Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 108

After paying for the house, we all head back to JJ's home—well, now all our home. As we pull up to the old place, JJ walks straight over to the entrance, grabs the yellow tape, and dramatically rips it off the front door. "Ladies and gentlemen," he says, turning to face us all with a grin, "I christen thee Poguelandia 2.0." He flashes me a wink, clearly proud of himself, and the rest of us can't help but laugh, a little relieved that despite everything, we finally had a place of our own again.

I walk up the steps to the porch where he's standing. His energy is contagious, and when I get to him, he wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. "Let's turn this piece of shit into our home," he says with that reckless charm, looking down at me with a mischievous smile. I can't help but smile back.

"Sounds like a plan," I whisper, and then he leans down to kiss me, soft and lingering, like everything we've been through led up to this moment of peace.

Behind us, the others start filtering inside, making plans already about what they'll fix first, and how they'll organize the space. John B and Pope are arguing over where to put the surfboards, Cleo's already talking about repainting the porch, and Sarah is sketching out ideas for some kind of bohemian hideout in the backyard.

But as I stand there with JJ, looking at this weathered house that was barely standing a few days ago, I can already see it—the future. The cracks will get patched up, the floorboards will creak a little less, and the Pogues, well, we'll make this place a home. Our home. The one we fought for.

JJ pulls away from the kiss and smiles at me. "This is it, babe. Home sweet home." I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling that warmth of contentment settles in, and glance back at the rest of the crew, our family, working together to make this place something special.

Poguelandia 2.0. A fresh start. A future. With JJ, Suzie, and all the Pogues—together.

For the next four months, we all get to work. The house slowly transforms from a run-down wreck to something that feels like home—Poguelandia 2.0 coming to life. Everyone plays a part. John B and Pope are focused on building the dock and getting the surfboard shop running, while Cleo, Kira and Sarah are constantly brainstorming ideas for improvements. JJ is always busy, either fixing up the HMS Pogue with the others or working on getting our new fishing charter business off the ground. He's been juggling a lot, but he always makes time to check in on me, especially with how far along I am.

I can't do much heavy lifting now—being eight months pregnant means my belly's pretty much in the way of everything. I'm due in just three weeks, so instead of hauling wood or fixing up boats, I turn my attention to painting and decorating the inside of the house. It's something I can manage, and it feels good to put my energy into making this place our home.

I start with the living room, painting the walls a soft, warm colour that makes the space feel cosy and inviting. Next, I move on to furnishing it—thrifted finds, DIY projects, and pieces that remind me of all the adventures we've had together. I add personal touches, like framed photos of the Pogues and beachy decor that fits the vibe of our new life here.

When it comes to our bedroom, JJ is a huge help. He helped me move the heavier stuff, setting up our bed and some old dressers we found. I keep it simple and laid-back—just like JJ—while making sure it still feels like our little oasis from the chaos outside. Across the hall, I start working on something that makes my heart swell every time I step into the room—the nursery.

I decorate it in soft pastels, mostly whites and creams, with touches of light pink for our daughter. I carefully set up the crib and rocking chair and hung little wooden decorations that I carved and painted myself. JJ stops by to help me hang a mobile above the crib, something simple but meaningful—a mix of tiny surfboards and sea creatures.