I'Ve Got You (23 page)

‘They apologised, madly back-pedalling. They believed the information Travers gave them was legit, and admitted they should've vetted the information before printing.' Kabe scratched his chin. ‘Barry stressed that if Luna Bay Gazette News and
the Whitsunday Gazette
didn't each print a front-page retraction, our defamation suit would cost them dearly. After we finished, Barry said suing was worth doing anyway, just to teach them a lesson. He also said he wasn't suggesting taking this action for the money.'

‘Gosh,' Belle murmured.

* * *

By evening, feeling exhausted, Belle said goodnight and left everyone behind on the patio with their drinks and their plans. She hopped in the shower, and was just rinsing off when the bathroom door opened. Blinking through the water running over her face, she said, ‘Kabe, you've come to join me.'

‘Yeah, Babe,' he replied, his tone tender. Within seconds, he'd stripped and joined her under the water to hold her in his arms. He massaged the tension away from her neck and shoulders while Belle rested her forehead on his chest. ‘I don't want to miss a moment with you.' Kabe eased her head back to look at him. ‘You're mine, Belle Fabrini; ever since high school you've been mine. I wanted to drown in your amazing eyes, your smile. I wanted to wrap your laugh around me like a blanket. Anytime life got tough with Dad, I'd think about you, see your smile, your beautiful face in my mind. Then you left town to study in Brisbane and I stayed to help Mum out … I lost you for a while … I lost you for too long.'

‘Kabe …' Belle whispered, loving his words. She lifted her chin and Kabe, never missing an opportunity, kissed her.

He drew back and asked, ‘You're tired, you okay?'

‘Yes, I'm good.'

He turned the water off, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her chest. Kabe dried himself and fastened the towel around his hips. He pulled a hairdryer out of the drawer to brush and dry Belle's hair. His fingers on her scalp and running through her hair were relaxing, and having him do that for her just made him all the more lovable.

He picked her up, carried her to the bed, flipped the cotton sheet aside with his foot and eased her down.

‘I'm naked,' she whispered.

‘Yeah, lucky me,' he whispered back.

Her eyes and body felt heavy the moment her head hit the pillow. Kabe gently pulled the covers up over her. She hardly noticed Kabe's fussing about with towels and clothes strewn on the floor. Then the bed moved and next thing she knew, his arm slipped around her waist and he tugged her into his front.

She smiled and relaxed deeper into him. ‘I love you, Kabe,' she murmured.

He tightened his hold. ‘I love you too, Belle, you're my life.' His arm moved up, and his hand curled around her head.

A glow bloomed inside her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle flex of his arm.

* * *

Two weeks later:

Kabe had lifted his arm from Belle's waist so she could get up and use the bathroom. He drifted off to sleep and woke to the sound of sobbing.

‘Jesus.' He flipped out of bed, hurried to the bathroom, grabbed the door handle and yanked it open. ‘What the … Belle?'

She looked up from where she was sitting on the floor, eyes red and puffy, face wet from crying. Thinking she'd slipped on the tiles, he quickly dropped to his knees, hands sliding over her body feeling for blood or broken bones, sure it could be nothing less than that for the wails she let fly. Then he saw the white plastic test kits. He didn't hesitate, but picked her up and carried her to the bed. She sobbed into his shoulder. ‘For Christ's sake, Belle, you scared the crap out of me.'

‘You're
scared!' she accused with a hiccup.

Knees on the mattress, he shuffled across the bed until he'd reached their pillows, and carefully laid her down.

‘Now what're you doing?' Belle asked, sounding annoyed, but clutching at his shoulders in case he dared try to leave.

Shit, did I do something wrong?
‘You're pregnant?'

She buried her face in the pillow, yelled, and cried at the same time. ‘Yesss!'

He knew this might not be the right moment, but couldn't help grinning like an idiot. He rolled Belle onto her back and planted kisses all over wet her face, saying, ‘I'm crazy in love with you, and now there's going to be a little person that's part of you and me.'

‘A little person?' Belle's beautiful face screwed up, questioning.

He smoothed the hair from her face and searched his brain for another cute word. ‘Little tucker? Bubbie?'

‘I'm starting to worry about you.' Belle hauled herself up to rest against the pillows.

