“That’s something that will have to be up to you. I’m not going to stop you from seeing him altogether. But I do think he’ll need to put in some effort before he wins you back. No chasing people who don’t want to be caught, OK?”
“OK,” she said.
When Leo and Niall suggested a welcome-to-the-family BBQ and a game of backyard footy to get the day back on track and lighten the mood, not a single one of us said no. Archer begged to sleep over at the ‘new house’ since Niall had told him and Abigail about it earlier, and Archer wanted to see his new room.
“Are you OK with this?” I said to Abigail as we grabbed overnight bags.
“It’s my own room, Mum. I’m more than OK with it.”
As we line up across the backyard, ready for me to take a free kick since Leo broke the body-contact rules and tackled me for the ball, I take a moment to appreciate the people around me and how much my life has changed in such a small amount of time. That day in the hospital car park feels so long ago now. Long gone are the days when I was little more than an inhouse servant to a man who didn’t appreciate me. Now I feel loved, I feel happy, and my children’s laughter fills my heart. The way I look at it now, I didn’t lose anything when Kevin left. I simply dropped the deadweight in my life and gained a wonderful man who complements me as much as he completes me. With him comes an exuberant young man who I’m liking more with every moment I spend with him. Together, our tiny single-parent families make one big family of five. To an outsider, this development would seem really sudden. But if they understood how hurt we’d been—how much we had to fight to get to this point—they wouldn’t blink twice, because this, this joy, this laughter, this light, is the way it’s meant to be.
“Come on, Mummy,” Archer groans. “Just kick the ball already.”
“All right, all right,” I say, pulling my foot back and releasing an almighty kick that sends the ball spinning through the air.
Right into Leo’s nuts.
“Oh my God,” I cry, covering my mouth as he groans, clutches his privates, then drops to the ground in a moaning heap. “I’m so sorry.” I rush to his side, skidding to a stop beside him as I drop to my knees.
“Wrong goalposts, Darce,” Niall says as we gather around a red-faced Leo. He leans to the side and coughs, and I reach out and place my hand on his arm.
“I’m so sorry, Leo. Do you need me to get some ice or something?”
“Oh God. No. No ice,” he gasps, slowly pushing up on a shaky arm. “Not after last time.”
The memory of the first time I tried to help him flashes in my mind. I copped him in the gonads that time too. Suddenly I’m laughing. “I promise I won’t throw it at your crotch again,” I say.
He shakes his head, glancing my way with the shadow of a smile. “I’m OK,” he says, making it to a sitting position. The kids band together to help him up, then I wrap an arm around his waist and walk with him inside the house.
“Did you hurt your knee too, or is it just your balls this time?” I ask, wondering how full circle we actually came.
“Just my nuts,” he says with a chuckle as we lower him to the couch and Niall hands him a bottle of beer that he uses to press against his crotch. Then the kids excuse themselves to go upstairs where their rooms are located. Besides Niall’s room, the other two only have a bed and a chest of drawers in them at the moment. But there’s already talk about how they plan to decorate.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” I say, giggling a little once I hear the kids upstairs. I love hearing their excited chatter.
“You’re lucky I love you so damn much,” he says, lifting the beer bottle from his crotch to take a drink. “No other human on this earth could get away with clocking me in the balls twice.”
I move closer to him and pout. “Do you want me to kiss it better?”
“I do, actually. But I’m going to need a bit before it’s in working order again.” He holds his arm out and I snuggle in a little closer, draping my arm across his waist as he offers me a sip of his beer.
“It’s all yours,” I say as I rest my head on his shoulder. “I think you need it more than me.” I smile up at him, watching the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he takes a drink. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”
“You’ve listed some very positive traits you believe I possess, and loving me was definitely one of them. But don’t let that stop you, I’m happy to hear it all again.”
