‘And I’ve never been happier,’ he smiled sincerely and blew me a kiss as he disappeared. I turned on the monitor so he could hear me as well and stretched and smiled to myself as I lay on my side, my head on my hands. I’d never been happier either. It was hard to believe it was thirteen months since that awful day that Lexi had been rushed into hospital. Thirteen months. Unlucky for some, but for once in our lives, not unlucky for us. They’d delivered the twins by caesarean and Lexi had pulled through and made a marvellous recovery. Though slightly premature, they were both healthy and strong. Gabe had never looked happier than when he got to hold them both in his arms for the first time. We’d both cried for ages as we’d cuddled them and, of course, their grandparents were beside themselves. I smiled again as I turned up the volume on the monitor.
‘Good morning my little bundles of joy. Have you slept well?’ Gabe asked.
‘Dada … dada,’ came Greyson’s excited little voice. I heard a squeal of joy and recognised it as Tabitha’s.
‘Hello my beautiful girl, have you missed Daddy?’ I heard her giggling and felt my stomach flip. ‘I’m going to have to keep a very close eye on you as you get older. You’re going to be as stunning as your mother and I’m going to be chasing all the boys away with a stick,’ he said in a serious voice.
‘Mama,’ moaned Greyson, making my heart melt. He was a real Mummy’s boy, much to Gabe’s chagrin, but there again all Tabitha wanted was her Daddy.
‘Mummy’s in bed and I’m taking you to see her, but first someone has filled their nappy. I do love these little gifts that you save for me in the morning, Greyson,’ he laughed and I heard him blow a raspberry on his tummy, which was followed by a squeal and gurgling giggles that made me laugh. I sat up and reached for the t-shirt at the end of the bed and pulled it on and raked through my matted hair, ready to have a cuddle.
‘Ok, two baby fresh Austin’s,’ announced Gabe as he walked through the door with one on each hip. I had to clutch my chest and wipe my eyes, overcome with emotion to see my wonderful children in their father’s strong arms.
‘Mama,’ screamed Greyson as his little face lit up. He held out his tiny podgy arms toward me and I giggled.
‘Good morning my darling boy.’ I smiled and reached up for him as Gabe bent over. I took Greyson and clutched him to my chest and peppered his chubby cheeks with kisses that made him giggle crazily and kick his little stocky legs. ‘You smell delicious, I want to eat you.’
‘Here, take Tabitha as well, I’ll go and prepare their cereal and bottles and make us some breakfast.’
‘Thank you,’ I smiled, as I held Greyson with one arm and reached up for Tabby with the other. She pulled a face and buried her head in Gabe’s neck making me laugh. ‘I think someone wants some Daddy time. Take her with you.’
‘You don’t mind?’
‘Of course not. You always did have a way with the ladies,’ I smiled. He winked at me and headed back to the door.
‘Bye, bye, Tabby,’ I called and waved, then broke into a big smile as her bright blue eyes peaked over Gabe’s shoulder and her little hand waved back. I turned back to Greyson who was snuggling on my chest and kissed his soft neck again and again. He smelled of baby power and babies. I couldn’t believe how much I was in love with them both. I’d always hated babies and it had been a long hard process to get to the point where I would even consider marriage, let alone having a family, but I’d never been happier. Business was going really well, to the point that I wanted to open another club in London. Gabe worked really hard at AT&F, but he was an amazing husband and a fantastic father, just as he’d always promised. He always made sure he was home for dinner with the twins, to help bathe them and put them to bed, and then to have quality alone time with me. We also took it in turns with getting up in the night and getting them ready in the morning.
I spent mornings at work, while Beth, our nanny and housekeeper, looked after them. I always had lunch with Gabe. It was our one uninterrupted time together every day, and frequently ended up with hot sex on the desk, the sofa, in fact against any vertical or horizontal surface. I then worked from home in the afternoons, in my study, while I kept an eye on the twins in the playroom, freeing up Beth to do her daily chores like the cleaning and laundry. Mrs. Darby had decided to retire and only came to help out when Beth was on holiday. Whilst Beth also had cookery qualifications and was an excellent cook, I preferred to cook the evening meals in the week, and while she was off at the weekends, Gabe took over. We were in a perfect routine, organised to perfection by none other than Gabe, of course. I held Greyson out at arm’s length to study him and he squealed with delight and kicked his little legs.
