Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Tomorrow will be another wonderful day. Just like every other one since Ethan arrived.
I fall asleep, feeling calm, at peace, and at home here on our island paradise.
EPILOGUE
Ethan
* * *
Seven months later…
* * *
Paradise has gotten crankier.
“It’s so hot,” Wendy whines as she plops down on the airplane seat and fans her sweaty face. “Why is it always so fucking hot here?”
I swallow hard as I look at my pregnant girl, wondering how I can make her more comfortable. This week has been scorching and I hope this heat wave breaks soon.
She’s cradling her big stomach and although we’re not certain, we think she’s about seven months pregnant. About two months to go and then our island population will increase from two to three. I can’t wait. I’m so excited to meet this kid, I’m so excited to be a dad, and I’m so excited to see Wendy as a mom.
I’m counting every single day.
But until then, I have to keep my girl as comfortable and happy as I can. Not an easy task lately.
“Do you want me to take you to the lagoon to cool off?”
She sighs as she closes her eyes. “My feet are too sore.”
I look at them and wince. Her ankles have disappeared. It’s all swollen down there.
She’s excited for the baby too, but it’s been a rough week for her. She’s been craving chocolate like crazy throughout her pregnancy. Yesterday, she talked about it nonstop.
We’re both nervous about having a baby on the island. I tell her that humans were doing this for thousands of years before hospitals were invented, but that doesn’t help much. We don’t even have a bottle or a crib. It’s going to be interesting.
I’m thrilled that the baby is coming, but it’s making me miss home a lot more. I want to tell my parents about it. I want to see the look in my mom’s eyes when she holds her grandkid for the first time. I want to get fatherly advice from my dad. I want to introduce Wendy to everyone.
I sigh as I stoke the fire and look out at the ocean.
Something catches my eye.
“What the—?”
Wendy groans as she keeps her eyes closed. “What is it?”
“A ship…”
I’m slowly standing up, staring into the distance in shock. A cruise ship.
“It’s coming this way.”
Wendy leaps up and shuffles over.
I haven’t seen anything since I arrived on the island—no ships or planes, so this is a real surprise.
“It’s going to pass by the island,” Wendy says as she looks at me in a panic. “Ethan, do something!”
I leap into action. I grab a burning stick out of the fire and sprint down to the beach to save my girl. My legs are pumping faster than they’ve ever moved as I leap over rocks and duck under branches.
I spot the cruise ship as it straightens out on its way past our island. It’s not getting any closer, but it’s close enough to see a signal of some kind.
And I have one planned.
I head straight for the plane and leap on top of what’s left of it. With the burning stick in my hand, I climb onto the wing and open the gas cap. There’s not enough gas in here to start the engine, but hopefully, there’s enough to get me home.
“Sorry about this, Gramps,” I say as I shove the burning stick inside. The flame catches on the gasoline coating the inside of the huge gas tank and the whole thing groans as the flames make their way into the engine, about to blow the whole thing up. I leap off the wing and land in the sand with a grunt. I run and get away just as it explodes into flames.
A mushroom cloud of black smoke bursts into the air as the plane erupts in a heated blaze.
That should get their attention.
I frantically grab full plants and rip branches off of the tropical trees. I toss it all onto the fire, making that dark gray smoke as thick and large as possible.
My heart is pounding as I stare at the cruise ship while it glides by in the distance. Please.
“It’s stopping,” Wendy’s beautiful voice says from behind me.
I turn around with my pulse racing. She’s standing there and staring at it with tears in her eyes.
“I guess we have to leave now?”
The ship slows to a stop and some workers on board wave to us, signaling that they see us.
I wave back even though my stomach is dropping. Our time in paradise is over. It’s time to go home.
I didn’t realize it would hit me so hard. I feel my chest get tight and my eyes get all watery.
“We’ll still be together,” I say as I go to her and drape my arm over her shoulder. “We’ll be together forever.”
She slides her hand on my stomach and looks up at me with the most beautiful smile. “I know.”