Page 25 of They Found Us

“Don’t you mean Smith?”

Leo doesn’t answer, just groans and kisses me primally. My body unintentionally relaxes into his arms.

Once we’ve washed each other after having another orgasm each, we exit the bathroom dry but still completely naked. I go to my drawer for some clean pj’s.

“No, I want nothing between us,” Leo instructs as he pulls back the covers and gestures for me to climb in bed beside him.

“I love you,” I say as I walk over, my heart feeling incredibly full and grateful. “I love our life. I’m so happy.”

“Good.” Leo wraps his arms around me and covers us both. “As long as you are happy, so am I.”

While drifting off to sleep, I think about what it means to be happy. There have been so many times in my life when I’ve mistaken happiness for luxury items, extreme holidays, extravagant gifts, or external validation at work. But that’s not what being happy is. It’s about finding the joy in the little things. Appreciating the now, being present, and spending time with those who you love and who love you.

This right now. In the arms of my husband, where I feel safe and loved. In our home where our two boys lie safely asleep in their beds in the next room—boys who were made with our love. This is happy. People spend too much of their lives wanting what they haven’t got, comparing themselves to others. But life isn’t about physical items like fast cars or one-off moments of exhilaration over a holiday. It’s about feeling content in our everyday life, appreciating the little things. This is what it is to be free, to be happy.

Chapter Ten

Katie

“Hi, Vanna. Just checking if I need to bring towels or anything for the boys?”

“No, we’ve plenty of towels. I’ve loads of snacks and food for us and Mark. Just get over here quick so we can have a cocktail.”

“Okay, great. I’ll be half an hour.”

After ending the call to Vanna, I rush about, packing everything but the kitchen sink for Zander. I had forgotten how much stuff a new baby needs. Mark now only has a little backpack with a few snacks and toys in it. We are spending the day at Vanna and Alex’s. I say “we,” but it’s just me and our boys. Leo and Alex are having a lads’ day—well, lads’ afternoon, so Vanna has invited us to their house. While our house is large and lovely, it’s more of family home and cosy. Their house is extreme modern luxury with huge outdoor and indoor swimming pools and floor-to-ceiling windows.

We’ve popped in a few times but never stayed long. Alex and Vanna usually come to our house, as it’s easier with the boys. But today we are spending the day there, and I’m quite excited. Mark is going to love playing in the pool all day, andZander—well, he can sleep in the shade. Vanna loves helping out, so I’m sure I’ll have time to put my feet up in the sun and drink a cocktail or two, seeing as Zander actually prefers a bottle.

The security system alerts us to someone at the door. Alex. Leo lets him in.

“Hi, Alex,” I greet him. “Looking forward to your lads’ day?”

“Yes, we’ve lots of fun things planned.”

“Oh yeah? What is it you’re actually doing? Leo hasn’t said.”

Alex seems on edge when he answers, like he is hiding something. “Oh, er, you know. Drinking. Watching sports. That kind of thing.”

They’re definitely not watchingsports. What man calls themsports,anyway? They’d say football or rugby. They’re probably going shooting or something they think I won’t agree with. But I trust Leo, so I don’t let it bother me.

Leo helps me load the car with the boys’ bags. We then get them both strapped into their car seats. Leo checks and double-checks that their belts are firmly fastened and the seats securely fitted into the car.

“We are going now. Make sure you take your phone. I’ve got mine. I’ll check in with you later. Take care. Ti amo.”I love you.

He gives me a kiss andthen gets in Alex’s car. Alex beeps his horn as he drives away. I wave them off, cursing, as the noise has woken Zander, and he is now screaming in the back seat. But as soon as I start the engine and set off, the movement of the car settles him back down. Mark and I sing nursery rhymes on theshort journey to Vanna’s. Mark is very excited to see Vanna and play in her pool.

Vanna is waiting for us when we pull up to their house. She comes straight to the car and opens Marks door.

“Va Va!” Mark screams excitedly, pulling at his seat belt to get to her.

“Hello, handsome. I’ve been waiting for you.” Vanna unclips him and helps him out of the car.

Vanna and Alex’s home is like a show home. Its pristine grey marble floors and white walls are almost clinical, which has me worrying about Mark’s sticky fingers. There is a grand, open entrance hall which is flooded with light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and a staircase that looks to be floating in mid-air.

Vanna leads us through to the back of the house and into the large, white ultra-modern dining kitchen. Huge bifold doors open out onto a pristine patio with tiles the same as those inside leading to the garden and infinity swimming pool. The house is higher up on the island than ours. We wanted to be able to walk straight from our garden and be on the beach. But here the views are spectacular. You can’t tell where the swimming pool ends and the sea begins.

“Wow, Vanna, your home is beautiful.” I have been a couple of times before, but only to pop in, and I’ve always had my eyes on Mark. I knew it was lovely, but this is spectacular.

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