I'Ve Got You
Page 18
‘Really?’ Belle sniffed.
‘Yeah,’ he nodded enthusiastically. ‘But I’m curious to know how this happened, when we always used a condom?’
‘Well … you know how about a month ago, we did it in the shower, and we were so hot we didn’t even think about protection?’ Belle sighed. ‘Then a few weeks ago with my “tease me” lingerie, we did it twice without …’
‘Oh yeah, that lingerie was hot.’ He grinned as he replayed the memory in his mind.
‘Kabe! I’m scared stiff.’
‘I know, and no one could blame you.’ He cupped her face and slid the pads of his thumbs across her wet cheeks. ‘We’ll be fine, the baby will be healthy and we’ll make sure you get all the help you need. If that means living in Brisbane for a while, then so be it.’
Her jaw dropped and her eyebrows shot up. ‘What?’
‘Don’t worry, it’s okay. I know enough good sailors who I can trust to sail The Ondine for a while … it’s no biggie. These few months are the most important of our lives. Together we’re going to enjoy every moment, and take good care of our baby … you and me.’
*
Belle would never forget the look that slowly came over Kabe. His beautiful blue eyes glistened with emotion. She quickly asked, ‘Okay, but are you going to shed a tear because this is a shock and you’re not ready?’
‘Hell, no,’ he said, shaking his head. He shoved the covers aside, looked at her belly and caressed it with slow gentle circles of his hand, then pressed his lips near her belly button. ‘I’m the happiest man … I love that you’re pregnant … I love you … I love what we have together.’
‘Oh … it really is good then?’
‘You bet it is.’ He kissed her, long, slowly and lovingly, easing away all her concerns. ‘Don’t let it scare you, Belle. Enjoy every moment. We will be fine, all three of us … or four.’
Her back went straight. ‘Are you saying there are twins in your family?’
‘Not to my knowledge, but my little swimmers must have been in a hurry, so there might be two that made it.’ He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
‘Oh Lord.’ Belle looked down at her stomach and circled it tenderly with her hand. ‘Your Daddy’s going to spoil you.’
Kabe smiled. ‘Come on, wrap yourself in a sarong, and let’s go tell everyone the good news.’
‘Isn’t it a bit soon?’
‘Nope,’ he grinned, eyes crinkling. Okay, it was fair to say Kabe was bursting with excitement. Belle shrugged and decided to relax and join him in his enthusiasm.
He pulled on a pair of grey shorts and white T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. He looked hot; he was going to be a yummy daddy.
She fastened her favourite red and black sarong around her neck, halter-style, and took his offered hand as they headed out the door.
Kabe’s arm slipped around Belle’s waist, his fingers giving her a squeeze. She knew that it was his way of reassuring her everything would be more than fine. Still, as they entered the open courtyard, nerves and excitement did battle in her stomach. Marilyn and Dan were sitting in the sun, absorbed in the morning’s papers while sipping their coffees. Kabe stopped at the end of the table and Belle wondered what he intended to say and how he was going to say it. She grabbed his hand at her waist and squeezed his fingers, anxious to get it over with.
Marilyn looked up, head inclined as she studied them. ‘Hey, you two. You’re both looking very strange, what’s going on?’
At the mention of strange, Dan raised his head and said, ‘Huh?’
‘Mum … Dan, we’re going to have a baby … maybe two. But first, we’re getting married.’
Marilyn clasped her hands to her chest, and then burst into sobbing laughter as she shoved her chair back and headed straight for Belle. ‘I knew it … I knew it!’
Belle’s throat tightened. ‘What—marry?’ she barely managed to get the question out, before Marilyn had her in a tight hug. Grinning like an idiot, Dan shook Kabe’s hand and clapped him on the back. Kabe managed to disentangle Belle from Marilyn and then Dan. He grabbed her hand and drew her away. ‘Back in a minute,’ he said over his shoulder. He led her along the path to the grassy outcrop where weeks ago they had spent time looking up at the stars. That memorable place, where Belle had felt as if the universe had moved without her.
Nothing was moving right now except Kabe’s chest; his rapid breathing could only mean nerves, which made her smile, just a little.
‘Belle, will you marry me and make my life paradise every day?’ Kabe frowned, shook his head, and said, ‘Crap … wait, that’s so cheesy.’ His eyes warm with a profound loving gaze that made her knees weak, Kabe cupped her face and touched his lips to hers. ‘Marry me, Belle.’
