Durability (The LockDown Series Book 3) (25 page)

“Did she? That’s horrid, poor Uncle Scott. I’ve been away Joe, daddy wasn’t very well so he had to get himself better,” Leighton explains, stroking his son’s messy hair.

“Were you? Mummy was poorly too, she hurt her hand and head. I visited her in hospital and she said she will adopt me and be my mummy forever, isn’t that right, mum?” Joe looks at me with his big eyes and I melt. I have yet to tell Leighton of my hospital stay, again, but Joe has slapped that right there for me.

“Was she, poor mummy?” Leighton looks at me seriously. In his mind, he is probably wondering if I had a relapse of my addiction. I shake my head answering his unasked question. “So, you’re going to be adopted, huh? Who decided this?” Leighton asks happily.

“I did, I asked mummy. Timmy at school said he was adopted by a nice lady and man, and that they are his mummy and daddy by law, that policemen will say they are his parents. I want mummy to be mine by law daddy.” I adore the fact Joe switches between being a big grown up boy and still needing his parents. I love when he calls me mummy instead of mum and I love when he’s all cuddly and clingy with us.

“Wow, Timmy is very lucky then.” He looks at his father and beams, nodding.

“Yup, he is, he really loves them. Even though I still love my birth mummy, I love my new mummy just as much. She keeps me safe.” Joe looks to me, putting his arms out. I walk closer and take him from his father, scuffing his hair up.

“Hey buddy, how about you go find Uncle Scott. I'm sure daddy is dying to see Mel,” I explain and he jumps down from me.

“Ohhhh,” he whines. I turn to look in his direction, noticing Scott and Melissa in the door. “Uncle Scott, I was meant to come and find you, you spoiled it.”

“Sorry kid,” Scott answers, cautiously walking towards us. I know Leighton and Scott had butted heads last time they saw one another and the tension is palpable in the air around me.

“Hey Joe, would you like to come and meet your baby cousins while daddy and Uncle Scott talk?” I take Joe’s hand and walk him away.

“Bye dad. Bye Uncle Scott. Bye Melissa,” Joe calls out, walking with me. Leighton looks at me and mouths a ‘thank you’ before looking at Scott approaching. He takes Melissa and smothers her in kisses, but doesn’t break eye contact with Scott.

“I'm sorry,” I hear him say sadly, as I leave. Admitting he is wrong is the hardest thing for Leighton. He is a proud man and trying to see the world in another’s eyes is hard. It makes me proud that he is able to agree that he has done a terrible thing.

“It’s okay man, as long as you’re better. I missed you around ya know?” Scott replies to him. I look over my shoulder and see them hugging tightly, Melissa giggling between them.

One hurdle is overcome, Leighton and all of the guys are okay, and the kids are fine, almost as though Leighton had never been gone, but I am still sad and hurt. I still feel betrayed by his disappearance and feel it will take me time to get over that.

I will overcome it, I’ll force myself to, because living without Leighton
is not even in question. He i
s my life, my soul and my every breath.

“Where is the baby, mum?” Joe asks, his big boy voice back.

“Babies, buddy. Auntie Maria and Uncle Brad and Luke have two babies.” His face begins to glow, a big smile crossing it. He runs from me to the sound of other people in a different room.

“Hey, little man,” Bradley speaks as we enter, ushering Joe over towards them. Maria is now settled in a comfy makeshift bed, cuddling her little babies to her chest. They are going to drain her dry. There is no way she can breastfeed alone, without them starving.

“Wow, they are so tiny Uncle Brad,” Joe answers, staring at his baby cousins in awe. “What are their names?” he asks intrigued, bringing a small hand to stroke their cheeks.

“Sit down, mister.” Joe follows orders, settling beside Maria. “Here, this little guy is Joshua-Thomas.” Bradley places a wiggling bundle into Joe’s arms. He holds him perfectly, keeping his head rested against his elbow, his other arm under his bottom. “You’re a natural Joe.” Joseph smiles at his uncle.

