EPILOGUE
One Year Later
Finn had flown everyone, including Addy and Rydell, to the island on his fabulous jet, for their First Annual Cutter Cay Family Vacation. The word family had been stressed. Peri smiled. Repeatedly.
It was late afternoon on the fourth day and they were all on the beach. Her skin felt pleasantly tight from an afternoon in the sea and the sun. She and Finn sprawled on a blanket in the deep shade of the fern-like leaves and brilliant clusters of red/orange flowers of an enormous Flame tree on the edge of the sand.
Three-month-old Samantha, Zane and Teal's daughter lay on the blanket next to them, cooing and waving her arms and legs as if trying to catch the shifting light and shadows from the overhanging branches.
Finn leaned against the wide trunk, Peri between his upraised knees, using his bare chest as a backrest. Relishing the smell of the ocean and evocative smell of recently lit charcoal, Peri lowered her sunglasses so she could see the true colors spread before her. The brilliant white sand, translucent, aquamarine water and a cloudless bowl of robin's egg blue overhead, were picture postcard perfect.
Hiking her sundress a little farther up her thighs to catch the breeze, she inhaled, her mouth watering at the smoky, savory smell of grilling meat. Then smiled at the shouts and laughter from Zane and Teal, Jonah and Callie, as they ran back and forth, whacking a volleyball across the net. There was, of course, a bet riding on the winners, and a lot of trash talking accompanied by laughter.
Peri breathed deeply in wonder at the carefree, happy sounds of her family. Taking a moment to absorb the sheer happiness of it all as she rested her head against Finn's chest and sighed with contentment. The babies rested on her bladder, and she really needed to pee. But she was too content, too lazy to move.
One of the babies in her womb did a backflip. Her throat caught with emotion, and she moved Finn's hand, guiding it low on her belly so he could share the baby moving. "Woke up from your nap, did you, sweet pea? Oh. You're brother's coming to play, too."
"How do you know which is which?" Finn rubbed his hand gently over her belly as one baby kicked, and the other rolled.
"Your son's the soccer player. You're daughter's the gymnast."
She felt Finn's smile as he rested his cheek on her crown. "Last week it was the other way round."
"They'll keep us guessing 'till we meet them." Her stomach joined in the activity by rumbling. She seemed always to be starving. "Maybe they're responding to the smell of food. Hey, Dani?" Peri raised her voice to be heard. "Is my root beer in the cooler?" A disgustingly sweet soda that Peri had always despised, and now craved like an addict.
"Yes, right next to the milk," Dani yelled back. "Want a drink now?"
Her mouth watered. "I'll send Finn in a bit, thanks." Her bladder wasn't ready for her milk and root beer concoction right now.
Logan and Nick flipped burgers, as Dani and Bria set up the rest of the food on a long trestle table in the shade of a nearby tree. Logan's dog, Buoy, barked as he darted between the table and the tempting smells from the grill.
Lazily scooping sand into her palm she sifted the powder-soft grains between her fingers as she leaned against the solid bulk of Finn's chest. "Who, in a million years, could've imagined the two of us on vacation, let alone a family vacation?"
He kissed her on the top of her head. “I’m not complaining. It's ironic, isn't it?" Finn rested his hand on her belly as they stared out at the placid Caribbean water lapping the sand. "We both ended up with the one thing we never dared dream of- family."
"I never knew how lonely I was until I -wasn't. Talk about my cup overflowing."
"You'll never have to be lonely again," Finn murmured against her temple. "Good thing this lot respects boundaries."
Farther down the beach, Rydell and Addison splashed in the shallows swinging a giggling Adam between them. Her brother carried Antonio, Nick and Bria’s five-month- old, in one arm. Peri's eyes rested on her brother as he flung his head back and laughed at something his wife said. "I don't want him to feel left out. . ."
"Look at him, love. He, Addison and Adam have been assimilated seamlessly into the Cutter clan. We've all been integrated as if it were meant to be."
