Page 75 of Retribution

Despite our last-minute plans, I managed to book us an apartment, only a four-minute walk from the beach itself.

Whatever my girls want, my girls get.

Willow is busy scrambling inside of her bag for her swimming bather, Indie is in the bathroom getting changed, all whilst I’m spread across the super-king bed.

I can’t deny that the smell of the fresh ocean air is sensational.

It’s been far too long since I’ve enjoyed a vacation, being a little preoccupied with work and… other things.

At least now, I get to spend quality time with the two people in the world who matter to me most.

“Daddy, help– me.” Willow says, struggling to pull her Barbie costume over her body.

“Hm, maybe this is a little small. It’s been a while since you’ve been to the beach and for sure, you’ve grown!” I laugh, tugging on the straps of the material to try and get it over her shoulders.

“There we go!” I cheer, clapping my hands together whilst Willow stands stiffly with her arms outstretched.

“This is– a little too tight.” She whines, trying to stretch the material with her movements.

“We’ll grab you something else, once we get closer to the beach. Okay?” I propose and she nods, walking in a strange way to grab her flip-flops.

The bathroom door opens and Indie walks out, without a care in the world and proceeding to get something out of her bag.

I’m standing, completely lost for words at the breathtaking view in front of me.

She’s wearing a simple white bikini, with a transparent white cover-up that contrasts to her tan skin.

“Everything okay?” She turns to me whilst being bent over her bag.

Random pieces of hair slightly cover her face and she looks so effortlessly put together, without the need for any fancy accessories or makeup.

She is the definition of a natural beauty.

“Yeah… everything is perfect.” I grin, admiring the dimples that pop out on her cheeks from my comments.

“I want one of those!” Willow beams, pointing at the bikini that Indie is wearing.

“A bikini?” I say with my face twisted.

“Yes! I’m a grown-up, nearly,” She cheers, stomping her tiny feet in her floral daisy flip-flops.

“Hm, I’m not too sure about that, Lo.” I ponder, running a hand through my stubble.

It’s strange to think that my little girl isn’t going to be like this forever. One day, she is going to grow up and be every bit the amazing woman that I imagine her to be.

“I’ll think about it.” I compromise, still uncertain whether I’m ready for her to change from her Barbie swimsuits to a more mature style.

***

We arrive at the beach, Willow in a newly bought sea-horse themed bikini. If it wasn’t for Indie being here, I wouldn’t have agreed to it. She encouraged me to give Willow the opportunity to feel more grown up, and insisted I was going to have to let go of her childhood one day, I may as well start getting used to it.

I can get used to the bikini situation, as long as that’s it for the next five years.

God forbid the day she wants to have a girlfriend or a boyfriend.

Me and Indie stride together, hand in hand, with Willow bolting ahead with a unicorn float. Honestly, I’ve just been coerced into buying a ton of shit for this singular overnight trip.

The sand sinks in between my toes as we step onto the beach, the use of my flip-flops proves to be useless. Releasing Indie’s hand, I reach down and pull them off, dusting off unnecessary sand.

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