind. He threw himself onto the towel next to Nate. “We’re starving.”

The effortless manner between the two showed the obvious affection they shared. Nate adopting Noah this past Christmas had only strengthened that bond. Anyone daring to suggest to Nate that Noah wasn’t his real son would find themselves with a fist to the face and on their ass.

“Time to crack open the picnic, I think.” Nate started to unpack the chiller as Zack and Daniel joined them, both poking their heads in the tent to check on their sleeping beauties.

Daniel took a Caribbean jerked chicken wrap and handed Paige a ham and cheese sandwich. “Wow, this looks amazing. I’m starving.”

Dane gave the Mateo a tuna baguette and grabbed himself a jerked chicken wrap. Leah and Aaron seemed content to mash banana into their faces.

“So what time are we expecting the ladies to be finished at the spa?” Zack asked as he handed Riley another piece of watermelon.

Dane shrugged. “Not sure but I expect they’ll take the rest of the day. Neither Lauren nor Lucy had a hen party, so I guess this is the equivalent.”

Daniel nodded. “What are your plans this afternoon? I doubt we’ll stay here all day as the heat isn’t good for Zoey.”

Zack nodded. “I agree. We’ll probably head back about two. The kids club has a sand painting event on later which Riley will enjoy, and the kiddie pool has more shade so I can take Ella there.”

“We’ll probably do the same.” Dane looked at Nate. “Nate, what about you?”

“I promised Noah we’d go kayaking. Mateo, you can come with us if you want.”

Dane looked at his nephew, who was nodding eagerly. It was good to see Mateo excited about something after a rough eighteen months with his parents’ divorce, and Lizzie had been so different since she’d returned after being presumed dead. He’d started to see hints of the carefree child he’d known the past few months and Dane knew Lizzie would let him go kayaking if Nate was happy to take him. “You sure you don’t mind?’

“Not at all.”

The picnic finished and put away, Dane wiped sand off Leah and Aaron and holding one of their hands in each of his big ones, strolled towards the water. Zack and Daniel were now feeding their daughters milk from the cooler, and Nate was playing frisbee with Riley, Mateo, and Paige.

The water was bath warm as he walked in with the kids. Aaron promptly sat down in the shallow water and began splashing, and Leah followed him as she always did. He cherished seeing the closeness between his twins, wanting for them what he had with his siblings.

He turned when he heard someone walking towards him and saw Jace and Drew. “Thought you two were jet skiing?”

Jace sat down in the shallow water and immediately lifted Leah in the air, making her giggle. Jace laughed as Leah grabbed his hair and pulled as she kicked her legs out. “We were, but we’re done so we thought we’d come and find the dad squad to make sure you’re all coping before we head for the pool bar.”

Drew was standing beside them in swim shorts, his prosthetic leg not seeming to bother him like it had in the beginning. Dane knew Lauren worried, probably more than she should. Drew had shown more grit and determination since losing his leg below the knee than Dane had ever seen.

He had developed a maturity and focus that was driving him to become better than he’d ever been before. He was walking well and training hard in the gym to rebuild his strength. He’d worked hard with the physiotherapists and prosthetists, and it was difficult to believe it had only been months since his life had been turned upside down.

The only thing Drew seemed to struggle with was his confidence. He held no value in his abilities now, either on the team or off it. He’d closed himself off from being part of Fortis with any on-the-ground mission capacity and had only just started talking about coming back into the office to help with the technical side of things.

Dane wondered if it was worth asking Jack if he’d get his guy Lopez to do some training with him. Perhaps they were all a little too close to the situation to be objective, and he knew Drew felt it was from pity rather than a genuine need for him to be on the team.

He looked up at Drew. “You see any pretty young things that take your fancy?”

Drew looked up and down the beach and shrugged. “Not sure a cripple is an attractive prospect for these girls,” he said, watching a group of young women messing around in the sea.

“Dude, have you seen yourself in the mirror? I pretty sure they won’t be looking at your leg.” Jace snorted. “Fuck, I’d do you if I was that way inclined.”

Drew smirked. “Yeah, you’re not really my type, Jace.”

“What I’m saying is get out and get laid. It’s time to get back on the horse and ride.”

Drew sat carefully on the sand, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands dangle. “I think the only thing I’ll be riding is a fucking horse.”