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He didn’t return for a month.
Now, they split their time between New York and Melbourne. Between their hectic schedules, I’m surprised I was able to get them to carve out a week for a Mediterranean cruise.
“Oh, if Herbie and Otis are hungry, you can give them a handful of dry food, but no treats. And Freckles needs her p-i-l-l at one.”
Out of the corner of my eye, the collie raises her head from the pile of dogs sleeping in the sunshine. I swear that girl is learning how to spell.
“Got it. Listen, don’t you worry, we got it all covered.”
I giggle. “Not sure about that. Alright, I’m off.”
“Colin, come on, we’re saying goodbye. Put the binoculars down!” Cash calls out.
The three of us walk to the aft deck where the tender is bobbing along. One of the crew members is organizing all our various sundries for the trip. However, the most precious cargo is Flynn holding our six-month-old little girl, Phoebe. I am constant mush watching the two of them together. Flynn has taken to fatherhood like a fish to water–a proud, doting girl dad.
“Look who it is, Phoebs!” Flynn cries out and points at me.
Phoebe wiggles on his lap and claps her hands, reaching for me.
“She’s always so excited to see you. What about me, hm? What about Auntie Cash?”
I climb into the boat and take the wriggly baby from Flynn. She’s already lathered in sunscreen and donning the most adorable hat patterned with tiny watermelons. “Guess you’ll have to have your own!” I say, then relish how both Cash and Colin blush, not looking at each other.
“Alright, well, I want a kiss goodbye!” Cash crouches down the boat and kisses Phoebe’s chubby cheek. “Don’t get any cuter, or I’ll just have to steal you.”
Phoebe squeals happily.
I settle into my seat on the boat, tucking Phoebe on my lap. “Alright, wave goodbye!” I take Phoebe’s chubby hand and wave it. “Bye!”
Colin and Cash wave from the deck as the tender peels off.
Once the boat gets up to speed, I settle into my seat, curly my legs up under Phoebe and examine the white cast of sunscreen on her face. “Good job on the lotion, Dad. Don’t think you missed a single spot.”
Flynn smiles and shrugs. “What can I say? One of my many special talents?”
I smile back. Things have been… good. Really good. I mean, probably as good as you can get for doing things as ass-backward as we had. Fake relationship to real relationship, accidental pregnancy to little family. Flynn and I have enjoyed each other every step of the way. Sure, there have been hard moments. I think I accepted that from the start. It would have been foolish to assume it would all be rainbows and unicorns. With Flynn, though, I’m confident that we will always come out on the other side stronger.
We’ve been through too much together to give up on this.
Plus, Phoebe makes things even better. She’s just about the best baby you could ask for, hitting all the milestones right on time with such a good temperament.
I know I’m crazy to even let the thought cross my mind so soon, but I think I want another one asap.
“Smile!” Flynn cries out, holding his phone up to snap a photo.
I grin. “Look at the camera, Phoebs!”
She gurgles and holds her arms out toward Flynn.
Flynn carefully steps across the tender to take a seat next to me. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses me.
I let out a long sigh. “What’s that for?”
“Can’t I kiss my girlfriend?” he asks and then kisses me again. “Mother of my child?”
Phoebe squeals and grabs onto his shirt angrily.
“What, are you jealous? How could you be jealous?” Flynn exclaims, bouncing Phoebe into his lap, peppering her face with kisses.
