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It was a month later when Tank, Jack, Elio and Marlo arrived on our doorstep. Felix and I had several business interests and we had roped Tank in to do the digging for us. We didn’t expect him to bring the information himself although having them all there was great.
“That’s a lot of suitcases,” I said as Felix and I got off the boat and numerous hugs were exchanged.
“We sold the house,” Jack said.
“In Oklahoma City?” I asked.
“You said one cabin was empty, it’s ours now,” Tank said after crushing my ribs.
“Just like that?” Felix asked him.
“Just like that,” Jack said with a hand on his hip.
“Welcome to Florida then,” Felix said with a chuckle.
“Marlo, as beautiful as ever,” I said as I picked her up in a hug and kissed her cheek.
“If you weren’t practically my brother Ryder, I swear …”
“You’ll what Elio?” I asked him.
“Never mind, how is the magnificent Megan doing?” Elio asked.
“She’s great, we’re all great,” I said.
“Come on, they’re all waiting back on the island,” Felix said as he started loading suitcases onto the boat.
Twenty minutes later we were on the southeastern side of the island where Swamp Cottage was and the new home where Tank and Jack would live. I handed Tank the keys and helped them stow their luggage inside.
“We’ll look around later,” Jack said as we got back on the boat.
“This is beautiful Ryder,” Marlo said as we walked down the jetty towards our cabin.
“Little Megan!” Tank yelled the moment he saw her.
“Tank!” she yelled back and they started running towards each other.
Tank caught her in the air and twirled them both around in a circle as tears gathered in his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re alive,” Tank said as he put her down and started wiping the tears away.
“I’m glad too Tank and so happy that you’re all here,” she said as she and Marlo hugged.
“I’m the fabulous Jack,” he introduced himself.
“It’s great to finally meet you,” Megan said and hugged him.
“Ah Megan, such a delight to see your beautiful face again,” Elio said.
“I missed you too Elio,” Megan said as he hugged her tightly and kissed her on the mouth.
“Hey, watch it asshole,” I said as Megan laughed.
“Hello Ava,” Marlo said as she cradled her overly large stomach.
“I’m so glad that this isn’t as odd as I thought it would be,” Elio said.
“Me too,” Tank said. “Since Ryder’s slept with all the women here.”
“What?” Elio asked as he turned on his heel and stalked towards me.
“He didn’t sleep with me,” Jack said and Felix was laughing so much he was struggling to breathe.
“It was a long time ago,” I said.
“You slept with Marlo?” he asked me.
“Wow, you do get around,” Ava said.
“Ryder!”
“It was before you two even met,” I said to Elio as his fists clenched and unclenched.
“Okay kids, you can kill each other later, let’s get everyone settled,” Megan said as she stepped between the two of us.
“I can’t believe you never told me,” Elio said to Marlo.
“Have you told me about all the women you’ve slept with?” Marlo asked him.
“No, but they’re not your friends,” Elio said.
“This is going to be so much fun,” Felix said as he slung his arm over Elio’s shoulder and started leading him to their cabin on the far side of the barn.
“Come on player,” Megan said and took my hand.
“That’s not funny,” I said.
“Too soon?” she asked me and started running towards the cabin.
I caught her just as she reached the steps leading up to the net enclosed porch and tackled her down to the grass as we rolled, taking the brunt of the fall as she lay on top of me. “I love you, Megan,” I said as I pulled her closer to me and kissed her.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
“What? How?” I asked her.
“I think you know how, I’ve made an appointment with the doctor in town for Thursday,” she said.
“You said there would be nothing like that happening until we got married,” I said.
“Then we’d better start planning this wedding,” she said and climbed off me.
We made a huge bonfire outside and decided on a barbecue. We were sitting outside on camping chairs, laughing and talking about the good old days as Felix told everyone about how we had found Megan and everything leading up to my exile and us moving to Florida.
“At least it didn’t take me being shot to finally snag Marlo,” Elio said with a wink as he looked at Felix.
“When is that baby due anyway?” I asked.
“Three weeks or so,” Marlo said.
“I’m really happy that we’re all here, except Basil of course, but in light of all that’s happened I think it’s time for some good news,” Felix said.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said.
“Ava and I will be getting married very soon since she told me this afternoon that she’s expecting,” Felix said.
“Expecting what?” Tank asked as I started to laugh.
“A baby,” Jack whispered to him.
“Oh … Oh! Congratulations!” Tank said beaming as he stood up and slapped Felix on the back.
“In light of all that … Megan’s pregnant too,” I said.
“You two really do everything together,” Elio said.
“Tag team wedding!” Felix and I yelled at the same time.
“Congratulations to both of you,” Jack said as he hugged Megan and then Ava.
“What about us, we did all the hard work,” Felix said.
“Oh my goodness,” Ava said as she laughed.
“Don’t look at me like that big guy,” Jack said.
“Like what?” Tank asked.
“There’ll be enough babies running around soon enough to keep you occupied,” Jack said.
“I love babies,” Tank said as he sat down again.
“Pity there isn’t a fourth house on this deserted place,” Elio said.
“There’s a house on the mainland,” Felix said.
“The place where you picked us up?” Elio asked.
“It used to be a keeper’s house or something,” I said.
“That can work, at least I’ll have Marlo away from him,” Elio said as he looked at me.
“Shit Elio, I’ve got my hands full with Megan,” I said.
“Are you serious brother?” Felix asked him.
“Why not? We’ve got no family in New York and the house on the mainland is just far enough away for me to not want to kill either of you,” Elio said.
“Now we just need to get Basil here,” I said.
“Basil won’t move his coven. He’s gotten real tight with Johnathan in Springfield, they’re even doing business together,” Marlo said.
“That’s good, Basil needs a friend,” I said.
“I can’t wait to be Uncle Tank,” Tank said.
“Easy big guy, soon enough you’ll be hiding from them,” Jack said.
“Will you be Uncle Jack or Auntie Jackie?” Felix asked him.
“That’ll depend on what I’m wearing that day,” Jack said.
“Our poor kids are going to be as confused as fuck,” I said.
I felt a tingling sensation as Abeloth pushed forward and then separated from me. He flapped his wings twice and looked up into the dark sky. “Bazzoit,” he said as I stood up.
I heard the flapping wings a few seconds later and then I saw him as he circled above us before landing a few feet away. “Dad?”
“Not even an invite,” Lucas said as he slid down Bazzoit’s leg and turned around to catch Rylee.
“Little Ryder’s daddy!” Tank said loudly as he rushed forward with his arms open.
“Back off Tank or I’ll take your ass down,” Lucas said threateningly.
Tank halted in his steps and instead headed towards Rylee. “Little Ryder’s mommy!” He grabbed her in a bear hug as she shrieked and Lucas just shook his head as he walked towards me.
“I’m glad you’re here Dad,” I said as we grabbed each other in a hug.
“Get the bags,” Lucas said as he pushed past me and headed straight for Megan.
“Tank, let go of my mom,” I said and he finally put her down.
“I think we should’ve called first,” Rylee said as I smiled and picked her up in a hug.
“There’s more than enough space,” I said as I put her down and grabbed the two duffel bags.
“I meant your weird friends,” Rylee said.
“You get used to them,” I said.
“Except me, I’m nicer than Ryder,” Felix said as he hugged Rylee as well.
“Those two weddings might happen sooner than we thought,” I said as Rylee turned around and gaped at me.
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