Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 34

Isla

We find Jack already asking his dad for the fireworks. Daniel seems so thrilled to have the guys join him in on his fun that he says, "Here. You guys can help me out."

"Thank you, dad," Jack says, and before Daniel can give him the firework, he reaches forward to throw his arms around his father. His father chuckles out of shock, but then I watch as his eyes close to savor the hug. Jack pulls back with a grin and says, "You are the best."

That makes Daniel let out a large smile as he reaches back on the porch and hands him a firework. "I can light it for you, but you have to have your mother or brother wait for it to work."

"That's okay," Jack says, and Daniel uses a match to light up the firework. It's one of the sticks that light up so quick that Jack has to run a few feet away from his dad and then sit down. Julian joins him, and I do too, amazed to see how fast the firework will go. Julian crouched down and said, "Okay, so. You just let it sit for a second and move back."

"Yeah," Jack says, and as he moves away, Joe taps him on the shoulder with an eager smile. "I will do it next time."

"Sure," Jack says, and that causes the eight-year-old to break out into a long smile. Julian watches the exchange with a smile before it drops, and he says, "We need to talk though."

"Oh," Jack says, wiping his hand on his swimming shorts. With the quilt-ridden look on his face, I knew that the little boy had an idea of what the conversation could be about. Julian nods. "I know you guys were thrilled to help out this year, but we don't swim out in the dark, especially alone, do we?"

Jack hangs his head low as Joe says, "No."

"That's right," Julian says, reaching over and squeezing Jack's shoulder. "You're lucky that Isla and I were right behind you. Be more careful next time."

"I understand," Jack says, finally looking at Julian in the eye. He seems so apologetic as he says, "I didn't mean to."

"I know it was just excitement, buddy," Julian says, but has a more serious look on his face when he adds, "But I cannot have anything happen to you, or Jack, you know? Not after what happened with dad."

"I know," Jack says, and I wish that I could reach over and hug him, given how much emotion he wore on his face. The firework on the ground a few feet from us lights up, and in a moment, it completely erupts with a loud noise. I place my hand on my ears to conceal the noise, and I watch in amazement as it shoots through the air and vibrant colors come to life in the dark night air.

There isn't anything as beautiful as this moment where the firework continues to go, a different array of colors brightening up the sky. I hear the cousins on the boat cheering at the kids for putting it out, and through that, I hear the sound of utter happiness. Everyone here was happy and excited to be able to come together and enjoy this day. It was such a nice feeling to be around.

As the fireworks go again for the last time, I avert my gaze from the sky and immediately find Julian's a good few feet from me. Even in the dark, his eyes shine as he gives me a long smile that I cannot help but reciprocate. It's not hard when I genuinely feel excited to be surrounded by him and his family. He pulls his eyes away from mine, and I follow his gaze to where the last bit of color shoots through the sky.

After the last firework dies out and the entire world becomes quiet again, Joe breaks through the silence. He gets up from the floor and runs straight to Daniel. "Hey, Uncle Daniel, can I do it this time?"

"Of course," Daniel says, and as he hands the little kid the firework sticks, he seeks out his older son. Julian doesn't need to be asked to know that his dad is silently asking him to do as he gets up and heads over to the younger cousin. He places a hand on Joe's shoulder as Daniel says, "Very carefully, okay? After I light it up, go back to the original spot."