Turning her head, she smiled at him, loving the way his silvery eyes softened when he looked at her. Even after a year, their physical response to each other was off the charts. He was always touching her, as if she were his lodestone. She reached up to stroke the stubble on his jaw because she couldn't keep her hands off him either. "I've never seen you this relaxed." He'd even left his phone at Logan's house where they were staying, which was unprecedented.
"I'm pretty damned relaxed after we make love."
"Then you must be the most freaking relaxed man on the planet," Peri teased as she returned her attention to the strenuous volleyball game down the beach. The two couples had way too much freaking energy for a hot afternoon as they raced back and forth like crazy people, trying to spike the ball.
"Sam's having. . .issues," he told her as the baby gave a mewling little whimper, that threatened to get louder.
"Hand her over. It isn't rocket science. She's either hungry, needs a diaper change or wants a cuddle."
Finn settled the baby in her arms. He shifted her so she could hold the baby more easily. “I’ll be ready when ours arrive. I promise.”
Peri checked the baby's diaper, and since it was dry, and Sam still fussed, reached for her bottle. “Sure. I can imagine that being part of your daily calendar.” The baby latched onto the bottle's nipple as if she hadn't eaten all day. Peri knew the feeling.
Finn pulled the diaper bag over for her to brace her elbow on as she fed Sam. “I’m already reallocating the time," he told her. "We can negotiate when the time comes, but for now I've estimated eight diaper changes per day for me. Four per baby. Ten minutes apiece.”
Peri suppressed a smile. “I don’t think you can schedule a diaper change.”
“They said I’d never make it to Mars.”
"Hmm. I don't even want to know how you propose making them poop on schedule. But even if you could- and you'd make an untold million sharing the secret with other busy parents- a diaper change won’t take ten minutes.”
“Figured there'll be cuddling time at each one.”
The baby spat out the nipple. Peri lifted her to her shoulder, waited for the bubbly burp, then handed her over to Finn. "Practice."
Finn, used to holding an infant, held Sam upright, gently rubbing her tiny back. Peri's heart melted.
Dani and Logan were still trying to get pregnant, and as promised, Callie and Jonah were the doting uncle and aunt, already spoiling eighteen-month-old toddler Adam, and taking diaper, and babysitting duties when called on, for Sam and Antonio. And in about three months, if she didn't get so big she floated away like the Goodyear blimp, she and Finn would add their two babies to the pack.
There'd be a lot of diapers involved. But they were all in it together, all of them used to the erratic, crazy wonder of it all. After some instruction from Rydell on the care and feeding of a baby, Finn had taken to handling all aspects of babyhood like a duck to water.
"Hello, Samantha," he said, holding the baby so she could see his face, "You're getting stronger every day, aren't you?" His tone wasn't baby talk, but as if he were speaking to an intelligent adult. The baby stared into his eyes, her little hands waving. "Yes, pretty girl, I saw you lifting your head just now. Any minute now you'll be running around with your cousin, Adam, won't you? And when you’re ready for school, I’ll help you with science and math. "
"She understands you," Peri said, amused as the baby cooed and gave Finn a gummy grin.
“Of course she does. And if I speak to her like an adult, then when she starts speaking, she’ll speak more like one, too.”
“Really? And where did that fascinating parenting tip come from?”
“I’ve been doing research.”
“Of course you have.” Peri laughed softly. “You don’t do anything halfway.” It didn't matter if Finn was in a boardroom, directing a missile to intersect with an asteroid, or holding a baby, Peri had never seen him out of his element.
"You're a very pretty girl, Samantha Cutter," he told the baby. "And I can see you're going to be as smart as your Mom and Dad. Being so pretty won't hurt. You're going to be a heartbreaker, yes you are."
Peri laughed. "You're going to be a terrific father." He was so good with all the babies. Peri could barely wait for their own to be born. She was six months pregnant with twins and felt as big as a whale. She never considered how much of a challenge it would be to walk around when her center of gravity was shifted.
"We could stay here—"
She shook her head. "Not for three freaking months we can't. As idyllic as the island is, we'd both go nuts if we had to stay here for any longer than this couple of weeks. This is the first vacation you've taken in your life, you have to ease into it." The man barely slept and had the energy of a hummingbird on speed. That was going to come in handy with two babies. "I want them born on Blackstar where they were conceived. Arely will make a fine midwife."
"I defer to your decision. Blackstar it will be." He stroked her tummy. "This is pretty damn perfect. Your pretty damn perfect, Mrs. Gallagher." Finn shifted her so he could rub the exact spot on her back that ached. Peri hummed her pleasure.
"Want to walk to the Counting House after we eat?"
"If I can move, sure."
Standing at the top of a long jetty, on the west end of the island, the two-story wood structure of the Counting House looked as though the next tropical hurricane would blow it away. But like Zane’s Decrepit, its rickety looks were deceiving.
Logan and Nick had taken them on a tour of the island and building the day they'd arrived. The Counting House was used to compare notes at the end of a salvage operation, drink beer, tell tall tales and process the artifacts before they were sold worldwide. The fifty permanent island residents, their homes scattered on the slopes, gathered there for birthday parties, hurricanes, and funerals. The sturdy building had been constructed by Daniel Cutter to store his priceless treasure.
It housed some fascinating artifacts that she'd like another look at.
The more Peri learned about Daniel Cutter the less she liked him. The brother's had no illusions about his drinking or womanizing. Only Zane had a slightly romanticized memory of his father. He had a right to hold onto his good memories. Peri was glad she'd never met him.
Beyond the dock was a small marina with a few fishing boats of the locals. The Patagonia salvage continued unabated in their absence. Their ships were all still anchored over the wrecks three thousand miles away. The value of the artifacts salvaged so far was unprecedented. They'd be anchored there for years, if not decades. The Cutters and Rydell had all bought property along the coast of Patagonia to give them a home base nearby. Unlike Finn, they didn't relish living year round on their ships.
Of course, Finn had considered the inherent dangers of having toddlers/small children onboard. All the guys had pitched in too, to retrofit their ships with Finn's clever solution. Secure safety lines running along the outside walls on every deck, so that a child could be harnessed, with free range, and not get anywhere near the rails. It was genius, and eased Peri's mind considerably.
Instead of shipping the artifacts being held at her house on the bluff, back to them on Cutter Cay, the brothers had voted that the artifacts be displayed permanently at Bria's museum on Merrezo along with the five gold tablets. A win-win for all of them.
Dr. Vadini, his daughter and grandson, the future Protectors, were industriously further studying the tablets and developing a dictionary of sorts for the Abipón language. Theo's house in the hills of Patagonia had given them a treasure trove of invaluable books and manuscripts to aid their studies.
Zane gave a triumphant yell as he volleyed the ball over the net in a blizzard of white sand and a flash of tanned skin. "Score!" He punched the air. "Match, set and game. Hand over the dough, bro!"
"I love you when you're all sweaty." Teal laughed, cheeks flushed from the energetic game. Her shaggy hair clung to her cheeks and neck as she flung her arms around her husband's neck. "I love when we win." They grinned at each other, as they returned hand in hand to their shady spot beside Finn and Peri.
Nick and Bria went down to the water's edge to retrieve their son and stayed to have an animated conversation with Ry and Addy, which made Peri's heart swell with love and gratitude.
"Don't tell Jonah." Zane flopped down on his back, one elbow covering his eyes. "He almost killed me out there."
Teal shoved her hair out of her eyes, then took Sam, named after her paternal grandfather, from Finn. "I'm buying that universal diagnostic tool with my winnings." Sitting next to Zane, Teal punctuated each word with noisy kisses to her laughing baby's belly.
Zane leaned in for a couple of kisses, too, then pulled both his wife and child against his side. "Isn't half the win mine?"
