Three Of Us

~Evan~

One year later...

Bridgetown Barbados. This is where everything began. This place will forever hold a special place in our lives.

The soft sand, cold under the soles of my bare feet, sent a smile on my lips as I relished the tickling sensation of the water lapping over my tired skin. The tide is still high and I admired the waves from a distance, huge and powerful, as if they could destroy anything in its path.

Magnus Construction is just a distant memory now. I am handling my new company, The Ár mbaile Constructions.

I have accepted no penny from my wife but my father-in-law is a different story. Before we flew to Ireland for our wedding, I asked for Cali’s hand from her father. He gave us his blessing in one condition. I’d be working for him in setting up a new construction company. I remember his exact words when I asked him what his motives were. ‘I am branching out,’ was all he said.

It was written in flashing bold letters that it’s my wife’s doing. She knew I wouldn’t be able to say no to her father. Two months after our wedding, he handed the company down to me on a silver platter. Arguing with Cali is of no use, and I would never dare disagree with my father-in-law.

Tricky and sneaky Reeds.

I knew that girl tricked me into saying yes to her, but how can I argue… I get to call her my wife and everything that comes with it. Every day waking up with her in my arms is a blessing, the excitement of coming home to her arms and everything in between. Even our petty arguments on who should cook dinner and breakfast - I cherish those moments in my heart. We always end up cooking together in the morning and going out to dinners every night though.

It’s the simple things that make life beautiful. She taught me that and I savour every day I get to spend with her.

The gold band on my ring finger acts as a reminder that I am not alone. I know that no matter how powerful the raging waves of life are, I can hold on to our love and we’ll face everything together.

I don’t have to face anything alone anymore - that was her vow to me.

I always thought marriage was a curse. My biological parents, Jacob and Olivia, their failed marriage marred my mind, and it scared me. I love her, just the thought of spending a day without her squeezes my heart, but I’m scared I’m not going to be enough for her. Part of me still does. 

My eyes snapped open when I felt movement on the edges of my feet. Looking down, I saw little turtles making their way to the water. The water coursing through the fine sand mirrors the pink, orange and yellow hues of the sun rising.

I moved aside, careful not to step on the newly hatched little creatures that will start their journey to the world. A thought suddenly crossed my mind, but I pushed it aside before I could dwell on it.

Is it too soon?

“Having second thoughts?” Cali’s voice pulled my gaze away from watching the hatchlings.

“Princess,” I grumbled at her teasing tone, opening my arms as she neared me. Still in her nightgown atop with white robe, the same fabric as the one I have, she nuzzled her face in my chest, inhaling deeply. I planted a kiss on her forehead, her ash-blond hair disheveled from the eventful night we shared. I was her slave for the last two nights and I’m okay with that.

My tease of a wife giggled.

“Look down.” I watched her emerald eyes widen at the sight of little turtles padding on the sand.

“Oh my God,” she squealed, making me chuckle. It was always so easy to make her smile, and her smile is damn contagious. “They look so excited to be in the waters.”

“They are,” I chuckled, observing her so mesmerized by the baby turtles.

“Thank you for not giving up on me, Cali.” I hauled her closer, trapping her in my arms.

“Hm,” she buried her face in my chest once more before looking up to me with those damn gorgeous eyes, “thank you for loving me.”

I grabbed hold of her chin, tilting her face to capture her pouty lips for a fiery kiss. She pulled away even before I could taste more of her sweet mouth, leaving me wanting for more.

“Stop teasing me and kiss me,” I groaned, keeping a tight hold around her waist.

“The hatchlings will see. You’re ruining their innocence.” The determination in her eyes to tease me is damn annoying, but it sent me into fits of laughter.

There’s never a dull moment with this woman. And I am damn happy to call her my woman.

We waited until the last hatchling swam away, my arms wrapped around her petite frame, her back resting against my front. The sun is up, beating down on us with warm rays, turning her ash blond hair to shine like silk as it caresses my face. I turned her to face me, capturing her lips once more when the last baby turtle finally made it to the waves.

She pulled away again before I could deepen our kiss. “Cali…” I groaned, “there’s only the two of us here.” I dipped my face to kiss her again, but she giggled, making me frown.

“Three of us,” she mumbled, a blush giving life to her cheeks.

I looked around us, finding no other creature crawling on the sand. In my annoyed and frowning state, she grabbed my hand and pressed it into her tummy. “Here.”

“W-what?” I stuttered, unable to believe the happiness seeping into my entire body. She nodded, biting her lip. “It’s our baby?”

My wife’s lips pursed into a thin line. “Of course it’s ours, you big dummy bear!” she playfully slapped my chest, taking humor in my stunned state.

I chuckled, feeling the insides of my chest filled with immeasurable glee. Cali reached out for my face, the caress of her soft palms made me shut my eyes, savoring the feeling of her love.

I’m going to be a father… Dammit, I’m going to be a father - finally.

As I opened my eyes, misted emerald hues met me, gazing at me intently as she wiped the beads of moisture that formed on the edge of my eyes. I can see it, a child with the eyes and beauty of her mother and wits that would make me pull my hair out some days - still like her mother.

Silently, I’m hoping that she has twins inside her still taut belly.

God, I never knew that this kind of happiness exists in this cruel world.

And it’s all because of this woman I now call my wife.

“God, I love you, Cali.” I captured her lips for a searing kiss, the force almost making her stumble backwards but I held on to her tightly. Never will I let her go… This time she didn’t pull away when I deepened our kiss. She moaned against my mouth, hands crawling in tandem up to my nape, holding on to me for her dear life.

Cali squealed. My hands grabbed a hefty portion of her ass, her legs instinctively wounding around my waist.

“Evan…” she moaned when I walked us over to the cabin.

“Sh,” I silenced her with my mouth. “I’m going to make love to you, my pregnant wife.”

~Fin~