Okay, so his excitement was getting the better of him. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but told himself to get a grip. He could see Belle was upset and needed his love and understanding. ‘You're pregnant,' he said gently, ‘you're going to have our baby. I can't think of anything I would want more.'

‘Really?' Belle sniffed.

‘Yeah,' he nodded enthusiastically. ‘But I'm curious to know how this happened, when we always used a condom?'

‘Well … you know how about a month ago, we did it in the shower, and we were so hot we didn't even think about protection?' Belle sighed. ‘Then a few weeks ago with my “tease me” lingerie, we did it twice without …'

‘Oh yeah, that lingerie was hot.' He grinned as he replayed the memory in his mind.

‘Kabe! I'm scared stiff.'

‘I know, and no one could blame you.' He cupped her face and slid the pads of his thumbs across her wet cheeks. ‘We'll be fine, the baby will be healthy and we'll make sure you get all the help you need. If that means living in Brisbane for a while, then so be it.'

Her jaw dropped and her eyebrows shot up. ‘What?'

‘Don't worry, it's okay. I know enough good sailors who I can trust to sail
The Ondine
for a while … it's no biggie. These few months are the most important of our lives. Together we're going to enjoy every moment, and take good care of our baby … you and me.'

* * *

Belle would never forget the look that slowly came over Kabe. His beautiful blue eyes glistened with emotion. She quickly asked, ‘Okay, but are you going to shed a tear because this is a shock and you're not ready?'

‘Hell, no,' he said, shaking his head. He shoved the covers aside, looked at her belly and caressed it with slow gentle circles of his hand, then pressed his lips near her belly button. ‘I'm the happiest man … I love that you're pregnant … I love you … I love what we have together.'

‘Oh … it really is good then?'

‘You bet it is.' He kissed her, long, slowly and lovingly, easing away all her concerns. ‘Don't let it scare you, Belle. Enjoy every moment. We
will
be fine, all three of us … or four.'

Her back went straight. ‘Are you saying there are twins in your family?'

‘Not to my knowledge, but my little swimmers must have been in a hurry, so there might be two that made it.' He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

‘Oh Lord.' Belle looked down at her stomach and circled it tenderly with her hand. ‘Your Daddy's going to spoil you.'

Kabe smiled. ‘Come on, wrap yourself in a sarong, and let's go tell everyone the good news.'

‘Isn't it a bit soon?'

‘Nope,' he grinned, eyes crinkling. Okay, it was fair to say Kabe was bursting with excitement. Belle shrugged and decided to relax and join him in his enthusiasm.

He pulled on a pair of grey shorts and white T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. He looked hot; he was going to be a yummy daddy.

She fastened her favourite red and black sarong around her neck, halter-style, and took his offered hand as they headed out the door.

Kabe's arm slipped around Belle's waist, his fingers giving her a squeeze. She knew that it was his way of reassuring her everything would be more than fine. Still, as they entered the open courtyard, nerves and excitement did battle in her stomach. Marilyn and Dan were sitting in the sun, absorbed in the morning's papers while sipping their coffees. Kabe stopped at the end of the table and Belle wondered what he intended to say and how he was going to say it. She grabbed his hand at her waist and squeezed his fingers, anxious to get it over with.

Marilyn looked up, head inclined as she studied them. ‘Hey, you two. You're both looking very strange, what's going on?'

At the mention of strange, Dan raised his head and said, ‘Huh?'

‘Mum … Dan, we're going to have a baby … maybe two. But first, we're getting married.'

Marilyn clasped her hands to her chest, and then burst into sobbing laughter as she shoved her chair back and headed straight for Belle. ‘I knew it … I knew it!'

Belle's throat tightened. ‘What—marry?' she barely managed to get the question out, before Marilyn had her in a tight hug. Grinning like an idiot, Dan shook Kabe's hand and clapped him on the back. Kabe managed to disentangle Belle from Marilyn and then Dan. He grabbed her hand and drew her away. ‘Back in a minute,' he said over his shoulder. He led her along the path to the grassy outcrop where weeks ago they had spent time looking up at the stars. That memorable place, where Belle had felt as if the universe had moved without her.

Nothing was moving right now except Kabe's chest; his rapid breathing could only mean nerves, which made her smile, just a little.

