Page 50 of Charlie

"That's fascinating. Only until you’re finished with the job?"

"Unfortunately, yes. "

She pouts her lip a bit, looking over at Jack. "You're going to break his heart, aren't you?" she asks, her voice sad.

I choke out a startled laugh. "Definitely not. I am not the heartbreaking type, Lorna. Look at me."

"I am looking at you." Her pout turns into a frown. She breaks our gaze and turns to watch Jack and her kids, her expression softening.

"Isn't he great?"

I watch as Jack swings Daniel up in the air until he's shrieking with giggles.

"He is," I murmur, finding it hard to swallow. "This is the first time I've seen him with kids – he seems like a natural."

"Right? I can't wait until little Jacks are running around everywhere. He's going to be such a great father."

Jack looks over at me and grins, his face glowing with joy. I swallow around a lump in my throat, blinking back the sudden moisture in my eyes.

Lach sits down next to me, cradling my face in his hands as he plants a kiss on my lips. "She's amazing, isn't she, Lorna?"

"I've only just met her, Lachlan," she scolds, rolling her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. I knew the second Milo tackled her that she was special." He kisses me again, softer this time. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?" I nod, and he stands back up, heading toward the water.

"Oh, Charlie," Lorna whispers, her eyes sad.

My heart thumps painfully.

"I've seen this before, and it didn't end well."

I open my mouth, immediately on the defensive, but I stop and take a second to organize my thoughts before speaking. "Tell me about it," I say instead.

"The four of them had a great relationship for a while. It seemed to bring out the best in all of them. Then Emily decided she wanted to settle down but couldn't see herself doing it with all of them. So she picked the most established one and proceeded to make him miserable."

"I settled down in college and felt like I was dying the entire time. I want life, chaos... I want to be happy. And I want them to be happy," I tell her, my words sincere.

"Well, you've succeeded there. I haven't seen them this carefree in years. Just be careful. They've been through a lot."

"I will," I murmur.

"Guard your heart, Charlie. I worry about the guys, but we women need to stick together, too."

Isla comes back with a wine bottle, filling our cups.

Lorna lays back on the blanket, releasing a gigantic sigh. "I almost forgot what it feels like not to have a tiny human attached to my hip," she says, smiling blissfully.

"Do you want me to put them down for their nap?" Isla asks, lying beside her, stretching out like a cat in the sun.

"Jack already offered. I told him he should be out here enjoying himself, but he insisted."

"I wish you'd let us take them overnight, " Isla props herself up to look at Lorna. "You could sleep... or go on a date and not sleep." She winks at Lorna.

I smile. I love their family's teasing banter. It makes me feel warm and comforted – so bizarre, but it's probably one of my favorite things about this trip. It was a privilege to be around them.

"I will one of these days. I promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that." Isla lays back down, turning her face to the sun, taking advantage of the unseasonable warm weather.

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