As we relax back in our chairs, we all let out a sigh. I’m assuming of happiness because mine certainly was.
“There’s nothing better than this,” Noni remarks from next to me. Tilting my head towards her, I see a smile on her face that is tilted towards the fading sun. Turning back towards the water, I have to agree, “Nothing.”
“I’m so glad we made the move,” Julia agrees. “I miss my family, but I love living here and the kids are thriving.”
Noni hums her agreement.
“I guess that’s where Rochelle and I are lucky,” I muse. “Our family is all right here, and we get to see you every day.”
“Yep,” Rochelle agrees. “I’m so lucky to have found you all. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I’m awake with how much my life has changed.”
Noni reaches across and squeezes my arm but doesn’t say anything. There’s really no need; we all know how lucky we are to be part of this family.
“Now we just have to find Jill so that Blaze can settle, and then we have to find Cairo’s lady and hope that she fits in with us,” Julia says as she tips the last of her G&T back.
“It will all work out,” Noni responds. “I’ve got faith. Jill didn’t take off for no reason. She’ll be back.”
We’re all quiet as we enjoy the peacefulness of the bush, and thinking about Noni’s words, I have to agree with her. I’ve found in life things will fall into place when they are meant to. That doesn’t mean that life isn’t without heartache or hardship because it is, but the good usually outweighs the bad.
We’d all have to wait and see. Whatever happens, we’d handle it as we did most things—as a family.
CHAPTER 7
SKINNY
“Where are we going and why am I not allowed to see?” Josie mutters as she grips hard onto my arm. As if I’d let her fall. I knew going in this was going to be hard for her. She hated having her eyes covered with anything, and it caused her massive anxiety, but there was no other way to get her to her surprise. “You know I hate having stuff over my eyes,” she continues to grumble.
“You’re going to love it, I promise,” I cajole her. “We’re nearly there, not much longer.”
It had taken a bit of organising, but today was the day. It was Josie’s birthday. I’d been liaising for weeks with the Russos, Falcon, and Jaq to make this happen.
I’d set my alarm for four a.m. since Jaq and Falcon would pick us up just after six a.m. Last night, I packed a backpack for us and had Bull keep it. Having woken Josie, I hurried her out of the house after ensuring she ate. I had her ginger sweets in my pocket and salted crackers in the backpack. I hoped that she’d be okay and that she’d love what I’d arranged for her.
Falcon and Jaq were leaning up against the helicopter waiting for us and waved as soon as they saw us. I waved back and stopped walking, holding Josie in place, telling her, “Okay, are you ready? I’m going to take your blindfold off, and while I’m doing that, I’ll tell you what your birthday surprise is.”
Josie claps excitedly, bouncing on her toes, “Hurry, hurry, what is it?”
Chuckling, I start to undo the knot on the blindfold, “It’s not something you can see, Tiger; it’s something we’re going to do. What is something you’ve always wanted to do?”
Josie goes still as she thinks. Walking around so that I’m in front of her, I pull the blindfold off her eyes; she blinks up at me as her eyes refocus in the early morning light. As the early morning sun hits her face, it makes her look as if she’s glowing. “Fuck, baby, you are gorgeous,” I tell her, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck. Tilting her chin up with my thumb, I lower my lips to hers, taking her mouth in a soft, deep kiss. Josie leans in, wrapping her arms around my waist under my cut, gripping my shirt. A throat clearing reminds me we’re on a time limit.
Removing my lips from hers with one last peck, I step back slightly so that she can see Falcon, Jaq, and the helicopter. “Oh,” Josie lifts her hands to her mouth and her eyes flood with tears. “Are we going on the game capture and relocation?”
“We sure are, baby,” I reply with a smile as she squeals in excitement and throws her arms around me in a quick hug before rushing over to Jaq and Falcon, who laugh when she hugs them, thanking them and hurrying them all at the same time.
I walk over to Falcon and shake his hand before hugging Jaq. Josie is already in the helicopter strapping in.
Jaq laughs, “Hey, Josie, you’re not going anywhere until I’m in the driving seat.”
“Well, stop wasting time and get us in the air, woman,” Josie orders Jaq. “I’ve been waiting years for this.”
“Okay, okay,” Jaq laughs, “I’m getting in.”
There’s a lot of laughter and chatting as we fit our headsets over our ears so that we can still talk to each other as well as have protection from the noise, and before long, we’re in the air. Josie grips my hand hard as she peers out the window at the rapidly fading ground. Jaq does a sweep over the hotel, and there is our MC family holding up a Happy Birthday banner the kids had made for Josie. They are all shouting and waving at us. Laughing, Josie waves back,even though she knows they won’t see her.
“Oh, Skinny, this is perfect,” she turns back to me, her lip trembling slightly. “Thank you.”
Lifting my hand, I run a finger under her eye, wiping away a tear, “You’re welcome, baby. Happy Birthday.”