‘Yes please!’ Belle flung her arms around his neck then kissed him long, hard and deep.
*
Four years later:
Belle knew this year’s Christmas on Butterfly Island was going to be a memorable one.
Kabe had taken their supplies of food and drinks to her grandfather’s house while she got their kids, Annabelle and Eli, changed and ready. Belle’s pregnancies hadn’t gone as smoothly as they’d both hoped. Annabelle was early, but well enough to leave the hospital after two weeks. Eli quite liked where he was and came late. As the days, hours, minutes ticked by, Kabe was ready to climb the walls. He’d watched Belle’s every move. Now their little babes were, respectively, three and a half and eighteen months.
Belle caught movement up the beach. Kabe was jogging back along the hard sand, then up along the jetty, feet thumping on the old wooden planks until he reached them.
‘Daddy’s back!’ Annabelle squealed, her curly hair ruffling in the breeze and her plastic crown sparkling in the sun.
‘Watch her, she’s like a bee in a bottle.’
‘Ready, Princess Bumblebee?’ Kabe smiled. Without warning, Annabelle leapt into his arms. Hands circling her waist, Kabe swung her around a few times, tickling her. She wriggled and squealed until he set her down on the jetty.
‘Daddy, Daddy,’ Annabelle cried out, her high-pitched voice screeching, everything said twice, or more, for emphasis. ‘Do it again! Do it again!’
‘Later, princess, got to get your brother down, and then the two of you can run to Poppy, see, he’s on his way.’ Kabe pointed up the beach, but he was ready for Annabelle to take off, and caught her by her pretty pink princess dress, saying, ‘Wait a minute.’
Belle smiled; Kabe was so attuned to Annabelle and Eli’s ways, he never missed a trick.
‘Okay matey, time to leave the pirate ship.’ He swung Eli around onto his hip and held out his free hand for Belle. The moment she reached his side, his big hand came up to cup her neck, then he pulled her in for a sexy kiss.
Belle gave back as good as she got, until a little voice said, ‘Can we go now?’
Kabe pulled back and Belle said, ‘Nice, but what brought that on?’
‘I didn’t get a chance this morning. Santa was seen leaving through the sliding doors to get back on his sleigh, don’tchya know.’
Belle giggled. ‘Thanks for letting me sleep in and getting them breakfast.’
‘Part of my Christmas present to you,’ he grinned.
They hit the cool early morning sand. Kabe put Eli down and Annabelle took her brother’s hand; together they hurried as fast as their little legs would go up the short distance to meet their great granddad. Mario hunkered down with his arms out ready to catch them both.
About two in the afternoon, a trestle table set up on the sand had barely enough room left for plates and cutlery. A mouth-watering array of delicious barbequed meat and fish, salads, baked potatoes, crusty bread, plus mixed dishes and desserts from all corners of the world, awaited for them to dig in. The Fabrini family, the Hunter family, Dan, and eight Landcare backpackers from around the globe feasted on Christmas dinner.
Belle missed her grandmother, Anna, but especially so on these o
ccasions; part of her wanted to believe she was there somewhere, enjoying it all with them.
With the meal over and Annabelle and Eli sleeping in a hammock, watched over by Mario and Marilyn, Kabe took Belle’s hand for a quiet stroll along the water’s edge. He slipped his arm around her waist and tucked her into his side. Automatically, Belle wrapped her arm around him and snuggled closer.
She looked up to see his face and whispered, ‘I’m so happy, it scares me.’
Still gripping her waist, Kabe stopped and turned her to face him. ‘Babe,’ his voice low, gentle, ‘I know what you’re saying, but don’t do that to yourself. Hold onto the best, and laugh a lot. I’ll be right here, laughing with you.’ He smiled, his adorable dimples appearing. ‘I love you, Belle.’ He turned her palms around and placed them flat against his chest. Belle could feel his heart beat under her fingers. ‘For you, Belle, you’ve made me happy, and I’m not scared, not one bit.’
‘I love you, Kabe,’ she whispered against his mouth.
‘Do you think we’d be missed if we headed over to Starfish waterfall?’
Thanks for reading
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ISBN: 9780857992727
Title: I’ve Got You
Copyright © 2015 by Louise Forster
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