Bridget is living in Australia and so is Abbie. Bridget is coming for a visit next week with Mum, not that I’m counting the days or anything. Mum lives between here and Australia. She has met a nice man from the village here who she calls her friend. Cameron is back at University to be a surgeon and Adrian is running the company for Joshua and living in L.A.
Joshua works from home for four days and in the office in L.A. on the other day. I have opened a small psychology practice in town here but I only open two days a week. Birgetta helps Joshua with the kids on those days.
Ben has returned to South Africa after he went and worked with my brother, Brock, for a while. Oh, and get this: Jesten works with my brother. There are five ex Special Forces men working together in his security company named Marx. Pretty cool, hey?
“Did you remember the dresses?” I ask Adrian.
He rolls his eyes. “Yes, that’s the reason we came, isn’t it?”
He puts Jordy down and she runs upstairs while Jarvis retrieves the suit bags for Adrian. I smile broadly and kiss Jarvis on the cheek as I take them from him. He has become so dear to all of us and I am beyond grateful that Joshua brought him into our lives.
Joshua stands behind me, slips his arms around my waist and kisses my temple. I smile against his lips. How did I ever get so lucky? Cameron spins Blake around and he laughs out loud.
“You are growing up, little man.” He smiles broadly.
Blake puts his hands on Cameron’s face and squeals with laughter and then he spots Joshua and all is forgotten in the world. He holds his arms out to him and scrunches his little hands open and closed. Joshua takes him from Cam and kisses the top of his head.
“Dad, Dad, Dad.” He smiles.
Adrian opens the suit bags on the kitchen table.
“So, we have this one.” He pulls out a black dress and Cameron and Joshua roll their eyes at each other. Jarvis smiles and flops onto the lounge.
“This is important!” I snap.
We have opened a charity: The Stanton Mental Health Institute, and we have our first annual ball next week. I’m speaking and I’m as nervous as hell. I have to look amazing. Nicholas is on the committee and we are following his lead from his work in Australia.
He pulls out a black gown.
“Oh, wow.” I smile, and I hold it up to me. “This is gorgeous.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Adrian smiles. “But I think I like the pink one better.”
He starts to unzip the bag but we are interrupted by Jordy.
“I’m going riding,” she announces. She is wearing her full riding kit, jodhpurs, boots, a little hard hat with her two dark plaits hanging down.
Everybody smirks. What next?
“No, you are not. We already went riding this morning,” Joshua tells her.
“Yes, I know. I’m going again. I need to practice to get better, Dad.”
I smirk, like Joshua, Jordy is mad for horses.
“No, you are not. You can go again later,” Joshua replies.
“I am. Max will take me.” She heads out the back door.
“Jordana,” Joshua calls after her. “Come back here now.”
“No!” she yells as she marches down toward the stables.
“This fucking kid,” Joshua mumbles under his breath, and we all laugh. He takes off after her and we hear them have a full stand up argument on the path.
I smirk and turn the jug on. “You want some tea, boys?” I watch Joshua and Jordy fight on the pathway. His plan for six children could be the very death of him, and he would die if he knew I suspected that I’m pregnant again.
“Yes, please.”
“Jordy still whipping his ass around Willowvale?” Cameron smirks.
I smile. “Trying to.”
Jordana comes marching through the door in tantrum, tears everywhere, followed by Joshua.
“You can go up to your room, thank you,” Joshua says sternly.
She folds her arms in a huff. “I am going to my room,” she cries. “And I’m slamming my door.”
Joshua’s eyes narrow. “Don’t you dare.”
“I am!” she yells as she storms past us.
Cameron and Adrian smile into their tea. It really is fun watching Joshua having stand up arguments with a sweet looking four-year-old girl. Most grown men don’t cross him.
“I can’t fucking wait until she’s sixteen, man. It is going to be on like Donkey Kong.” Cameron smiles.
Joshua fakes a shiver.
We all laugh. Let the games begin.
Natasha
My eyes flick over to Joshua who stands at the bar with his father, mum, Bridget, Cameron and Stephanie. Stephanie is Joshua’s father’s new girlfriend. She’s beautiful and only four years older than Scott.
Margaret is here to support us, although the invitation didn’t extend to her fiancé, James Brennan. I’m happy that she’s happy, but I will never get over the lies she told. They went on for far too long. I tolerate her for the sake of my children, but who knows what the future will bring? I don’t want them to see me have contempt for my mother-in-law. It’s a daily struggle, one that I would walk away from if I didn’t know how hard we fought to keep the family together. My eyes look around at the opulent ballroom in amazement. This is something out of this world. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished.