Six months Later

 

Television crews were lining up along the dockside as they filmed the grand opening of what had been dubbed the city’s most exciting new development in over a decade. Camera lights flashed, and journalists swarmed around the base of the warehouses as Russell and Amanda looked down at the chaos that was happening below them from the top of the office window.

“This is insane,” Amanda said as she leaned up on her tip toes to try and get a better view. “Can you even believe that this is happening.”

Russell wrapped his arms around her from behind and breathed her in deeply, kissing the back of her neck and holding her tight.

The girls were running up and down the office halls, playing on chairs and scooting along on them, playing races and cackling as they went.

“I think it’s more insane in here,” Russell smiled as he kissed her again and laughed. “They’re enjoying it, aren’t they?”

“They’re having the time of their lives!” she beamed.

Amanda looked back toward the crowds and she could see the cameras swooping around each individual unit and reporting on what businesses were going to be housed inside. They had a multitude of restaurants and bars, clothes stores, coffee houses, a boutique hotel and a spa, a gym and a small set of creative office spaces for new startups, and the top floors of the warehouses were all New York studio style apartments.

Russell had done good.

He had done very good indeed.

When he had taken over the land at the side of the dockland, it had all been derelict and in disrepair. But he had had a vision and he had stayed true to it. He had brought it all back from the dead and revived the warehouses, keeping all of their original features and charm and bringing them back into the present. He had created a new little town all of its own. An island in amongst the river and nestled on the edge of the city, waiting for the successful and hip young professionals to move in and thrive.

He had done it.

He had made a success and it had all been down to Amanda.

“I never could have done this without you,” he whispered into her ear as he cradled her pregnant belly. “You were the one who kept my inspiration alive. You were the one who didn’t just tell me yes, you gave me the challenge I needed, and then you helped me find myself all over again.”

“And you helped me feel free,” she said as she rested her head against his.

She truly had never known a love like it before. He had given her wings, he had helped her and the girls escape from Rob’s control, and he had taught her how to love again.

Downstairs and outside in the crowd, Amanda gasped as he saw Regina barge her way through the swarm of journalists and people flocking to get a good look at the grand unveiling.

She felt Russell tense as he caught sight of her too, but he took a deep breath and rolled out his shoulders.

“She’s come to see you,” Amanda tried to say it calmly. “She must feel terrible.”

They looked back to the crowd and found Regina, and it was Russell’s turn to gasp this time as they realized an older, gray gentleman was with her. Amanda tensed too. There was no way she wouldn’t recognize Ronald Newport from all of the photographs she had now seen in the media.

Russell’s father was there, and he had come to see what his son had done.

“Your dad…” Amanda whispered.

Russell shook his head.

“I can’t actually believe he’s here.”

She squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek.

“This is it,” she said to him.

Russell nodded and took a deep breath.

“Girls!” he called as he looked over his shoulder and beckoned for Madeline and Grace to come toward them.

They ran up the full length of the office in their matching dresses and with wide smiles, and when they stopped in front of Russell, he bent down so he could be eye to eye with them and he smiled at them warmly.

“Are you ready?” he asked them.

And they both nodded their heads and clapped with excitement.

“Now, remember,” he said. “When I hand you the big scissors, we’re cutting the red ribbon, okay?” He winked, and the girls giggled.

Madeline and Grace held hands and Russell took hold of Amanda’s hand as they all walked toward the elevator. When the doors opened and they stepped inside, they both knew that this was a big moment for all of them. Not only were they showing the world Russell’s achievement, but they were also announcing themselves as a family to the entire city.

Russell touched Amanda’s belly again and he smiled at her.

“Not long to go,” he said.

The bump was big and inside, they knew their little boy was waiting to come out and meet them all. Russell had found Amanda and the girls and now he was giving her a son. They truly had everything they had ever dreamed of and more.

When the elevator stopped and they waited for the doors to open for them to walk out to the crowd, they all stopped and looked at each other and smiled.

Madeline, Grace, Amanda, and Russell.

A modern family who were bonded stronger than they had ever known was possible.

“You did it,” Amanda whispered as they waited by the doorway for them to open and announce them to the word. She clutched his hand and breathed in slowly.

“No,” he smiled as he looked to her with all the love in the universe. “We did it.”

 

 

THE END