“I can’t have a honeymoon on my own, John.”
He laughs. “That sounds weird.” He steps forward. I press back against the wall.
“We’re going for a month, but the villa looks pretty nice. We’ll see how it is when we’re there, and I might buy it.” He kisses me and I melt. “Only if you want it.”
“We’re both going?”
Epilogue 1
John
On the plane I tell her, “You mean the world to me, Kiera. As soon as I saw your picture, I thought I was the luckiest man alive. Then, the instant I saw you, I realized I knew nothing. That you would be way more wonderful and special and important to me than I ever anticipated.”
I take hold of her hand. “It wasn’t until after I got sick that I even started to understand what you mean to me. You were so smart and clear, and so determined to get me to the hospital. Even when I was being stubborn.”
I lift her fingers to my lips. “But that surgeon knew straight away what you did for me. As soon as I came out of the anesthesia, he told me, ‘You’re lucky to have that woman as your wife. She’s one in a million.’ I tell you, Kiera. If I’d heard him say that any other time, I would have killed him on the spot from sheer jealousy. But I didn’t understand how I was feeling. Not until after. When I was back at work, I realized what it meant, what you meant to me.”
I squeeze her hand and look hard into her eyes. “That doctor said you saved my life, Kiera. And then you nursed me back to health, even against my wishes. You are what’s important to me. I need to ask you something. This is what I should have done when we first met.”
When I put my hand into my pocket, I’m gripped in panic for a moment. But then I find what I need.
I slip out of the seat.
“John…” Her eyes are wild. “Where are you going?”
“Here, Kiera.” I drop to one knee in front of her. “Kiera, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you more than I can say and I’m so grateful to have you with me. I can’t live my life without you. There would be no point. I need to have babies with you. Lots of babies. Dozens, probably. Kiera, I’m begging you. Will you forget what went before? Will you let me make a fresh start? Can we begin again? Kiera. Please. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes are like saucers and she purrs when she sees the beautiful villa. I arrange a second wedding for us on the beach at sunset. We both choose beautiful flower garlands called leis to exchange. The beach and the ocean spread out for us in the twilight.
The ceremony starts with a traditional chant called an ‘Oli Aloha.’ Kiera’s hands and mine are bound together with braided vine leaves. Our rings are blessed in the water.
And after the ceremony, I spread her on a bed covered in flower petals.
I rip off her clothes, licking, sucking, squeezing and tasting every part of her. Then I stretch her wide and ream into her.
I hold her close and rock her gently as my massive shaft rips her in two. We both come together, three times in a row.
Our hearts beat together. Two parts of the same being.
It takes the first three weeks in Hawaii before I really start to relax. What finally helps is remembering what’s important and making a decision.
“Kiera, you’re the most important thing in the world to me. I need to lay the groundwork for the family we are, and the family we’re going to make. So I’ve decided. I bought the villa. We’re going to stay here at least until I’ve gotten you pregnant.”
“Oh…” She looks disappointed. “Can’t we stay a little longer than that?”
“What?”
“Please, John. I don’t want to go back already.”
“What?!” I chase after her. “Is it true?”
She runs away, around the pool. I run after her. She’s laughing. “You can’t chase me. I’m in a delicate condition.”
“You don’t look very delicate to me…”
She dodges back, and I almost slip into the pool.
We stay in our new beach home for another three weeks, until she’s ready to come back to Vegas with me and share the news with the family.
Dad, Peter and Paul are thrilled. We hold a huge family dinner. I let Kiera make the formal announcement. My sisters-in-law Giulietta and Lucy, and my sisters Mary and JoJo and their husbands, Connor and McQueen, all beam at her. Their faces glow with pleasure and pride.
Privately, I take Dad, my brothers and Connor into the office to share my decision with them.
First, I ask them what’s been happening while we were away. “Any news?”