a bashful smile.
I don’t know about great, but I’d definitely say not too bad. Learning to let go of Rina’s hand was hard yet has helped her grow up a bit over the last few years. After her case and the settlement amount she received, I told her the bank of big sis was closed. I’d help guide her with suggestions; however, I’d no longer rush to solve her problems for her. There was resistance in the beginning and a bit of resentment. Eventually, she took the steps. Got a solid job working for a company that we, the beach, are partnered with for beach conservation, got her own apartment, eventually a steady boyfriend, and is even a responsible aunt we don’t mind letting watch June when we want a date night or night on the town with our best friends.
“I think she’ll be a good sis, too. I think this little dude,” Ax’s hand lands on my stomach that’s being protected by a pineapple-patterned, one-piece bathing suit, “is gonna be the luckiest little brother in the whole world to have her as his big sister.”
“Tidal wave!” June shouts and splashes a bucket full of water at her building.
A huge cringe hits my face. “As long as she doesn’t do that to him, everything will be okay.”
“You know she’s gonna.”
My head tilts his direction disapprovingly.
“Come on, babe. It’s like initiation into this family. I did it to you on our wedding day-”
“Still not one of my favorite memories…”
“I did it to her on her first official beach trip and then have done it to both of you on the first official day of summer every year since.”
“And, on our wedding anniversary.”
My husband smugly snickers to himself.
The decision to get married two days after our first Christmas together came courtesy of a positive pregnancy test that I took on his fortieth birthday after vomiting up homemade coconut birthday cake in front of his friends. Grandmother’s baking had never had that effect on me, which instantly set off some red flags. To say we were thrilled with adding to our family would be an understatement, but so would it to say that the abrupt change in date created unprecedented stress to our daily lives. We went from casually talking about a wedding to planning one like it was a surprise party we were springing on everyone last minute that we had to prep for around our steadily-busy work schedules. Everyone who was invited was fine with the timetable. Fynn, who I finally got to meet at the night of the party was in town for his best friend’s birthday and the holidays, was actually thrilled that he didn’t have to buy another ticket to come back. We were married on the beach at sunrise, his favorite time of the day, served pineapple ice cream for dessert despite the fact it was December, and honeymooned in Trinidad at the beginning of the new year, a little surprise he arranged for me that brought me to tears. It touched my heart to know he remembered my grandparents’ story, and my desire to wanna see where it all began.
When we got back, our lives got even more hectic. My job, in spite of it being the off-season, spiked in new things to do and new challenges to conquer – all the while being pregnant – and Ax had to learn the art of balancing his business and starting a new one.
Through it all, we still managed to make time for each other; however, once June was born, we made sure to scoop out more time to build and cherish our growing family. From a work aspect, the two of us are as busy as ever, yet from a family one, we never seem to be satisfied with what we have together. Even when we take long weekends and weeklong trips to just enjoy one another, it’s never enough.
I don’t think there’ll ever be “enough” together time with the people I love.
“Little dude is gonna have the tidal wave splash happen to him, it’s inevitable.” Ax pecks me with another kiss before lowering himself back to be eye level with June. He waves his hand at the same time he says, “Hey!”
June joyfully shifts her stare over to him.
“Daddy’s gonna go hang ten,” he happily signs in tandem with his words. “We’ll play on your board when I get back.”
She excitedly giggles, claps, and nods.
The sight of him placing a sweet kiss in the middle of