"What's yours is mine, Ace."
"Well in that case," he laughed, cupping the baby's downy head. "You only won a hundred bucks. I'll buy the expensive tools for your birthday, how's that?"
"Deal."
Zane looked over Teal's head at Peri and Finn. "Did you two decide where you want to build?"
Peri had been stunned when the brother's had gifted her several acres of land on Cutter Cay. They'd told her Finn's ship was a great home, as was her house on the cliff of Patagonia, but she was a Cutter, too, and part of the island belongs to her. A perfect place to build a vacation home, or a permanent, land-based home, if they ever wanted to retire and laze on the beach all day. Peri could never imagine that day ever coming for either herself or Finn, but it was incredibly generous and sweet of them, and she and Finn had accepted their offer.
More astonishing, they'd gifted Ry and Addy with land as well, and after some convincing, Ry had accepted their offer when they assured him it was the least Daniel Cutter owed him.
"We like that spot on the windward side near the hill that looks like a camel." They'd hire an architect when they got back home, and on their Second Annual Cutter Cay Family Vacation, they could sleep in their own bed, in their own house. Peri's heart filled with happiness.
"Good spot," Zane said, lazily stroking his wife's back, eyes closed.
Jonah and Callie returned from a quick dip, and Jonah grabbed up a couple of nearby folded towels to dry off. Callie blotted the water from her face. "We need a rematch," she told Teal, eyes glinting with challenge. "Best out of three?"
"You're on. Tomorrow. Same place, same time. Five bucks."
Shaking his head, Zane laughed. "We've created monsters!"
Peri and Finn shared a smile. "Since we have no horse in the race, let's go for a walk." Finn gave her shoulder a nudge.
"A waddle you mean." She let him pull her to her feet, which she hadn't seen in months.
"Head to the right," Teal told them. "There's a great tide pool about quarter of a mile down the beach."
"Don't go far, you two," Nick yelled after them. "We're eating in half an hour."
Finn did a back- handed wave to acknowledge him. Hand in hand they strolled down to the water's edge, then walked on the wet, packed sand, leaving their footprints in their wake. Beyond the edge of the beach and the tree line, lush, jungle-like vegetation and tall trees obscured Logan and Nick's houses from view. On the other side of a three-hundred-foot-high, extinct volcano in the center of the island, Zane and Jonah had built their houses with more, spectacular, views.
Sun hot on her head and shoulders, the warm water foaming around her ankles, Peri paused to turn into Finn's arms. "Do you think all of us staying on the island at the same time will make us homicidal?"
With a smile, Finn smoothed her hair over her shoulders, his hands lingering on her sun¬-warmed skin. "Already ready to kill someone?"
"No. Not at all. Actually, this is. . .I don't know. Nice is too tame a word. Magical. This past year has been an eye-opener. We genuinely like each other. Even Ry is looking more relaxed and less stressed these days."
"We don't live in each other's pockets onboard," he pointed out. "Over the past year, we've all gotten into a rhythm, and not encroached on anyone’s privacy. We respect each other's space. Boundaries. This looks as though it'll be a once a year thing for just a couple of weeks at a time. Different playing field, different environment. We don't always have to come with the entire family if it’s too much."
"Are you kidding? I love the whole family. I love you. I'm in love with—" her voice broke. Oh, crap, pregnancy wreaked havoc with her hormones. "Our twins. It’s as though I’ve found a magical answer for things I didn't know I'd been searching for my entire life."
"I feel exactly the same way. I love you." Finn's smile was tender as he brushed a damp spot on her cheek. “Now.” He kissed her forehead. “Forever.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Always. You are, and will always be my soul mate, my anamchara, Persephone Case-Cutter-Gallagher." His eyes gleamed silver as he cupped her cheek.
"You are my love." The Irish in his voice was always more pronounced when he felt strong emotion. "There can be no doubt about any of this magic. It, we, were written in the stars."
The End