He turns his head so his nose brushes against mine as we both grin like lovesick goofballs. “I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too, angel,” he says, touching his lips to mine. “Welcome home.” Then he kisses me, slowly, softly, completely. And finally, after months of struggle and piles of hardships, our paths have fully aligned, and the only way forward is together.
EPILOGUE
DARCY
One year later
* * *
“ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE.” Leo taps his glass as he stands and raises his voice above the din. “Before we bring the dessert out, I have something I’d like to say.”
As the voices quiet and all eyes turn our way, I’m thankful I have a master craftsman to call my own, because without him, there’s no way I’d fit this many people around a regular dining table. Leo built me this beautiful extendable table that is perfect for whenever we have company, which is often, because what would our family dinner be without Nana and Betsy joining us? Oh, and Arthur. Seems the dashing older gent has worn Nana down, and she’s decided to try a committed relationship one last time. To the chagrin of those in her little black book, for the last twelve months, she and Arthur have been exclusive. And, might I add, utterly adorable. When I asked her what it was that made her decide to give love another chance, she said that Arthur had a hard-on like a rock and that he took his teeth out for cunnilingus, which made him top of her to-do list. After a moment of making it all about sex, she added that he always made her pancakes the next morning and would massage her temples whenever she had a headache. I took that to mean she’d fallen for him and quietly cheered for her. I don’t know what happened during her marriages to turn her against the idea of commitment, but I’m very pleased she’s found someone to share her life with during her twilight years. We all need someone to love.
“Quick, Leo. Say something or Mum is going to fall asleep waiting on you,” Jo says with a laugh, giving Mum a bit of a nudge with her elbow because my usually stoic mother has had a little too much to drink. Somehow over the last twelve months, the woman who ran our lives with military precision growing up, has learned to relax and enjoy some of the finer things in life. Maybe it’s because she’s visiting Bayside more often and succumbing to the fun-loving influence of Nana, or maybe she’s finally mellowing. Either way, our relationship is a hell of a lot better, and I don’t dodge her calls as much any more.
“Yeah, get on with it, pops,” Niall says with a laugh as Leo waits for everyone to calm down. “Dessert is the best part.”
“I’m trying here, son. But if you’ll all just shut up for a second, I could get a word out.” Each syllable is uttered with a smile on Leo’s lips and spark of joy in his eyes. Seeing everyone who means something to each of us in one place is a dream come true to him. Over the past year, he and Niall have become as close as a father and son can be. Having their clouded history cleared up and living under the same roof without Tash’s truth-bending influence has been the salve to heal all wounds. Niall knuckled down and completed his final year of high school, achieving such incredible results that he was accepted into the university of his choice to study sports medicine, which is something he’s always been interested in. His interest was cemented when Leo had his knee operation, though. They spent countless hours working together on his physio, and Leo is walking and running like a twenty-year-old again.
“I can’t be quiet,” Niall responds. “Abby is trying to eat mushrooms like they’re a burger and it’s all wrong. I feel like she’s eating mould.”
; “Well, they are a fungus,” Nana says, giving Abby a nod in comradery, because she fully supports Abby’s move to veganism. She’s had a wonderful time teaching her some of her favourite recipes, the jackfruit pulled pork substitute being the favourite for all of us.
“You could probably do with some more vegetables in your life with all that junk food you shove down your gob,” Abby returns with a smile. I’ve watched my daughter go through a great deal of change this past year. After settling in to her new life in Bayside, she’s come out of her quiet, high-grade-chasing shell and become the outgoing, outdoor loving girl I see before me now. She’s still doing great at school, but she’s found a balance that has room for fun and of course, her first love. She’s been dating a boy called Jayden for about six months now, and while I worry incessantly about her, I’m assured by both Leo and Niall that they both read the boy the riot act. If he so much as touches a hair on Abby’s head without her permission, he’ll take a long walk off a short pier. But despite being frightened by two giant men, Jayden is sticking around and Abby smiles more than she ever has. She even sits with me at least once every day and talks incessantly about the happenings in her day. We had our rocky road in the months after Kevin left, but once I stopped trying to hide the facts and became open and honest about our situation, our closeness returned. I have my little girl back—even though she’s growing up now. She’ll always be my girl.
