Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
‘Don’t back down. She’s just like her mother. Defiant and difficult for the sake of it. She’ll have you running in circles if you let her.’ Something tells me Lonny is already dizzy. ‘Be firm. Stand your ground.’ I give him a light slap on his shoulder, nodding my affirmation.
‘Yes, sir!’ He beams brightly as he heads off to the tennis courts to find his mate. ‘Thanks, Mr Ward.’
I smile and dip to tie the laces on John-Boy’s little Converses. ‘Lonny,’ I call, and he stops, looking back.
‘Yes, Mr Ward?’
‘You can call me Jesse.’
Another beam, but this time no words. He jogs off and disappears around the corner, and John-Boy and I continue back to the house. The moment Maddie sees us, she flies over, her dark eyes frantically searching for Lonny. ‘Where is he? Oh my God, did you kill him and bury him under the shed? Mum!’
‘Calm your knickers, little lady.’ I continue past, her wide eyes following. ‘He’s on the tennis court with your brother.’
‘He is?’
I see it in her already. Indignation. She looks just like her mother as she huffs and goes marching off. I laugh, mentally cheering Lonny on in my head. She’s going to get a nasty surprise. ‘Hey, Maddie.’
She swings around, her eyes flaming. ‘What?’
‘He’s a good kid. Don’t be a little cow, or he might dump your stroppy arse.’
Her jaw drops open, her face outraged, and I smile, getting on my way with John-Boy.
‘Who are you and what have you done with my dad?’ she calls at my back.
I don’t answer, smiling at Ava when she approaches with curiosity rife on her face. I shake my head and swing my arm around her neck. ‘I can’t wait until tomorrow,’ I tell her, pulling her in and kissing her temple.
‘Me neither.’ Her hands disappear under my T-shirt and glide over my skin, coming to rest over my heart. It’s going crazy, thumping happily.
Now it beats for four people.
*
The next day . . .
The familiar smell of the sea air fills my nose as I stand on the seashore in my shorts, the Mediterranean a never-ending blanket of sparkling water under the blazing sun. It’s John-Boy’s first time in Paradise, and he’s mesmerised by the sand under his little bare feet, his toes constantly clawing. ‘Look, Dada!’ he says, over and over, doing little dramatic gasps as he points to the gigantic expanse of blue water before him and the white sand he’s standing on. ‘Gosh,’ he breathes, bewitched by the sea. ‘Gosh, Dada.’
My fucking heart swells to epic proportions as I hold his hand and Jacob holds his other, our feet getting precariously close to the water. Maddie is dancing in the shallow depths. ‘Look, John-Boy!’ She kicks the water and he chuckles, the sound adorable. ‘You coming to play in the water?’ She drops to her knees and holds out her hands.
‘No, Addie.’ He shakes his little head and turns into Jacob, raising his arms for his brother to pick him up. I lower my arse to the sand as Jacob lifts him and sets him on his hip, though John-Boy’s eyes don’t unstick themselves from the water. ‘Oh gosh,’ he gasps again, pointing out past Maddie. ‘A oat!’
‘Yes, a boat!’ I sing, clapping my hands at him, making him jig excitedly in Jacob’s arms.
‘Oh, here’s Mum.’ Maddie jumps up and frantically brushes the wet sand from her body. ‘Quick, Dad!’ Her hands flap at me, hurrying me to my feet.
‘You ready, guys?’ I ask, pulling my Wayfarers off and getting my first glimpse of her. ‘Fuck me,’ I breathe quietly as she comes down the steps from the villa, her white layered lace bikini perfect against her olive skin, her hair plaited over her shoulder. And she has a calla lily in her hand, just a single calla lily. I smile and reach into my pocket as she approaches. ‘Mrs Ward, you look out of this world.’
‘You too.’ She holds her wrist out, eyebrows high, and I grin, dragging the cuffs from my pocket. ‘Shackle me, Ward.’
I do as I’m bid, snapping one over her wrist before securing it to me. I don’t know how she knew I’d have them. Then again, this woman has always read me like a book. Leaning in, I push my lips to hers. The kids don’t say a word. Even John-Boy is silent, probably staring out at the water rather than at Mummy and Daddy handcuffing themselves to each other. ‘Ready?’ I ask her.
‘Always,’ she replies, turning us towards the kids. I laugh under my breath when I find Jacob standing tall in his trunks, a book in his hands.
‘What’s that?’ I ask, bemused.
‘A Bible. I have to look like I know what I’m doing. This is important.’ He clears his throat and looks down at the pages, drawing breath to speak. ‘It’s—’