Someone Else's Ocean

“Well, my little man was definitely worth it,” Abbie said, kissing his hand before she scoured the rental with a smile.

Pangs of envy hit in that moment as Cameron leaned in and kissed his son on the forehead. “Ready to go swimming, buddy?”

He nodded and nestled further into his father’s arms.

Realization struck, even with all the families I’d checked into rentals over the past year, it was the first time in my life I wished for a family of my own. My own baby boy with eyes the color of his father’s.

Shocked at my personal admission, I walked the beautiful family through their beach house. Abbie ambled with me as Cameron chased Noble through the expansive living room. “Noble, stop. Don’t touch that, buddy. Why you little…” he picked the baby up easily and tossed him up over his head, catching him as he squealed. “Gain, Dada, gain!”

Abbie took a step out onto the long back porch where she was met with the sight of thousands of miles of expansive ocean.

“You can get to the beach from the first level,” I said as she looked back at her husband with utter love. Abbie’s excitement was infectious. “This is incredible, baby!” She yelled to Cameron who answered back with a pride-filled grin. “Happy you love it, babe.”

I chimed in. “You won’t get used to the view and that’s a good thing.”

“I just can’t believe we’re here,” she smiled. “I didn’t realize how much we needed this.”

“You’ll be a new woman by the time you leave. Cameron’s scheduled a massage for you in a few hours, there is a week’s worth of groceries in the fridge. He’s also opted for concierge service and a driver for the length of your stay. My number is in the book on the table.” Abbie stood, eyes glistening, her smile growing with every word I spoke.

“Happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

“Awesome. There are two keys to the house on the foyer table. And please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

Cameron joined us standing by Abbie’s side with a newly animated little boy wiggling in his arms.

“Thank you so much, Koti, I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”

“You’re welcome and welcome to St. Thomas.”

I left the smiling family with a new kind of ache in my chest. I was just about to head back to the office when Jasmine called.

“Hey buddy, did you get the Bledsoe’s checked in?”

“Yep, all set.”

“We’re done for the day if you want to knock off.”

“Are you sure?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes girl, go play with Ian. But just keep your phone on for calls. I have a date tonight.”

“Really? With who?”

She paused. “Jasmine, with who?”

“Toby. Am I crazy?”

“Of course not, I kind of figured that was going to happen.”

“Really, you see us together? He’s so…”

“Bold? Confident? Perfect for you?”

“If you thought that, why didn’t you say something?”

“I wanted you two to figure it out for yourselves.”