Sink or Swim (Beach Kingdom 3)

Marcus threw up his arms. “She got that paid internship at Cornell?”

“Yeah, their medical center in Manhattan. Starts in two weeks.” Rory beamed with pride. “She’s going to be a kick-ass psychologist.”

As if on cue, Rory’s wife arrived in Andrew’s periphery, laying a big, smacking kiss on Rory’s cheek and falling into his lap. “Hey, everyone.”

“Congratulations, Olive,” Jamie said, smiling over at her while juggling his daughter. “Proud of you.”

Marcus reached over and gave her a high five.

Andrew leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks, guys,” Olive said, flushing. “You’re not upset that we’re looking for a place outside of Long Beach?”

“No,” Andrew said, inhaling the salt-tinged air and letting it out. “No, seeing his face at work is more than enough.” Rory shoved his shoulder, but Andrew just smiled. “Look how much has changed over the last five years, right? We’re all still sitting here. We always will.”

“Always,” Jamie said.

Rory nodded. “Always.”

The low buzz in the sky turned all their heads to the right. Andrew’s chest swarmed with pride and he squinted to watch the plane approach against the blue backdrop. He’d come to associate that humming engine sound with Jiya over the last five years. His wife was now a licensed pilot. She worked in a managerial capacity now at Spice, but she’d started giving flying lessons when Rick, her mentor, retired. She’d also started flying advertisements over the busy beaches in the summertime, not to mention the odd marriage proposal—those were her favorites—and she never failed to come home with an air of exhilaration after being in the sky and he thanked God for the day he’d bought those lessons.

Andrew frowned when he noticed a banner attached to the back of Jiya’s favorite red striped Cessna. She wasn’t on the clock. Today was supposed to be a pleasure flight.

Then he read the banner and the sand shifted under his feet.

Andrew, I’m pregnant.

A collective gasp went up among the group before a round of back slapping ensued. Andrew could barely feel any of it through the inundation of contentment and happiness.

I’m going to be a father. I’m married to my soul mate and we’re going to be parents.

Life was huge. Life was beautiful. Life was his wife and he wanted her on the ground now. Was she insane telling him something so important when he couldn’t hold her?

“It’s a good thing I’m moving out, A,” Rory said, bringing him and Olive to his feet with a whoop. “Looks like you’re going to need the extra space.”

The five of them laughed.

“Jesus, my wife is pregnant,” Andrew breathed, shooting to his feet so fast, he got lightheaded. “I need to get to the airfield.”

“Go,” Jamie said, eyes glinting. “We’ll get dinner started at the house.”

“You’re going to make an amazing father, A,” Rory called, pride thick in his voice.

“Thank you,” Andrew called over his shoulder, because he was already running for the boardwalk and the parking lot beyond. It took him forever to reach Bethpage thanks to the traffic, but he knew Jiya would be there. Knew she would read his mind—as only she could do—and be assured he’d come to her. That he always would.

When Andrew arrived at the airfield, he’d barely parked the car before he was running for the hangar. Coming to a stop at the wide entrance, he took a moment to marvel over his beautiful wife and best friend. She wore the flying suit he’d bought her to celebrate earning her pilot’s license, the bright yellow material matching her spirit.

Obviously sensing his presence, she turned from where she’d been polishing her Cessna, facing him with tears in her eyes, a watery laugh escaping her lips, and the last five years flashed in his mind. Morning donuts cuddled into his lifeguard chair, before a single other soul was on the beach. Laughter surrounding them at her parents’ dinner table, their fingers laced together under the table. Jiya’s head thrown back on a cry of his name as she rode him in their bed. Or on the couch, the floor, the back office of the Castle Gate. Anywhere they could steal time together—and there would never be enough. He would never, ever get enough time with the love of his life.

“A baby,” he rasped. “We’re going to have a baby.” They moved at the same time, meeting halfway where Andrew caught his wife up in a tight embrace, lifting her off the ground. “We’re going to take such good care of them. We’re going to give them everything.”

“Of course we are,” she breathed into his neck. “Ask me the question, Andrew.”

Heat pressed against the back of his eyes. “Can I do anything for you, Jiya?”

“Never let this feeling end. This happiness. This love.”

Heart swelling, his arms tightened around her. “Never.”

THE END