EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Ruby
Five years later
“You know eight is a special number in many Asian cultures. It’s almost mythical,” Dan says.
“Eight kids! We’re only half way there,” I say.
“So we’ve got a lot of work to do to catch up, don’t we?”
I laugh and give my husband a big ol’ hug.
“Mom, will we get to see a kangaroo today?”
I turn to the side and see Esther looking up at me with her great big puppy dog eyes.
“We might honey. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled.”
“Peel my eyes?”
“It means keep your eyes open,” Dan says.
“Oh. Okay.”
“Are you all packed and ready?”
“Yes. Grandma’s in the car. She’s ready too.”
“Okay then. What are we waiting for?”
“You and dad! Come on, mom.”
Esther grabs me by the arm and pulls me toward the door.
Dan laughs and follows behind me.
He closes the door and sets the alarm before hopping into the driver’s seat.
We’re off to the Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Day Tour. It’s a special treat for the kids and also for my mom who’s staying with us for the month.
Her life has changed drastically since that fateful day in Italy.
We didn’t know it at the time but that coffee shop belonged to Alessandro’s family. He was a very hands on kind of guy, which explained why he was also working the tables.
And from the stories my mom tells me he’s very hands on in a different way. She leaves out some of the details that I don’t really need to know, but she gives me enough information that I can fill in the blanks.
She’s very much in love as is he. And my mother has always loved coffee and Alessandro has introduced her and even educated her to not only the amazing ways in which coffee can be prepared, but the business side as well.
My mom has a renewed passion for work, working side by side with Alessandro in the shop his family has owned for over eighty years. She was almost the first non-family member to ever work in the shop, but Alessandro wouldn’t have that so he didn’t allow her to officially start until after their wedding.
My mom loves it. It’s not even work for her. She can’t believe she’s getting paid to do something she loves and enjoys. She’s also learning so much about fashion and the Italian way of life. She’s like a kid in a candy store just soaking up knowledge like a sponge.
But a few times each year she still finds the time to come visit us and spend time with our kids. It’s the perfect set up.
And with my mom keeping an eye on the kids it allows Dan and I to continue our own adventurous ways. It’s amazing how many places you can see in just a couple weeks.
This visit we’ll head to Bali for three days before carrying on to Vietnam for four more. Then we head back home to enjoy time as a family and so I can catch up with my mom about all her happenings in Italy.
It’s my hope that one day our kids will have the choice of studying in either Australia, Singapore, or Italy. What a group to choose from. All three offer top-notch education, depending on the path our kids want to take.
And most importantly exposing our kids to so many cultures and ways of life now will prepare them and allow them to see just what’s possible.
As my husband likes to say, “The world will be our children’s oyster, and I’ll always be his pearl.”
It makes sense. He did find me adrift at sea after all.
And when he did he guided me to safety. The safety of his big strong arms and even bigger heart.
As we’ve grown together I’ve watched his generosity in action more and more every day. He’s always kind to our family and I first and foremost, but also to strangers and people we meet every day.
It’s part of the Aussie way. The idea that the tall poppy gets cut down meaning you never want to get too big of an ego or head or feel like you’re better than others.
I love that he’s so humble, but what I love the most is that he’s helping me raise our kids with these same principles.
Without him I don’t know how I’d do it.
But it’s because of him, and the children that he’s given me, that everything always falls into place.
Just like that day I fell into his arms and fell in love with him and the beauty that is Australia.
I’m proud to call it home.
A home I built with him and which we share with our children.
It’s just like everything we do. We do it all for each other.
Because without each other a home is just a house.
But luckily for all of us, we’ve got a true place to call home.
A home full of laughter, happiness, and love.