Page 64 of Mitch

Autumn looked at the people who’d come out to support her, seeing Will and Aubrey and Alex and Evelyn, who had the tiniest baby bump. They’d started trying on their honeymoon and were due three months after she was. Her mum and dad and Rion, Mitch’s mother and step-father who she adored. Even Jack had taken the time out from being a workaholic to come and support her.

He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations, Autumn.”

“Thanks, boss.”

Jack chuckled at her use of the term. “So, are you gonna leave us and become a famous gardener now?”

Autumn twisted the silver bangle on her arm and shook her head. “And leave my favourite guys without any order or direction? Never.”

Jack held a hand over his belly. “Thank god.”

Autumn laughed at his antics. “But I’m taking time off when the baby comes so you need to see if you can get someone to cover me.”

“I’ll sort it.”

“When does Val start?” Autumn asked of their new dog handler.

“Monday morning. The dogs will still be in quarantine, but she wants to get everything set up.”

“It’ll be nice to have some more estrogen in the building.”

Mitch chuckled and guided her back through the garden she’d created, his hand in hers. She leaned into him and sighed with pleasure.

The English country garden, with box hedging, beds of lavender, foxglove, hollyhock, and roses meandered through a pea gravel path. A tranquil Japanese inspired pergola sat at the back with wisteria hanging over it while honeysuckle climbed up the trellis. A nearby stream running through to a statue of cupid on the left had been recreated from her mind and was now a living garden.

He pulled her to sit under the pergola and wrapped her in his arms. “Happy?”

She pulled away, turning to look at him with a quizzical expression, before reaching to run her thumb over his full lips. “I didn’t know I could be this happy?”

His face lifted into a beaming smile. “When Devon is born, I want us to take a trip to Jamaica so the kids can see where their grandparents were born. I want them to have a sense of where they’re from, of who they are.”

Autumn’s eyes prickled with tears at his words; this man was too much at times. He knew how important it was to her that Maggie and Devon knew where they came from, and he was making it happen.

“I love that idea. Do you think we should ask our parents if they want to come?” That both their mothers had been born in Jamaica had been a surprise. That they were from the same town of Albert an even bigger one. Her mum Shanice, being so much younger had never known Mitch’s mum, Vea but now the two women were family through the grandchildren they shared.

His warm chuckle had her body seizing with desire, and she clenched her thighs together. “You want to take our parents on our honeymoon?”

“Think of the babysitting and the long walks along the beach—alone.”

“Fine, you’ve convinced me.”

“Good, now let’s go home and I can show you how much I love you.”

Mitch’s lips found hers, and she knew as long as she had his love, her life would be full of beauty.