Page 110 of Together Is Where We Belong

I held up our joined hands to show everyone what he referred to, and everyone else joined him in clapping for us.

I looked over at Carolina whose cheeks were a bright shade of red.

Deciding to up the ante, I stopped walking and pulled her into me, laying my lips on hers. The cheers grew louder the longer my lips were on hers.

I pulled back, and she swatted my chest with a smile before she turned and headed over to one of the loungers by the pool.

Ainsleigh and Gentry sat beside us on the daybed with baby Olivia laying on Ainsleigh’s chest under the protection of the canopy.

Carolina put sunscreen on Luke, and he begged her to get into the pool with him. She turned back to look at me and blew me a kiss that I pretended to catch before she walked over to the pool, and they both jumped in.

Brooks and Holden walked over, and the three of us sat on a lounge chair.

“You look happy, bro,” Brooks said as he patted my back.

“I am,” I said as I looked out at Luke as he splashed Carolina.

“I’m happy for you,” Holden said.

Gentry and Ainsleigh sat forward on the daybed and looked over at me.

“When did this happen?” Ainsleigh asked as she covered baby Olivia with a thin blanket to protect her from the sun. She had the cutest sun hat on her head, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s still new. Not too long ago, but it’s been leading up to this moment for a while,” I told her as I clasped my hands together, my eyes never straying from where Luke and Carolina played in the pool. I wanted to remember these moments with them, the memories we’d made as a family, for the rest of my life. I didn’t want to take any of them for granted, and I wouldn’t, not after I’d missed so much time already.

“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy for you. They're good for you,” Ainsleigh said, and I nodded at her. My life had changed for the better since they’d returned.

“Now give me my godbaby. I’ve waited long enough,” Holden said as he stood and walked around the daybed to where Ainsleigh sat, his hands held out as he waited for my sister to hand her over.

The four of us laughed at Holden as he laid the still sleeping Olivia on his chest and walked away.

“He’s goin’ to spoil her rotten,” Ainsleigh joked.

“Of course he is. We all are. You’re just goin’ to have to get over it,” Brooks said with a laugh, causing Gentry and I to laugh as well.

“I don’t know why you’re laughin’. They’re goin’ to spoil Luke too, ya know,” Ainsleigh said.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

epilogue

Carolina

A year later

Leo sent me an odd message this morning after he’d picked up Luke, saying they had guy stuff to attend to.

Leo

I have plans for us this evening. Be ready by six. I’ll text you the location to meet me. Have a wonderful day, cara.

I tried to pry it out of him, but he didn’t budge.

What plans would those be, Mr. Courtright?

Leo

You’ll see.