Page 266 of This Woman Forever

“Nothing.” I pull her down to the couch, so she’s sitting on the edge. “Ava, baby, why is every single person we know in our home?”

She smiles. “Because I invited them.” Leaning down, she drops a kiss on my lips. “And, My Lord, because they love you dearly.”

They love me.

Accept me.

I fall into a daydream, the hustle and bustle of our home melting into the background. My bachelor pad full of... my family. The thought of my parents anywhere near Ava would have filled me with dread only a few weeks ago—knowing they were spending time with her without me knowing or even around. What they could have told her.

Now?

Ease.

Because of you.

I grab Ava, riding the pain, and smother her with my mouth, silently thanking her for bringing me back to life. And for bringing me back to my family. “We’re going away as soon as I can drive again,” I tell her.

“Where?”

“To Paradise, baby.”

52

Paradise – a month later.

“Congratulations, Mr. Ward.”

“Thanks.” I hang up, feeling an odd sense of loss and gain. Sadness and happiness. Guilt and inculpability. That’s it. It’s gone. The contracts signed, no going back. I blow out my cheeks and stand, the creak of my bones and pull on my muscles still there, but now milder.

I walk to the bedroom, standing on the threshold, just watching her for a while. There’s definitely a belly now. And she’s more beautiful by the day. I leave her to sleep, going to the kitchen. I pull the paperwork from the drawer and set it on the counter, answering a call as I go to the fridge. “Dad,” I say, pulling out a basket of strawberries.

“My boy, we’re at the marina. Do you need me to collect anything before we come over later?”

“I’ve got it all covered, thanks, Dad,” I say, biting into a strawberry and going out onto the veranda, seeing a few people on the beach getting things ready. “Is Mum okay?”

“She’s wonderful,” he says, sounding blissful, and I smile, but it’s sad. My mum’s come back to life with me. Her eyes don’t look so old, her face is somehow lighter. The guilt remains. “Have you told Ava yet?” Dad asks.

“Not yet. I just took the call. Contracts are signed.” Which means my bank balance will soon explode. “I’ll tell her when she wakes up.” I wander back into the kitchen, finishing my strawberry.

Dad chuckles. “I remember when your mother was expecting you and Jake,” he says, and I stop, resting my arse on the counter. “She was asleep ninety percent of her day.”

I smile.

“And then awake for ninety percent when you both arrived.”

I laugh lightly. “It’s going to be full-on.”

“Oh, you’ll be okay. Besides, you have me and your mother, and Ava’s parents too. And friends and John.”

My heart swells. “We do,” I agree. “Listen, Dad, I’ve had some money sent to your account.”

“What?”

I can sense it, the unease. But he and Mum should be enjoying their later years, doing whatever the fuck they want, and I have more money than I know what to do with. More on the way. “I’ve sent some money?—”

“I don’t want any money, Jesse,” he says, sounding stern.

I roll my eyes. “Tough.” He doesn’t see it as my money. He sees it as Carmichael’s. “It’s nonnegotiable, and I’ll be pissed if you don’t blow it on extravagant, really unnecessary luxuries.”