Georgia’s POV
The trees parted, sunlight spilled through, and the mont we stepped onto the sand, my heart practically burst with joy.
Katie was zooming across the water on a jet ski with Liam behind her, both of them screaming and laughing like complete maniacs. She waved wildly the mont she saw us, nearly making Liam lose balance, which only made her laugh harder.
On the beach, a volleyball net had been set up. Ella, Oliver, Evelyn, and Steven were in the middle of an intense match. Ella dove dramatically for the ball, Steven yelled sothing competitive, Oliver groaned, and Evelyn cheered like she was coaching a national team.
It was chaos. Beautiful, perfect chaos.
Near a huge shade tree, a rustic wooden cabana stood with a roof made of dried leaves. Beneath it were picnic tables filled with fruit bowls, pitchers of juice, and plates already waiting for my hungry stomach. Smoke drifted from the grill beside the tables, where Prudence and Wendy stood like BBQ queens, flipping skewers with absolute authority.
Nick and I walked toward the tables, and the mont that smoky-sweet sll hit my nose, praise the heavens, it didn’t make nauseous. If anything, my stomach growled like it had been abandoned for years.
I didn’t even wait for permission. I grabbed a stick of barbecue and took a huge bite.
"Oh my god," I mumbled through a mouthful. "This is so good."
Nick laughed softly beside , watching devour it like I hadn’t eaten since the dinosaur era.
"Where are Vicky and Dad?" he asked his mother.
Prudence brushed her hands on her apron before answering. "They went canoeing. Should be back any minute now." She pointed sowhere toward the far side of the beach where the water curved around a cluster of rocks.
One of the staff mbers approached with perfect timing, handing a chilled coconut with a straw. "Thank you," I said before plopping down on the bench.
Between the ocean breeze, the laughter around us, and the warm sun kissing my skin, everything just felt... right. I sat there munching my BBQ in peaceful silence, happy, relaxed, and probably looking like a blissed-out piglet—but I didn’t care.
Until Wendy turned around, squinted at , and said, "Control your eating a bit, Georgia. You’ll get fat and have a hard ti giving birth."
I froze mid-bite.
Nick choked back a laugh. Prudence covered her mouth to hide hers.
I slowly lowered the barbecue stick, pouting dramatically. "Why would you say that to a hungry pregnant woman?" I grumbled, hugging my coconut like it was emotional support.
Wendy only shrugged, flipping another skewer. "Because I love you, and soone needs to stop you before you eat this entire grill. You ate a lot of at and cakes earlier, only three hours had passed, and you’re eating too much again."
Nick snorted, and I shot him a glare.
Nick cleared his throat dramatically beside . "It’s okay, babe. I still love you even if you get fat."
I shot him a playful glare before sipping my coconut like a sulking queen. But the mont I saw Katie and Liam hopping off the jet ski, my entire mood flipped. I instantly stood up, grinning like a kid about to break a rule.
Nick caught the look on my face and groaned. "Oh no. I know that look."
I raised my brows innocently.
He pointed a finger at . "I’m coming with you. You’re pregnant, and there’s no way I’m letting you ride that thing alone."
Then, without waiting for to argue, he turned to one of the staff. "Two life vests, please. And hurry, my wife is plotting sothing."
I snorted. "Fine. As long as you drive fast."
Nick smirked. "Baby, you’ll regret saying that."
Before I could sass back, Katie called out, waving both arms. "Mommy! Can I go again after you?"
But she didn’t wait for my answer because Ella swooped in like a hyper fairy. "Katie! Co with us! Steven and Evelyn are going canoeing, and I don’t have a partner. Please be my rowing partner? Pretty please?" Ella clasped her hands dramatically.
Katie giggled, looking way too proud for soone so tiny. "Okay! But I need to teach you how to paddle properly."
Ella’s jaw dropped. "Oh? Properly? Miss Katie, are you saying I don’t know how to paddle?"
Katie nodded confidently. "Uncle Liam taught earlier."
Everyone burst out laughing as Ella dramatically fainted into Liam’s arms.
Nick tugged toward the shoreline after helping put on the life vest as if I didn’t know how to do it on my own..
The mont we hopped on the jet ski, the world beca all wind, sea spray, and the kind of laughter that cos straight from the soul. Nick drove fast, like I asked, and I held onto him, screaming and laughing as the jet ski cut across the shimring water. The sky smoothly transitioned into golds and corals, then deeper pinks, then violets that kissed the horizon.
For a mont, it felt like the world paused just for us.
By the ti we returned to the shore, the sky was almost dark, the first stars peeking out above the treetops. Torches had been lit along the beach, warm light dancing across the sand.
The long picnic table was already filled, BBQs, grilled vegetables, fruits, juices, and desserts, and everyone was there.
Katie returned from her canoeing adventure soaked but smiling, Ella looked like she had survived a war, and the n were teasing each other about who had almost fallen boat-first into the water.
Nick and I joined them, still buzzing with adrenaline, still slling like seawater and sun.
Benjamin’s question pulled out of my coconut-induced bliss. "When are you buying things for the baby and Katie’s room? I want to be there," he said out of nowhere, like he’d been quietly waiting for the perfect mont to drop that bomb.
I blinked, glanced at Nick, and felt my stomach flip. With everything that happened... I honestly forgot to ask about the house. Last ti I checked, it was still not near completion. At least—I think it was.
Nick answered so casually that it took a second to process it. "When we get back."
I froze. "The house is done?!" I squeaked, my voice shooting up an octave in pure shock and excitent.
"I wanted to surprise you," he shrugged, looking way too pleased with himself. "It’s move-in ready except for so minor rooms, like the nursery. It already has the furniture and appliances that you ordered before. I was going to take you there straight from the airport, but soone forgot it’s a surprise," he said, glaring at his father.
Benjamin laughed, and I gasped dramatically and smacked his arm. "You should’ve told !"
Nick’s hand slid to my back, warm and steady. "All there. All waiting for you."
He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Welco ho, baby. Almost."
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