Halton spotted me and broke away from Van and Reid. He shook my hand with a wry grin. “How you doing?”
I sipped my drink. “Great.”
“Awesome party as usual.”
“It is.”
“I wanted you to know, I put forth your adoption petition yesterday. It’s all complete and filed. I expect zero problems with it.”
“Awesome.”
Hal grinned. “You’re as anxious as Van was when he adopted Sammy. Lucy is already yours in every way that counts.”
“I know. I want her to have my name, though. I want her to know she belongs to this family. To me. I never want her to doubt how much I love her.”
Hal squeezed my shoulder. “She does. I’ve never seen a happier child. She’s pure sunshine.”
“She is.”
“You know, given what I did for a living, I never wanted to get married,” he mused. “I never understood the meaning of family.” He snorted. “I certainly never wanted children.”
I met his eyes with a grin. “Have you checked lately? You have five, Halton.” I stated dryly.
His laughter was loud. “I am aware. But it was Fiona who changed all that. Meeting your family, being drawn into them, changed me. I saw what a real family could be. How it could complete a person.” He paused, sipping his drink. “My kids—my family—mean the world to me. They are my greatest treasure.” He grinned. “Most of the time anyway. I admit there were a few times I would have liked to bury one or two of them.”
We both laughed.
“Fiona taught me all I had to do was love them. That was all they really needed. You do that for Lucy. I see it. Everyone does.” He clapped my shoulder again. “She is going to be fine. You all are.” Then he winked. “Talk to me in a few years about how many kids I have. I get the feeling you and your siblings are going to keep your parents pretty busy with grandbabies.”
Chuckling, he walked away.
A few other people found me, and we chatted before they drifted away. It was always good to catch up with those I didn’t see on a regular basis. I cast my gaze around the room, looking for Paige. She’d seemed quite nervous over tonight’s party. I wasn’t sure if it was the thought of how many of us there would be, the fact that she’d be the center of their attention, or if she was reacting to something else. She’d been quiet most of the day, but I had chalked it up to nerves. Maybe it was more. She’d certainly tried to hide it. I hadn’t planned on leaving her side tonight but, given this group, wasn’t shocked to find us pulled in different directions. I wanted to check on her, but she didn’t seem to be in the main room.
Movement caught my eye, and I saw a solitary figure heading down the steps to the beach. I knew where I would find my wife—on the sand, close to the fire, staring at the stars.
Setting down my drink, I followed her.
Paige
I slipped out the side door, to a quiet part of the deck. It led to a staircase to the beach, and I made my way to the sand, the torches lighting my path. I turned and looked at the brightly lit building behind me. I could hear the laughter, the sounds of music. I breathed in the scent of the water, the low-burning fire, and the sand. I wondered if I would ever get used to this spot. The ever-changing beauty of it. The lovely place that felt like home already—because Liam was there.
I loved the house. The big windows, the large porch. Liam had put my desk in front of the window, and as I worked, I could look outside and see the trees and water—unlike my desk in Toronto, where I stared at my neighbor’s side door and driveway. My life had taken on a new rhythm, and every day I sank more into the gentle cadence of it. Lucy was so happy and settled, taking to the new surroundings like a duck to water. With Beth and Evan close, and encircled by Liam’s family, she’d never been happier.
My family now, too. It still seemed unreal. All of this seemed unreal at times. I was certain I would wake up and find I had been dreaming.
Only a few months ago, I was struggling to make sure we stayed on a tight budget. I worked as many hours as possible, even pulling some of the night shifts to add a little to the bank account. I spent the rest of the time looking after Lucy and Evan, always grateful to have Beth and Evan in our life. We created our own little family, and together, we managed to get by. I would never have made it without Beth. I would never have met Liam without her either.