‘And to think that Daddy says we’ll have to watch Tabitha as she gets older,’ I told him. ‘You, my beautiful boy, are even more handsome than your Daddy, with those huge blue eyes and that dirty blonde hair.’
‘I heard that,’ came Gabe’s voice over the monitor in the kitchen.
‘Well, he is,’ I protested. ‘We have the most beautiful children in the whole wide world.’
‘We do, but they did have some pretty good genes to help them out,’ he laughed. ‘French toast or pancakes?’
‘French toast please, with lots of maple syrup,’ I replied, and pulled a face at Greyson who burst into a fit of the giggles.
I stood at the open front door with Greyson on my hip, while Gabe had Tabitha sitting on his arm as Robert and Sofia arrived.
‘Happy birthday, Mia,’ smiled Sofia as she kissed me and then Greyson.
‘Thank you Sofia, you must be so tired if you only just landed.’
‘I slept on the plane. You look tired though.’
‘I’m fine, just a restless night. I was so excited to know you were all coming today.’
‘Happy wedding anniversary, too,’ she smiled and turned to kiss Gabe and Tabitha.
‘Robert,’ I beamed as he appeared with the cases.
‘Mia! Happy birthday and wedding anniversary. I’ve been so looking forward to spending the week here with you all. How’s my grandson,” he asked as I handed him over. Greyson clapped his hands, he loved Robert. Especially when Robert threw him in the air and caught him. I both loved and hated it at the same time. Greyson always squealed with delight, which was wonderful, but I was terrified of Robert dropping him.
‘Where’s Ava?’ I asked, disappointed. ‘You haven’t left her with the nanny have you?’
‘No,’ he smiled. ‘She was so excited to come and see her big brother that she wore herself out running around on the plane. She’s asleep in the car.’
‘No, she’s not,’ laughed Gabe as we heard a sudden alarmed cry. ‘Here Mia, take Tabby and I’ll go and get Ava out.’ This time Tabitha smiled and giggled when I took her from him. I put her on my hip and brushed her dark hair from her forehead and kissed her. She was beautiful. I smiled as I saw Gabe get his sister out of the car and she flung her arms around his neck.
‘When is everyone else arriving?’ asked Robert.
‘Within the next couple of hours. Go and get settled in upstairs and we can all go and visit Tabby’s grave, then we can come back and have some champagne while we wait for everyone.’
‘Are you ok?’ asked Gabe as he sat at the table with his arm around me and kissed my temple.
‘I am,’ I nodded as I wiped a tear from my eye.
‘Happy tears?’ he asked.
‘I haven’t had one sad tear since the night we thought we’d lost them and Lexi,’ I confirmed as I clutched his chin and kissed him. ‘I’ll never have unhappy tears again, not now that I have you and my wonderful children.’
‘I’m so in love with you, Mrs. Austin,’ he sighed with a happy smile and kissed me again. I looked around the table, so happy to have all my loved ones with us today.
Lexi had Tabitha on her knees, and Doug was sitting with his arm around Lexi’s shoulders and I smiled. They’d been dating for thirteen months, ever since he asked her the moment she woke up
from her operation and had said yes, thank God. I was so pleased for her. He’d moved in with us and had nursed her back to health, while we were getting to grips with our two new arrivals. We’d sent them on a two week holiday to the apartment in Hong Kong when she was feeling better. She was a full time counsellor now, for the foster children’s service, and had given up work at the club. Doug had taken over as the full time assistant manager to me, and they had some weird living together arrangement flitting between their two apartments. Our movie Tuesdays weren’t as successful, not with two demanding babies vying for our attention during the films, but I just loved that she was so much a part of their lives, calling in regularly at night and over the weekends to spend time with me and to see them.
