Page 107 of Almost Paradise

Drake

The next month is busy and the best month of my life. Our four-day trip to the Bahamas has been a whirlwind. Between entertaining three young boys, teaching Carter and Kyle to swim, and keeping ourselves sane, the few days away weren’t enough. Our days are either spent at the pool, the beach, or touring the island. It was my first time seeing the house in person, and everyone, including me, was awed by it. It’s a mansion, located in Lyford Cay, the island’s most exclusive, gated community. The house is situated on the beach, and it has a dock for our boat.

“Remember that key I gave you for your birthday, baby girl?” I whisper in her ear our first morning there. Everyone’s still in bed and we’re outside sipping coffee.

“Yes,” she says.

“Come with me.” I take her hand and we walk around the massive property to the dock. “It’s for that.” I gesture to the boat. “Nia’s Paradise,” I say pointing at the name on the back. She covers her mouth with both hands and turns to stare at me.

“You can’t be serious,” she whispers.“You got me a boat? Do you even need a key to start a boat?”

“The key is symbolic, baby. Come on.”

The six of us spend the entire day at sea, and when we return to the house, we share the meal the cook made. The boys are tired and grumpy after being in the sun all day, but Ray says he’ll get them settled and tells me and Nia to go have a night out.

It’s the first time since our weekend that we’ve had anything close to a date night. We go to a bar, have drinks, and dance to the live band. Afterward, we go home and make love until we fall asleep.

The only blemish on the short trip is a conversation I overhear between Ray and his father. He’s in the kitchen with his back turned while pouring himself coffee. It’s barely seven o’clock in the morning, and everyone else is still sleeping. My plan is to get my laptop and do a couple of hours of work while my wife sleeps.

“Hey, Dad,” I hear him say. I reach for my laptop on the table but his next words stop me. “It’s fine,” he says. “You don’t have to worry about him.”

Knowing the ‘him’ he’s referring to is me, I stay to eavesdrop on the rest of the conversation. “Dad, Nia is fine. He makes her happy, and he’s a good father to Carter. He’s a good uncle to Kyle and Mason too. You can stop worrying.”

Whatever his father says causes him to sigh and look to the ceiling. He turns and his eyes collide with mine. He mouths sorry while he listens to his father.

“Nia doesn’t need me to look after her.” He sighs some more and says, “You should drop it, and no I don’t believe he lied. I never did.” After a few moments, Ray says, “Saying I’m like my mother does not offend me, Dad. As for Audrey, Nia did ask her to come.” That’s news to me, but it wouldn’t have mattered since I don’t care what she thinks of me. “She’s going to Paris next week and couldn’t take any more time off. Drake didn’t go out of his way to exclude her. Honestly, I don’t think he cares how she feels about him.”

At that, I snort. Ignoring her is not a problem for me. I have no problem pretending she does not exist.

“Well, you’re the only one who’s still mad about it.” Another pause and then, “Jelani still? Dad, Nia’s married so Jelani will need to find someone else. Can you—” Ray pulls the phone away from his ear and cusses.

“He hung up on you, huh?” I ask him.

“Sure did.” He runs a hand over his face before taking a sip of his coffee.

“I guess he’ll never forgive me let alone like me. I hope we can be cordial for Nia and Carter’s sake, but if he tries to fix my wife up with Jelani or anyone, I won’t be polite about it.” In other words, tell your father I’m not going any damn where.

“Don’t worry about my dad. He’s extremely protective of Nia. When she was little, one of the kids in the neighborhood pushed her on the playground, and Dad nearly lost his mind. He confronted the parents and threatened to sue them. In his mind, no one messes with his daughter.”

“I get it. I’d do anything to protect my son too, but I never abandoned them. I’d never do that.” When Ray starts to talk, I hold up my hand to silence him. “Believe it or not, I would never have taken Carter from his mother. Never. And I never would have done anything to your father. It was all a bluff. I wanted my family and that’s how I went about it. I don’t regret marrying her. I never will, but I realize I should have gone about it differently.”

“Look, just give it time. Dad will come around.” While he pours himself another cup of coffee, I hear footsteps on the back staircase. Nia appears, rubbing sleep from her eyes. I put down my laptop and open my arms to my wife.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” I ask before kissing the top of her head.

“I need cuddles,” she says. “Come back to bed. I’ll even let you bring your laptop.”

“Let me?” I ask.

“Yeah. Let you. Come on.” She steps out of my arms and takes my hand to pull me upstairs. She climbs in next to me and falls asleep in my arms almost immediately.

“Hi, Daddy,” Nia says a few hours later. She’s in a one-piece red swimsuit with a giant straw hat on her head. Since this is our last day, we’re in a cabana on a private stretch of beach on Pearl Island. The boys are building a sandcastle with Ray while my wife and I sip cocktails.

Nia calls the boys over and says, “They’re right here, Dad. We’re just having fun at the beach.” It's a FaceTime call, and I can see him from where I’m standing.

“Well, you look good,” he says.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Nia asks. I’m sure she knows her father is insinuating something about me.

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