AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And spend time working on increasing the number of those people. I glance at Candace’s stomach. She’s still so flat, you can’t tell that she has another little one on the way.
“I’m not going to argue with that,” Candace says, setting a loaded plate down in front of me with a flourish. “After all, how many wives can sign multi-million dollar deals while in the middle of getting dinner on the table?”
I grin, getting up to kiss her and put the empty jar of baby food into the bin. “Not many at all. But mine is special.”
Emilia burbles loudly and throws her spoon on the floor as our lips meet, making us both bust out in laughter.
My girls. So perfect. And I wouldn’t trade a single moment to travel the world ever again. Because this – this is what I was missing all along.
Extended Epilogue
Years Later…
Candace
“So, this is where it all happened?” Mom says, and for a moment I think with horror that she might actually know what happened here.
But then I realize she means that The Tempest is where we first fell in love, and I laugh and agree.
“This is where Mommy and Daddy first kissed,” Sean says, giving the children the sweet version as well.
“Yuck!” Emilia exclaims, prompting a chorus of agreement from her siblings. At seven now, she’s the leader of the pack by far. Jenny and Mark both trail after her and copy whatever she does, and I’m sure once little Billy starts walking, he’ll be doing the same.
My Mom and Dad laugh, especially when Sean turns around with a pained expression to shrug. Then we all do, as we fit our brood into the entertainment room of the swanky yacht and find seats.
“What do you want to do?” Mom asks Emilia, knowing that whatever she chooses will be what we all pass the time until dinner with. She’s the real boss of the whole family – and she knows it, too.
Before long, we’re all settled down playing fun games on the boat, although only on the inner decks. I don’t want the kids running around outside and risk falling into the water, after all. With Mom and Dad watching them, Sean steals a moment with me, slipping his arm around me and holding me close to him on the couch.
“Remember this?” he murmurs, right into my ear, so no one else can hear.
Even so, I feel myself flushing a little, the memory washing over me and sending a rush to the pit of my stomach. “Of course, I remember,” I say. “How could I forget?”
“I think that Captain remembers too, you know. Did you see the look on his face when he greeted us?”
I blush even harder and hit him lightly on the arm. “You’re just trying to fluster me,” I say. “There’s no way he still remembers.”
“Well, I wouldn’t forget a sight like that,” Sean says, right in my ear again. I feel myself shuddering lightly. If we were alone I would consider heading off to some distant cabin to make a start on baby number five.
“It’s a shame the others are here,” I say, right in his ear, to get revenge. “Otherwise we could give him something else to remember.”
Sean reaches for a cushion from the side of the couch and sets it on his lap, making me stifle a laugh.
It seems like it’s only been five minutes when the Captain emerges to let us know that dinner is served on the main deck. Just in time, too, because I can sense the kids’ energy beginning to lag.
We all file out to sit on the deck under the evening sky, lit by a few subtle lights that don’t take away the shine from the stars. The kids strap into high chairs or sit on their own according to their ages, and before long we’re all enjoying a delicious meal cooked just for us.
“This is the life,” Mom sighs. “Honey, how come you never took me somewhere like this when we were dating?”
“Because we were broke college students,” Dad says indignantly. “Have you forgotten already?”
We all laugh at his face, and his grumpiness.
“Anyway, I don’t think there is anywhere else like The Tempest,” Sean grins. “I would know. I’ve been on the lookout for one for a long time.”
“It really is a wonderful business idea,” Mom says. “I wonder why no one else has ever done anything like this.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” Sean says. “It’s the running costs. They’re incredibly high. The owner doesn’t make much profit at all – it’s really just a place to impress people. They use it to hook partners in for their other deals.”
“That’s smart,” Emilia pipes in, making us all look around in surprise and then laugh.
“That’s Daddy’s little girl,” Sean grins proudly, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “You know all about business already, don’t you?”
