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Tom and Russell have joined Gabe and Theron working construction. They have to stay away during the week to finish projects right now, but they’re beginning to build up a funnel of work closer to the beach house, so things should settle down there.
Stefan also has to stay away Monday to Friday because of the nature of his job, but we quietly step aside over the weekend to ensure he and Allie get some much needed time together.
Jonas and Jimmy have worked out schedules to keep some of their old clients but build up a list of new ones closer to the beach house.
Where we can, we’re renting out our places or letting our leases expire.
And Oliver has retired. Well, he was forced to take a step back from day-to-day operations following the scandal. He’s okay, though. His inheritance and the profits from the businesses are more than enough to live very comfortably on, and he’s decided to write a novel. Knowing Oliver, it will be a runaway bestseller.
Most importantly, Allie is focused on her new career, writing articles for The Reporter. I initially worried she was going to find it overwhelming, but it’s like she’s come alive, tackling challenging subject matters with empathy and perspective.
She’s had to travel, and it’s hard when she’s away, but having the other men around makes her absence less lonely.
Her parents were initially angry and upset, but Allie’s new job carries prestige and a very healthy salary. They reluctantly came to spend a day at the beach house and Oliver turned on the charm, bringing in caterers and serving the best champagne. They were reserved at first, but gradually seemed to accept Allie’s new life with us.
I guess they didn’t really have a choice if they wanted to continue to have a relationship with their daughter.
It should have been almost impossible to bring eleven people from different walks of life together in a new location, but we’ve all done what we can to make this work. It just shows that when something is worth it, even the greatest effort feels like nothing at all.
“What’s the plan for when we get home?” I ask. At first, it didn’t feel right to call the beach house home, but Oliver’s made it clear that we should.
“Movie night,” Allie says. “I can make tacos and Russell can make his famous caramel ice cream sundaes.”
“I’m going to have to let my pants out at the waist if this carries on.”
Allie rolls her eyes. “The amount of time you guys spend running up and down the beach, I don’t think that’s ever going to be a possibility. As for me…” She glances down at her slightly fuller figure, wrinkling her nose.
“Don’t say whatever you’re thinking. There’s not enough of you to go around.”
“A woman’s curves are a man’s paradise.” Allie and I both focus on Carson, surprised at his poetic outburst.
“He’s not lying,” I agree.
I turn to the rest of the bus and the men, who are mostly half asleep. “Taco movie night with Russell’s ice cream sundaes,” I call out.
Surprisingly, everyone straightens in their seats, glancing out the window to assess how far we are from home. It just shows how much men love their food and what we hope will be on the menu after!
When we arrive home, Carson’s dog, Buster, is so happy to see us that he almost knocks Allie over and we all end up spending five minutes by the front door while he climbs everyone for affection. We were initially worried about him settling into a new place with so many strangers, but he loves it here and everyone loves him too. His favorite part of the day is running along the beach with whoever feels like getting some exercise. Sometimes it’s one or two of us, sometimes it’s all eleven. He’s always out front, his tongue lolling and eyes bright, spraying up the sand with his eager feet.
Later that night, with Buster settled at our feet, we prepare for movie night. It’s Allie’s choice, but it’s not a rom com, not that I have any objection to funny, light-hearted movies. There are two rules when it comes to choosing entertainment in this house. No horror because Allie and Gabe have nightmares, and no war movies because Russell can’t relive his trauma. Allie’s chosen Pretty in Pink and we snuggle up together on the couch with popcorn and candy and Russell’s ice cream spectaculars.
We don’t have written rules about who gets to spend time with Allie anymore. We’re all conscious of not treading on each other's toes, and Allie is an expert at sharing herself fairly. It’s been a while since I had prime place with Allie on a movie night, so I soak up the way she rests her head on my chest, even when I start to feel my arm and shoulder going to sleep.
I don’t take anything for granted. Even the little things are cherished.
We came so close to losing it all and that’s given us a healthy perspective.
After the movie, Allie stretches her arms above her head and groans. “This day has destroyed me and I’m meeting Natalie at the break of dawn for one of our walks.”
“So, no sex tonight?” Jonas’s upfront way of handling life used to grate on me, but now I’m just grateful that he gets away with cutting to the chase so shamelessly.
“As if!”
“That’s my girl.” He swoops in and throws Allie over his shoulder and carries her down to the basement room that we’ve kitted out especially for fun times. Oliver commissioned a carpenter to make a giant bed frame and then found a company that could make a mattress big enough for eleven people. He didn’t tell them what it was for, just said he has lots of kids and he’s a big believer in the value of co-sleeping!
By the time I jog down the stairs, Allie is sprawled out in the center of the bed, most likely where Jonas dumped her unceremoniously. She’s laughing and tugging off her yoga pants and slouchy luminous yellow shirt as all around her, men tear off their shirts.
“My eyes, my eyes,” she gasps, throwing her arm across her face to obscure her vision. “Are you trying to kill me with all that manly sexiness?”