“Oh,” Archer yells above everyone. “Niall and I are going to Maccas this week to see how many cheeseburgers he can eat before he pukes. I’m going to film it all for YouTube and when he does puke, it’ll be in a KFC bucket. Funny, right?”
Remember that video Archer made about the willy warmers? Well, just as he was sure it would, it went viral. All of a sudden, his YouTube subscriber count blew up, and he’s become this tiny entertainment entrepreneur who plans out his programming to keep his viewers entertained. Niall helps him out while keeping a watchful big brother eye on the social media aspect of it. It’s been a wonderful bonding project for the two of them, and I really appreciate the time and effort Niall puts into it. He’s a very different young man than the crass, judgemental arse I met that first morning. It’s no surprise that adding a good helping of love into a kid’s life brings about positive change. He doesn’t have much to do with his mother, but when he does see her or even talk to her via FaceTime, he’s often quite angry and aloof for a few hours afterwards. Sometimes days. Grief takes time to heal from.
As much as I enjoyed working at the café, I returned to work with Leo at the workshop. Despite having a really sexy co-worker, the actual work is more engaging, and it has really good lunch-time perks. Like, amazing, mind-blowing perks if you catch my drift. Leo is a master craftsman, but he always struggled with the paperwork side of his business, which is where I come in. I may have gotten my dreamer side from my father, but my organisation skills, inherited from my mother, are top-notch. Leo’s filing cabinet didn’t know what hit it.
“Before we go off on another tangent,” Leo says over everyone. “I want to propose a toast.” He lifts his glass and smiles. “To Esme. Without whom, not a single one of us would be in this room today. You brought us all together, coached us to see the beauty in the universe, and to grab on to love with both hands when we found it.” He looks at me and beams, taking hold of my hand and pressing a kiss against my knuckles. “We definitely found it,” he says, looking into my eyes. I almost cry, because my heart is so full it may actually burst. “And I’m never letting go.”
Leo is the man of my dreams, the filler of my heart. He’s taken my children under his wing, and he treats me like I’m the absolute light of his life. That date he wanted to take me on was actually in Monte Carlo where he was presenting the World Rugby Award for Try of the Year—something he himself won in his heyday. It was absolutely magical to fly first class and be given the star treatment. But it’s the everyday Leo I’m in love with most. The one who likes to take care of me, support me, and be the person I need from one moment to the next—even if he still hasn’t figured out how to cook a decent steak.
“I love you,” I mouth, and he kisses my knuckles again.
“Tonight marks the eve of the one-year anniversary of when we decided to become a family. Fittingly, it’s also the day Darcy’s divorce has come through.”
“I’m officially single and looking, guys,” I tease, laughing when Leo scowls. “Oh look, I found him.” He laughs and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“I asked you all here today to celebrate family,” Leo continues. “To celebrate the best twelve months a man could have, and to thank you all for being a part of that. Here’s to many more years together.” He lifts his glass of beer in the air and we all lift our various glasses in return and say cheers before we drink. It’s a loving sentiment from a loving man. I have to agree with him that the last twelve months have been the best I’ve had. Once we got over Kevin’s abandonment and let Leo and Niall into our lives—our hearts—nothing seemed like it was too much of a burden. We just worked so well together and nothing about us was difficult or a chore.
That’s not to say that everything is perfect all the time, we certainly have our tiffs the same as any other couple. But at the crux of things, we know there’s nothing we can’t overcome. And I think that’s what makes the biggest difference. Our love is certain.