Georgie was engaged to Justin, finally. They’d been together for eight years now and I really thought it was never going to happen. They were chatting to Sofia, who kept looking over to watch Robert, who was bouncing Ava on his knee. Mum and Gerry were fighting over cuddling Greyson. Tabitha was a bit more reserved, but Greyson adored anyone who had time for a cuddle, tickles or kisses. Mum and Gerry were firm friends with Robert and Sofia and often spent some of their holiday time over in New York with them, which was wonderful. We went over there regularly with Gabe’s work, Beth accompanying us as well. In a few weeks the five of us were due to leave for a month in Hong Kong for a streamlining of the offices, which Gabe was in charge of. I was really looking forward to it, I had happy memories of Hong Kong from the part of our honeymoon there. I was startled from my daydream by Gabe tapping his knife against his champagne glass.
‘Can I have everyone’s attention please?’ he called and we all looked up at him, Tabby started crying for her Dada, so Lexi passed her over to him and he held her with one arm as he started his toast. ‘I just want to thank you all for coming to spend Christmas with us, I can’t tell you what it means to have you all here, for our closest family to be together. I would like to propose a toast to my gorgeous, wonderful wife, mother of my children and light of my life, on her twenty-fourth birthday and our fourth wedding anniversary. When I said those vows that day, I really didn’t think it was possible for me to have more love in my heart for her as I did that day. She proves me wrong each morning when I wake up and see her smiling face, and my heart breaks every time I see her holding one of my children in her arms. I love you Mia Austin, forever.’ Everyone clapped as I started crying again and Gabe dipped his head to kiss me.
‘Well, I’d like to make an announcement if I may,’ said Doug as he stood up and looked down at Lexi, with a hand on her shoulder. I pulled a tissue out of my pocket, knowing what was coming, I was going to need it. ‘I asked Lexi to marry me this morning and she’s agreed, making me the happiest man alive today.’ Everyone started clapping and cheering and Lexi went bright red.
‘Second happiest, Doug,’ laughed Gabe as he stroked my hair.
‘Second and third happiest, boys,’ announced Robert as he stood up. ‘We’re not quite sure how it happened, but we are thrilled to tell you that Gabriel and Ava are going to have another brother or sister.’
‘What?’ I gasped.
‘You don’t know how it happened? Surely you’re a bit old for the birds and the bees lecture, aren’t you Mr. A?’ laughed Doug.
‘Dad, I’m so happy for you both.’ Gabe handed me Tabitha as he went around to congratulate them.
‘You do realise that the new baby will have an older brother that’s a father to their nephew and niece who are also older than them, and yet they’ll still be their Auntie and Uncles? You know what? I’ve totally lost this confusing chain of events,’ I laughed and kissed Tabby’s neck as she giggled at my laughter and tugged on my hair. Gabe was really happy that I was letting it grow again, it was already down to the back of my shoulder blades and Tabby loved to pull it.
‘Well, while we’re on a roll,’ smiled Georgie as she stood up. ‘Justin and I have set the date. We’re getting married in February, Valentine’s Day in Toddlesworth and we obviously expect you all to be there.’
‘O my God,’ I uttered. My brain was about to explode with all of these happy events coinciding. I looked at Mum wide eyed as she stood up. What the hell was she going to announce?
‘Well, I’m pregnant too,’ she said with a big smile.
‘WHAT?!’ Georgie and I gasped at the same time and I noticed Gerry go pale and drain his champagne.
‘Only kidding,’ she laughed. ‘I was just feeling a bit left out.’
‘Mum!’ I moaned. ‘You just nearly gave me a heart attack.’
‘Christ Princess, how do you think I felt?’ replied Gerry with a shaking hand on his chest. ‘Particularly as I had a vasectomy fifteen years ago.’
‘Dad, please,’ laughed Georgie. I smiled. I loved that she called him Dad now too. As expected, she’d never heard back from Richard and had taken it quite hard, but we were both over him now. I had more than enough love in my life from all the people in this room.
‘Well, we have got a new puppy to replace Mr. Biggles, if that counts as our happy bit of news?’ asked Mum.
‘You did?’ I’d tried to be sad when he’d passed away earlier in the year, but all I could think was Great, I can put my feet on the floor when I sit on the sofa, without getting my ankles bitten by the evil little bugger.
‘We did. A lovely Shih Tzu called Porridge.’
‘Porridge?’ everyone queried.