‘Belle, will you marry me and make my life paradise every day?' Kabe frowned, shook his head, and said, ‘Crap … wait, that's so cheesy.' His eyes warm with a profound loving gaze that made her knees weak, Kabe cupped her face and touched his lips to hers. ‘Marry me, Belle.'

‘Yes please!' Belle flung her arms around his neck then kissed him long, hard and deep.

* * *

Four years later:

Belle knew this year's Christmas on Butterfly Island was going to be a memorable one.

Kabe had taken their supplies of food and drinks to her grandfather's house while she got their kids, Annabelle and Eli, changed and ready. Belle's pregnancies hadn't gone as smoothly as they'd both hoped. Annabelle was early, but well enough to leave the hospital after two weeks. Eli quite liked where he was and came late. As the days, hours, minutes ticked by, Kabe was ready to climb the walls. He'd watched Belle's every move. Now their little babes were, respectively, three and a half and eighteen months.

Belle caught movement up the beach. Kabe was jogging back along the hard sand, then up along the jetty, feet thumping on the old wooden planks until he reached them.

‘Daddy's back!' Annabelle squealed, her curly hair ruffling in the breeze and her plastic crown sparkling in the sun.

‘Watch her, she's like a bee in a bottle.'

‘Ready, Princess Bumblebee?' Kabe smiled. Without warning, Annabelle leapt into his arms. Hands circling her waist, Kabe swung her around a few times, tickling her. She wriggled and squealed until he set her down on the jetty.

‘Daddy, Daddy,' Annabelle cried out, her high-pitched voice screeching, everything said twice, or more, for emphasis. ‘Do it again! Do it again!'

‘Later, princess, got to get your brother down, and then the two of you can run to Poppy, see, he's on his way.' Kabe pointed up the beach, but he was ready for Annabelle to take off, and caught her by her pretty pink princess dress, saying, ‘
Wait
a minute.'

Belle smiled; Kabe was so attuned to Annabelle and Eli's ways, he never missed a trick.

‘Okay matey, time to leave the pirate ship.' He swung Eli around onto his hip and held out his free hand for Belle. The moment she reached his side, his big hand came up to cup her neck, then he pulled her in for a sexy kiss.

Belle gave back as good as she got, until a little voice said, ‘Can we go now?'

Kabe pulled back and Belle said, ‘
Nice
, but what brought that on?'

‘I didn't get a chance this morning. Santa was seen leaving through the sliding doors to get back on his sleigh, don'tchya know.'

Belle giggled. ‘Thanks for letting me sleep in
and
getting them breakfast.'

‘Part of my Christmas present to you,' he grinned.

They hit the cool early morning sand. Kabe put Eli down and Annabelle took her brother's hand; together they hurried as fast as their little legs would go up the short distance to meet their great granddad. Mario hunkered down with his arms out ready to catch them both.

About two in the afternoon, a trestle table set up on the sand had barely enough room left for plates and cutlery. A mouth-watering array of delicious barbequed meat and fish, salads, baked potatoes, crusty bread, plus mixed dishes and desserts from all corners of the world, awaited for them to dig in. The Fabrini family, the Hunter family, Dan, and eight Landcare backpackers from around the globe feasted on Christmas dinner.

Belle missed her grandmother, Anna, but especially so on these occasions; part of her wanted to believe she was there somewhere, enjoying it all with them.

With the meal over and Annabelle and Eli sleeping in a hammock, watched over by Mario and Marilyn, Kabe took Belle's hand for a quiet stroll along the water's edge. He slipped his arm around her waist and tucked her into his side. Automatically, Belle wrapped her arm around him and snuggled closer.

She looked up to see his face and whispered, ‘I'm so happy, it scares me.'

Still gripping her waist, Kabe stopped and turned her to face him. ‘Babe,' his voice low, gentle, ‘I know what you're saying, but don't do that to yourself. Hold onto the best, and laugh a lot. I'll be right here, laughing with you.' He smiled, his adorable dimples appearing. ‘I love you, Belle.' He turned her palms around and placed them flat against his chest. Belle could feel his heart beat under her fingers. ‘For you, Belle, you've made me happy, and I'm not scared, not one bit.'