“This one is almost finished, so that will make twenty-eight houses we have completed now. It’ll never be enough, unfortunately, but I’ll keep pushing against the government for more funding, and where they fall short, the foundation is raising the funds on our own. I never want to see another woman feel so trapped by domestic violence that she can’t get out like Mia did. It’s infuriating that there is a need for safe and secure accommodation to be built at all.” Picking up my water bottle, I see my three best friends in the world agree with me, and the anger in their eyes is the same I feel.
“Anyway, apparently as the founder of the Mia’s Place Foundation, I can be persuasive, so my head of donations needs me in on the meeting with the head of one the biggest construction firms in Chicago and New York. They are showing interest in coming on board as our builder at a hugely discounted rate, plus taking the concept to another city. So, I can’t be late.” I start moving toward my car.
“You’re never late.” Mason laughs at me. “And I think it’s called being a commanding pushy prick, but in this case, it’s all for a good cause, so go get ‘em.”
“I need your answers in seven days!” I yell as I open my door.
“Point proven,” Tate replies as I close my door and start up my car, laughing.
“Great, so everything is booked and secured?” I ask Nerida, the contract travel coordinator in Australia that I’ve been using.
Taking all the kids with us means a lot more bookings than usual, checking passports, booking nannies in Australia, and the list goes on. But if there is one thing about us four friends, it’s that we have always been competitive, so I secretly want this tripto blow them out of the water. Plus, after my mother tried to take away my trust fund, my father took back control and happily signed it over to me, and I now have more money than I’ll ever need. Spending it on my family and friends is the perfect way to use it.
“Yes, everything is sorted. I’m just waiting for the flight arrival and departure times to be confirmed from Captain White, and we will be all set.” I can hear Nerida typing on her keyboard in the background as we talk. It’s ten pm here and all the kids are in bed, all asleep except Jack, and Mia is taking a long hot bath that she doesn’t get the chance to have very often.
“Thanks for sending the video and all the photos of the house we have booked on Sydney Harbor. It’s perfect. Having a studio apartment on the grounds makes it easier for the nannies to get some time to themselves when they aren’t needed. Because let me assure you, this crew of kids, they’re a lot.” I chuckle.
“Most kids are, but at least you acknowledge that. I have so many problems with clients who claim their children are perfect angels and would never have put a hole in the wall with a football that was being kicked around inside. I have three kids of my own and not one of them are perfect. But let’s be honest, we want kids with spirit and to grow up being allowed to be children, just with guidance from their parents. Accidents happen, but just tell me so I can fix it.” I hear the sigh in her voice and can tell that it happens more often than she would like.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry, I’ll be the first to call you and send you money to fix it ASAP so no one is inconvenienced after we leave. And I’ll tell you now, it’s more than likely to happen. With twelve kids in the house and four grown-ass men who at times forget they aren’t kids, I may as well give you the money now.” Both of us laugh.
“Sounds like you have a great group of friends and family, Lex. I look forward to meeting you all when you land here on thetwenty-eighth of December. I’m sure you will all be ready to kill each other by then. Twenty-one hours all trapped on a private jet together is going to be challenging,” Nerida comments.
“Without sounding pretentious, these kids have been flying since they were born, so they are used to it. They understand that when they are on the plane, there are strict rules, and the little ones sleep like they are in their own bed at home. So, we are lucky, but still, this long-haul flight is going to test the patience of every single adult on the plane—except Mason, because he gets to lock himself in the cockpit away from the chaos. Maybe I should learn how to fly a plane. It feels like it would be easier.”
The moment the words are out of my mouth, I know I could never do what Mason does. The responsibility of keeping every person he loves safe is a heavy load to carry. My controlling personality struggles with just worrying about my wife and our four children, let alone our extended framily.
“Well, let’s hope this flight works out like the others. Now, if there is anything else you think of, just get in touch. Otherwise, I’ll touch base as we get closer to the trip, but just know that everything is under control from this end.” Nerida has been such a dream to work with. One of the women on the board of Mia’s Place recommended Nerida, and it has worked out perfectly.