‘Shih Tzu by name, Shih Tzu by nature. When he was training he kept missing the puppy pads and his shit stuck to the floor. When it hardened it looked like chocolate flavoured …’
‘Ok, ok,’ I laughed as Georgie tried to explain. ‘I think we’ve got the picture, thanks.’ I went to clear up the plates from lunch. I hadn’t had to do anything, Gabe had hired caterers in and we were going to the gourmet burger place tonight for my birthday meal. I hadn’t been back since my first birthday with him, when Milo had been with us. I stroked the black cord and silver infinity bracelet that he’d given me, as I thought of him with a sad smile. Without him stalling Adam long enough for Mason to spot what was happening, I wouldn’t have been standing here today.
‘Hey, you ok?’ asked Lexi as she came to stand next to me at the island.
‘I’m just great, thanks. Was just thinking about Milo.’
‘I’m sure he’d have been happy to see you so happy with your new family,’ she smiled as she put her arm around my shoulder and squeezed. I nodded and brushed myself off.
‘So, he finally asked,’ I laughed as I grabbed her hand to look at her solitaire ring. He’d told Gabe and I a few months ago that he was going to do it, and I’d helped him pick the ring. But he kept losing the courage to ask her, thinking she’d tell him to sod off, in typical Lexi fashion.
‘He did,’ she beamed. ‘I was nearly as happy as when you paid for these new tits,’ she nodded, as she cupped her new C cup boobs.
‘You really love them don’t you?’ I giggled.
‘I stroke them and talk to them at night and tell them how lovely they are.’
‘You’re crazy,’ I laughed. ‘It was the least we could do after what you did for us and you were always bothered about your flat chest. You gave us an amazing gift, I wanted to do something that would make you smile every day too.’
‘I swear it’s the only reason Doug proposed. He can’t take his eyes off them, or his hands.’
‘So when’s the big day going to be? Valentine’s is taken now by Georgie.’
‘We’ve not discussed that,’ she replied, looking at me horrified. ‘That will be way, way, way, down the line. One step at a time, Mia. This is one night stand Lexi we’re talking about.’
‘Will you stop that,’ I chastised with a smack on her arm. ‘Five and a bit years ago we made a new leaves, no strings pact, and look at us. I’m happily married to the love of my life and have the two most adorable children, that you gave to us. You’ve made yourself a career at something you’re wonderful at, you’ve been in a steady
monogamous relationship for thirteen months and you’re engaged. We’ve changed, Lexi Clarke. Even with all of our crap, pushing each other’s buttons sometimes, all that baggage and buttons, yet we’ve made it. We’re different people now, better people.’
‘I guess we are,’ she smiled as she hugged me and went back to join the others.
I stood at the island and watched them all, with a ridiculous smile on my face as I listened to them all laughing and the children giggling. I was going to have serious cheek ache if I carried on smiling like this all day. My eyes were drawn to Gabe, my gorgeous husband of four years, the undoubted, indisputable love of my life. He blew me a kiss and winked at me, making me melt. I cocked my head as he turned around and bent over to pick up Greyson and Tabitha. My breath hitched and my stomach fluttered as I took in the sight of his perfectly toned backside in his trousers. The sight that had made me literally fall for him in the first place. I thought of the inscription in his ring Forever & an Engine and smiled. We really were. We’d made it through the honeymoon period, that awful time around his accident. We’d experienced so much love and loss, and yet I fell more in love with him every day.
We really were destined. Gabriel Austin was my infinite love.
Gabe Austin - Bonus Chapter
The Abduction
I picked up my phone to check for messages. Her two hours at the gym were nearly up. Two hours that I’d hated. Knowing I’d left her, with him. My only reassurance was that Mason was watching his every move. I’d catch that bastard out if it was the last thing that I did. Trying to take Mia away from me. She was mine. My chest already hurt after just two hours away from her. From the moment I’d first laid eyes on her she’d wrecked me. Crippled me with the strength of my love and passion for her.
I nodded at Doug as I listened to the message from Mason and suddenly my whole world came crashing down around my ears. Mia had been taken. I gripped the edge of the pool table, my knuckles turning white as I roared in agony, then puked my guts up all over the red baize.
Infinite Love (The Austin Series) Page 47