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Epilogue
One Year Later
Max
The cruise from Tahiti to New Zealand was as far as Mark had originally planned to go with Charlene, but we decided to go all the way to the end, to Australia and continue our adventure here.
It’s taken almost the full year to settle the merger of my company, my former business into Mark’s. I was happy to settle for a lot less, but he insisted on a long fight, championing for a much better price from the board of directors. The company he’s now a major shareholder in, living his dream of executive power.
And he can have it.
Charlene and I were a little bit distracted… about nine months into our adventure, with the arrival of little Zoe.
Turns out we got pregnant our first time, and we both agree that Zoe’s a miracle baby, giving us both that magic feeling of oneness, of family and togetherness we both felt that day, the day we both just knew she’d already started to make her way into the world.
Into both our lives.
“It’s a lot of money,” Charlene reflects as leans into me, cradling Zoe in the crook of her arm as we look out over the property stretching all the way to the mountains.
“Because it’s a lot of land,” I reason, “And it’s the only place I know you want us to be right now.”
“I only want to if you want to,” Charlene insists and I have to consult with the real boss, I ask Zoe what she thinks, leaning my head down to her tiny frame, asking her in a whisper if she thinks we should buy the property we’ve been renting up until now.
Zoe yawns and stretches a single tiny finger in the air, which I take in mine and kiss tenderly, feeling my lip tremble with emotion.
“Alright, alright!” Charlene cries, punching my arm gently, her own eyes lined with silver tears.
“I’d feel at home anywhere with you, Max… Zoe… But here. Here is special, isn’t it? I don’t know why but it just feels like we’re meant to be here, like we’ve come here for a reason.
“I am home when I look at you,” I tell her and with a shine in both our eyes, I hug Charlene as tight as I dare with little Zoe between us.
“I could raise cattle… sheep…” I drift off, finally screwing my face up, remembering how hard it was for me to get used to changing soggy diapers.
Charlene scoffs as loud as she dares, not wanting to wake Zoe, who’s already lost interest and gone to sleep like the little angel she is.
“I was thinking more like raising a few more of these…” Charlene says, glancing down at Zoe, glowing with pride and making me see that’s a much better prospect.
“It’s Zoe’s nap time, isn’t it?” I observe, lifting a brow as Charlene flushes at the thought I know we’re both sharing.
“Won’t you ever get tired of me?” she asks feebly, “what about all that baby weight I never lost… all the mood swings…” she says, trying to create an argument she knows she can’t win.
“Keep talking,” I tell her, taking her gently from behind in my arms, walking with her to Zoe’s crib.
“The cravings… and those breathing classes you thought were so stupid, I ended up biting you remember?”
I nod slowly, my grin forming into a huge, beaming smile. “Keep going, this is getting better by the minute…” I murmur in a husky tone, turning her to face me once Zoe’s safely laid down asleep.
I hold Charlene’s face with both my hands, then run them down her body and over her belly, resting both my hands over her middle.
“I think… right… about… here is a good place to start,” I say with conviction, nodding firmly as she rolls her eyes before we both collapse into each other’s arms, laughing.
“I love you, Max,” she says, tracing her hands over my arms as they flex to hold her tighter, draw her closer to me.
It’s something I’ll never tire of hearing and when it’s followed by one of her kisses, it’s like that first kiss all over again. The graduation kiss I’m glad I never gave her when I thought I wanted to, because it was saved for some other time.
Something way better.
The kiss that would land her in my arms forever.
Mine.
Extended Epilogue
Two Years Later
Charlene
“I’m not worried, Charlene. Are you?”
I tell Max I’m not, but he can see I am as much as I can hear it in my own voice.
“I just want us to be happy,” he tells me and I know he means it. I know we already are happy.
“But it’s more than a year now… and god knows, it’s not like we aren’t trying… I mean, it is how babies are made isn’t it?” I ask, laughing softly as he blushes, still surprised I can shock him occasionally.