Shutting down my laptop, I sit in the silence of the house just for a moment. It doesn’t happen often, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But I need these moments to still my mind. Thinking back to the fifty-eight days I spent away from Mia at the lake house when both our lives exploded, it was then I learned that protecting my mental health is important. I don’t think I had ever stopped and sat in the moment. Given myself time to grieve my old life, dream of the life I wanted going forward, and to just let my brain rest. It was when I started writing. First the letters to Mia were a way to express what I was going through and sorting out my thoughts. I have now learned through my therapyjourney that it was really a form of journaling, which I still do every day now because it helps.
I had no idea that would open the door to give my creative brain the opportunity to start talking. Looking across to the glass-doored bookshelf in my office where my first three novels I’ve published are sitting, I can’t help but smile at how different my life is now. From a criminal lawyer to a fantasy author writing about the worlds of castles, lords, and dragons that exist in my mind and the founder and CEO of a charity to support women like my wife to get out of the awful lives they are trapped in. It’s like I’ve lived two lives, really. But I can honestly say this life is my happiest.
Turning off the light in my office as I leave, I head upstairs, walking down the hallway past all the kids’ bedrooms. I open the doors and look in on them, each one tucked up under the blankets. Remi is surrounded by as many stuffed animals as she could fit, Gabe with just one, his dinosaur that he has loved since he was a toddler. Kayla tells me she is past stuffed toys, but every night when I check on her, she has the pale brown bear with a pink heart stitched on it tucked in bed next to her; it’s the same one that I bought for her the first day I met her.
As I open Jack’s door, he is still sitting at his desk, headphones on, drawing. As talented as he is with his music, his drawing isn’t bad either. One day I would love to have him illustrate a book cover for me, but he is too young right now.
Walking toward him, he sees me out of the corner of his eye.
“Hey, Dad,” he says as he pushes his headphones off the ear closest to me.
“Time to call it a night, buddy. I’m off to bed now. You’ve got school tomorrow.” As I look at the young man in front of me who’s just as tall as me already, I miss the little boy that loved his teddy bear“Ted”and never went anywhere without him. He was the most loved bear I’ve ever seen, and I can see the wear andtear on Ted from where he sits on the shelf above Jack’s desk, still treasured but from afar.
“Yeah, I just want to finish this. Almost done.” He holds it up to show me the guitar he is sketching in pencil, so intricate and realistic.
“That looks really cool, Son, but it’s almost ten-thirty. Time for lights out.” And then the sweet moment is gone with the groan and huff I get as he stands from his desk, taking his headphones off and throwing back the covers. I remember those teenage years where you don’t think you need much sleep, yet the minute your head hits the pillow, that’s the last thing you recall. Growing bodies need sleep, and Jack’s is growing rapidly. Our weekend tradition of pancakes on a Sunday morning has now become a massive production. Jack eats almost the same amount as the rest of us in the family put together. The old saying of having hollow legs definitely applies.
“You know I don’t need as much sleep as you, old man.” He looks at me, waiting for me to bite back at his comment, but I’m one step ahead of him.
“I dare you to call Tate an old man to his face, since he is the same age as me.” I laugh as I walk back to the door and turn around to see him smiling at me.
“I’m not that stupid. Night, Dad, love you.” I never get tired of hearing those words from him.
“Night, JJ, love you too.” Turning off the light and closing his door, my heart is full. I didn’t even know if I wanted kids before I met Mia, but the moment Jack and Kayla walked into my life, it was like I was always meant to be a father. And our twins, Gabe and Remi, made our lives complete—a handful, but complete.
“What took you so long?” Mia calls to me from bed where she is now lying after her bath, waiting patiently for me.
“Just got lost in my own thoughts.” Stripping off my clothes, I crawl in beside her, pulling her to me.