“Thanks Uncle Brad. What is the other baby’s name?” He looks to the other baby nestled in Maria’s arms. Brad takes JT from Joseph and then places Isabella in his arms.

“This is JT’s sister, Isabella.” Joe gasps at her, staring intently.

“She’s so pretty, Aunt Maria. She has dark hair like you and dark eyes like you. She looks so different to her stinky brother. I love her already.” Joseph holds his cousin to his chest, rocking her gently as he coos over her. He shushes her when she grizzles and kisses her soft hair repeatedly. “I will look after her forever, Auntie. Nobody will ever hurt her, because I love her. She is my cousin and no one will ever hurt her, I promise. I’ll look after her like daddy does with mummy and mummy does with me.”

Maria looks to me and pouts her lip, ‘awing’ over Joe and his affection for his baby cousin. My own pout is there, a sense of pride smothering me and making tears fill my eyes. “May I?” I ask, looking at JT in Luke’s arms.

“Sure thing, babe,” Luke says, passing Joshua-Thomas over to me. I gasp as a flood of tears fall from my eyes. It is the first time I have held my new nephew and he is just beautiful. With blond hair and blue eyes, he is perfect.

“Baby, can mummy have a cuddle of Isabella?” I ask Joe, who is still fussing over her.

“Do you have to?” he asks sadly, looking at her, never moving his eyes away.

“Just a quick one and then I'm sure Aunt Maria will let you have some more cuddles.” I look to Maria and the boys who look so at peace with their lives, so proud of what they have.

“Yes, you sure can Joe. Let mamma have a cuddle with them both and then you can have her back, I promise,” Maria asks him, looking at me and winking. Joe huffs a little and then agrees, holding his arms out. Luke takes Isabella and lays her in my other arm.

I look down at the two babies cradled into me, two perfect little humans who make my heart so full. This family, blood or not, is extending and making me excited for my future, for all of our futures.

“Such beautiful babies,” I whisper, leaning and kissing each of their little heads one at a time.

“They are, I can't wait to have one again,” Leighton whispers in my ear, wrapping his arms around my stomach and placing his hands on my belly. My hormones are already going mad, my body ready for another child, but Melissa isn’t even one yet and I need to see her grow and develop before I even think about giving my time to another child.

“Me either, but time Leighton, we have plenty of time,” I inform him, looking into the blue and brown eyes of JT and Isabella. “Time,” I say again.

“Mummy, can I have her back now, she needs me?” Joseph begs me, looking at me with his big puppy dog eyes. I sigh and resolve to letting him have his way. I have many years with this family and I’m not sad to let my own son enjoy the responsibility of being a big cousin.

“What is that about?” Leighton asks as I hand Joe Bella, and then stand back up with Joshua.

“You’ll see, watch,” I tell him, giggling softly as straight away, Joe begins stroking her head and kissing her face gently.

“You know, Isabella, we are going to be the best of friends when you’re bigger. Nobody will ever hurt you, no boys will pull your hair or kick and punch you. I will hurt them if they do, because I’m your big cousin and that’s what I do isn’t it? I can't wait for you to be bigger so you can play with me. I’ll be the best friend you will ever have. Gosh, I love you so much already.” I look over my shoulder at Leighton as he watches his son in action.

“He is such a beautiful child Leighton. I thank you and Josie for giving me him. I hope she can understand how much I love him,” I tell him, kissing his lips as they present themselves to me.

“He is amazing, look at him, he is in love already. That little girl isn’t going to ever be hurt, that’s for sure.” Leighton’s smile is beaming, his pride apparent and the tears even more so.

“Yeah, she’s going to be safe,” I answer, leaning against my husband and allowing his warmth to surround me. “I love you, Leighton. I forgive you, for everything. I don't care what happened, I'm just glad you’re back. I don't need to know, all I do know is I’m happy and you’re safe.” Leighton smiles into my neck, placing tiny feather light kisses along my collar bone.

“Forever, Abbi. I promised you forever and always, so I’ll be here forever. You are my world Angel and nothing will ever change that. I live and breathe you. I’d die before I let anyone hurt you, including myself. Your forgiveness is everything to me, it means a future with you, with my beautiful wife.” Gosh, he is just so damn stunning.

