Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Before meeting him, she had thought her life was special, but she’d been going through the moments, never quite living them. She also knew dealing with her brother had something to do with that.
“Don’t spend too long in the sun,” he said.
She tanned quite easily and this made her laugh as she leaned back against him. He rested his hands on her rounded stomach, and she heard the kids laughing. They spun toward their group. They had also taken three of his men with them on this little vacation, and they were close, blending in, looking like tourists.
At first, many years ago, Beth hadn’t been able to spot them, whereas now she found it quite easy. They tended to be the ones that stood, watching, glaring at people, always close enough and yet far away. She found it super cute when they did that.
They were all loyal and devoted to Rome. Her husband had told her on many occasions they were also loyal to her. They wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her or the kids.
Staring at the kids now, she saw how happy they all were. Their eldest son, Michael, was digging a hole, and was still convinced he was going to get to the other side of the world. Even at ten years old, he believed in magic.
Their daughter, Hannah, was sitting, reading. She was seven years old, and of course acted much older than all her brothers. Even now, she held a book in her hand and kept glaring at her two brothers, but at the same time playing with the sand beneath her feet.
Beth knew she had to get her daughter to enjoy life. She was not going to allow Hannah to not be a child, she refused to let it go.
Then of course, their youngest, Luke, who was four years old, kept throwing sand over his shoulder, which kept hitting Hannah.
“Hey, watch it,” Hannah said.
Luke was just doing as she’d asked him.
“Look at them,” Rome said.
“I am.”
“They’re everything, Beth. We make amazing kids.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “We do, don’t we?” She wondered if he was remembering the delivery room. Michael had been a challenging birth. He’d taken the longest, and the doctors might have also used a few scare tactics that Rome hadn’t been too happy about.
There had been a lot of risk with each child, but Luke’s birth had been the easiest and fastest for them all. Each pregnancy, Rome had vowed would be their last, and now she had a fourth child on the way.
The kids were all excited about having a new brother or sister. Even Hannah didn’t care, as long as her mommy came home. That was all her daughter said to her. Luke’s birth might have scared her little girl, who had only been three at the time. She might not remember exactly what happened, but it was enough for her to know that not all women come home after giving birth.
She tilted her head to the side and looked at Rome. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me that ultimatum ten years ago, for wanting me, for loving me, and for giving me a life I never thought I would have.”
Rome took possession of her lips, but then stopped after one kiss, to take hold of her hand. “You don’t have to thank me. Not ever. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted and more. It’s me who should be thanking you.” And with that, he kissed her again.
The End