“I would also like to say something,” Betsy says, rising from her chair as Leo sits down. We all turn our attention to the small woman with her slight hunch and sharp eyes as she looks at us with pride. “I never had a family of my own. But through Esme, I’ve experienced the love of one. I consider all of you my kin, and getting the chance to watch you come together and blossom has been a great pleasure for this old woman. Especially since I saw all of this in the cards. I was very confident that this day would come, just like I’m very confident about what’s in store for the future.” She lifts her glass and gives me a wink. “I’d wish you all happiness, but what’s a wish when my predictions keep coming true and I already know?”
“What’s going to happen?” Abby asks, leaning her chin on her upturned palm, elbow on the table. She loves it when Betsy reads her cards.
Betsy gives her a knowing grin. “That’s something I’ll let you experience for yourself. But the one thing I’ll tell you is that in the next year there’ll be a ring. And I’m pretty sure there’ll be a puppy too.” This time she winks at Archer.
“Oh Betsy,” Nana says, shaking her head while she laughs at her friend. “Any one of us could have told you these two will be married in a heartbeat. Your cards are just telling you what we already know.”
“You didn’t know about the puppy,” Betsy says, taking a mouthful of wine.
“Archer’s wanted a puppy for years and Leo’s been fixing the fence in the backyard,” Nana returns, and she and Betsy bicker back and forth while Archer sits there getting more and more excited by the second.
“I think we’re visiting the pound next weekend,” Leo says, leaning close to my ear.
“And a quick trip to the altar it seems,” I add, laughing at Betsy’s and Nana’s insinuations. Leo and I haven’t even discussed whether or not we’ll marry. We’re happy just being together.
“Yeah, I don’t know how they found out about that,” he says, pulling a small black box out of his pocket. “I literally bought this on a whim this morning.”
“What. Is. That?” My eyes go wide and I simply stare at the box as Leo gets off his chair and kneels in front of me. Suddenly, the bickering stops and the entire table goes silent.
With a beautiful half-smile kicking up the side of his full mouth, Leo holds up the box and looks deeply into my eyes. “Every day since I’ve met you has been better than the last. You’re the light in my heart, and the other half of my soul. When I think about the future, I can’t imagine a moment without you in it. So, if you’ll have me, I’d be honoured if you’ll be my wife. Will you marry me, Darcy, my angel?”
He does
n’t even get the chance to open the ring box before I fling my arms around his neck and yell, “Yes! Of course, it’s yes. A thousand times.”
“Does this mean I can call you Dad now?” Archer yells, wide-eyed and excited, and the next few minutes are filled with kisses and hugs and tears and everything that should come when the man you love asks to marry you in front of all the people who love you both in return.
Archer cries the most, tears of happiness, because despite his bravery over Kevin’s decision to leave us, he’s still just a little boy wanting to be loved.
Abigail moves in front of Leo and gives him a tight hug, tears in her eyes. “I hope this means I can call you Dad too?”
“Really?” He pulls away a little and takes her cheeks in his hands, obviously staggered by her request. When she nods, a tear slides from his eye. “I’d be honoured,” he says. Both of my children hug him at once, and I think I fall in love a little more. Their father left, and while we know where he is, none of us have tried for a relationship with him because he dealt a lot of hurt and doesn’t want a relationship in return. Somehow, in that huge void of pain, Leo stepped in and loved on us so hard that we forgot to be angry anymore. It reminds me of the story Nana tells of the dog I rescued as a child, who’d been feral until I showed it love and gained its trust. That’s what Leo did for us. He loved us when we were broken, put up with us when we were a mess, and gave us proof time and time again that we could trust him. He’ll be right there whenever we need him, which really, is everything you want in life.
When Leo and I first started out, I spent a lot of time worrying that he’d wake up one day, look at me and see that I wasn’t the model or the actress type he’d previously dated. He’s reassured me over and over that I’m beautiful in his eyes, but I’ve struggled to believe him, until he told me that one day we’d be so old that no one will remember what we looked like young. Looks fade, but hearts stay the same. He was attracted to my looks, sure, but what he’s in love with is my heart. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.
Love is a Beach: a romantic comedy Page 38