I allow myself to relax, relish the atmosphere and the beauty of my two children glowing happily. I watch as Leighton picks our daughter up, throwing her high in the air before catching her. Then again, up she goes, squealing in delight, before being caught in her daddy’s arms. She loves him, clearly, she is clinging to him, nibbling his face with a mouthful of spittle.

Home.

Everything has returned to normal, a month home and it is like I never left. My children are growing rapidly and are healthy. Abbi has full use of her arm and is smiling and happy every day. The sun is hot and intense, the August heat somewhat unbearable, but I take it up, bathing by the outdoor pool whilst Abbi swims with our children.

Antonio lies next to me, followed by the rest of the boys. Our women; Abbi, Georgia and Maria tend to the children. Maria’s twins lay in their pram, sleeping. They are still so tiny and precious and their parents love them to pieces. “This is the life, I’ve been waiting for this sun for far too long. My tan, it’s gone,” Antonio moans.

I laugh at him, because his skin is
always
tanned. He is half Italian and will never lose his olive complexion. “Don't laugh arsehole, this is a real crisis,” he continues and I laugh harder, almost choking on my beer.

“Yes, you’re so pale, Ant, you need more sun,” Scott grumbles sarcastically, rolling his eyes at our friend. “You are a real ass sometimes you know that right? Here I am, struggling to up my skin color and you’re tanned by nature.” Scott rolls onto his front, allowing the sun to splash at his perfectly toned back.

Antonio bursts into laughter, knowing how much it winds Scott up when he goes on about his skin colour. Scott is vain and so self-absorbed with his looks that if he isn’t looking perfect, everyone else is in for it. “Jeez, he’s a moron, Leigh.” Ant laughs, sipping at his beer whilst he stares at my baby sister. The love is unmistakable in his dark eyes and although once upon a time I was totally opposed to the idea of him anywhere near Georgia, now, I can see how he feels, I understand how he feels.

I can tell that the love he had professed to my wife, was nothing in comparison to his love for Georgia. He has told me, the love he thought he experienced whilst with Abigail and myself, was just merely a taste in the emotion. When he saw my sister again, even when Debbie was here, he felt the zap in his heart almost immediately.

I have explained everything to Abbi, she has seen the marks on my back from the torture I had been through whilst away from her. She understands the sacrifices I have made for us and she seems to love me more for it, and she also seems to thrive on the muscle I have gained from training with Marcus.

She has yet to meet the man who has changed me but is more than keen to. She wants to thank him for his hard work and strength. He has changed me, changed the kind of man I am, the things I think of. That isn’t to say I don’t occasionally imagine killing someone who deserves it, because I do, but I no longer need it, no longer think of it the second I wake up in the morning.

“DADDY! Come in the pool,” Joseph calls from in the water, he is floating on his back effortlessly. I love that I have a pool outside. Sure, Abbi loves the indoor one, being able to swim properly and work her body out, but the outdoor pool is beautiful in this blistering heat.

“Sun cream first, boy. It’s been a while,” I call and watch as he hops from the pool and runs to me. He jumps on the end of my sun lounger and I throw a towel around him to dry him off. He stands whilst he’s drying and goes to the pram with the sleeping babies.

“When is she going to wake up? I want a cuddle. Uncle Luke when is she going to be big enough to play in the water with me?” he asks, staring with awe filled eyes at his newest friend. Isabella is going to be guarded forever with Joe on her case, the poor girl won’t catch a break. Even with seven years between them, I can already tell as young adults, they will be really close and as adults probably closer.

“She’s very tired, little man. She’ll be awake soon for her milk. You can have a cuddle then. But as for playing in the water, that’s gonna be a little while, the doctor has to tell us it’s okay first,” Luke explains to my son, scuffing his hair up.

“Do you think she loves me as much as I love her, do you think I’m her friend?” he continues to badger. I know he can be a little tedious with his questions and obsessions over Isabella, but my friends take it so well, always having an answer and always appeasing the little guy.