Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Who’s been looking after him?”
“I’ve been borrowing Nathan from Leo and Felicity to come over and feed him.”
My mouth fell open. “Out of all of the crazy things we’ve experienced together, this emu takes the cake. I absolutely love him, though.” I reached over to pet him. Alex’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “You love him, too, don’t you?” Alex kicked his legs as if he wanted to fly out of my arms to touch the animal. “Look at that smile.”
We spent the next hour touring the inside of the house and walking around the property. Then Lavinia stayed inside to rest while the three of us went back out to the yard.
Just as we stepped outside, a massive rainbow appeared in the sky. It was the first rainbow I’d seen in England and probably the most vibrant rainbow I’d witnessed in my life.
“Rainbow, Alex!” I pointed toward the sky. “Look at the rainbow!”
He stared up at the sky, mesmerized. “Mama,” he babbled.
It was the first time he’d ever said it, though I’d been practicing it with him, trying to get him to utter that sound.
Sig and I looked at each other in amazement. There were no words. Regardless of whether it was true, we knew what the other was thinking. Britney.
“Yeah.” I bounced him. “That’s Mama coming to say hi, isn’t it?”
EPILOGUE
* * *
Sig
Four Years Later
Final Track: “And I Love Her” by The Beatles
Holding my daughter’s hand and carrying my infant son, I stood at the entrance to a quaint bookshop in Notting Hill.
Abby had contacted a number of bookshops around London, trying to get one to stock the book she’d self-published. This one was the only shop that bit, and the owner, Shepley Van Zant, had been nice enough to offer Abby a Saturday-afternoon slot to sign her books. He’d even created a poster advertising the event.
I snuck up behind Abby and Alex at the table where she’d set up a stack of books to sign. There was no line.
“Mummy, are we just going to sit here all day?” Alex asked.
“Well, I hope at least a few people show up. But I don’t mind hanging out with you, even if nobody comes.”
I cleared my throat to announce our presence.
Abby turned to find the three of us behind her table. “See? There they are now! My fans!”
“Those aren’t fans,” Alex corrected. “That’s Daddy, Miriam, and Henry.”
“Are you kidding? We’re her original fans,” I said, handing Henry over to his mum. “Look, he’s so excited he’s drooling over her.”
Five years ago, I could never have imagined being a father of three. Alex wasn’t even a year old when Abby became pregnant with our daughter, Miriam, who was now almost three. I guess breastfeeding isn’t as foolproof a form of birth control as we’d assumed. Miriam, named after Abby’s mother, was the spitting image of Abby. Thank God, because both boys—with the exception of Alex’s eyes—looked just like their dad. Our son Henry had been born six months ago. Our hands were very full.
“Where’s Lavinia? I thought you were bringing her,” Abby asked.
“She wasn’t feeling up to coming.”
Our kids’ honorary nan was getting older but still kicking. I’d planned to bring her here in a wheelchair, but she’d caught a cold and didn’t want to get anyone sick. Lavinia still lived in our guest house, although we’d had to bring in help for her lately. But she always perked up when the kids were around.
Leo and Felicity entered the book shop and approached with their kids, Eloise and Eli.
“Hey!” Abby waved them over. “See? I have even more fans.”
Alex hopped out of his chair. “Mummy, can I go to the kids’ section with Eli?”
“What happened to being my assistant?” Abby teased.
“It’s boring.”
She laughed. “Sure, go on.”
“Can I be your assistant now, Mummy?” Miriam took the seat next to her mother.
“Of course you can.”
Felicity looked over at our boys playing in the kids’ section. “Those two are like peas in a pod.”
Leo turned to me. “I just hope they don’t get into as much trouble as we did, right, cousin?”
“I pray every day that Alex is nothing like me.” I chuckled.
“Have you signed any books, Abby?” Felicity asked.
“It’s been slow.” Abby shrugged. “And by slow, I mean…no one’s come by. But it’s still nice to have been invited to sign here. My goal is for one person other than friends and family to show up. If I can impact even one person, I’ll know writing the book was worth it.”
“I could never have done it,” Felicity said. “People live their whole lives talking about writing a book and never follow through. You should be proud of yourself.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of her.” I rubbed my wife’s back.
With Henry on one arm, Abby rearranged the small stack of books in front of her. “Well, you guys are biased, but I’ll take your praise.”