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JOSH

After dropping Sarah-Lynn back at home I turn to head to mine. It was great having a day to myself but I'm feeling a little guilty at not having spent the day with Ethan. I know he is only 2 but a day is a long time at that age.

As I walk into the house I can smell the garlic wafting from the kitchen... Oh yes... Its Emma's famous Italian night, Lasagne and tiramisu! I stroll into the kitchen and Ethan is engrossed with his tablet. Holding my finger to my lips I sneak up behind him and grab him.

"Daddy, you're home!" Two little arms snake around my neck and he snuggles in.... Just as he gets comfy I start to tickle him. He laughs and that sound is my whole world.

"What did you do today daddy? Emma and I played in the swimming pool and then did some painting. Do you want to see it?" He jumps down and runs off to get it before I can answer. Emma whispers hard "Heads up! It's a picture of you and Ethan in the pool with that lady you took out today." she grins at me as Ethan comes running back In. I take him on my lap and start to seriously study the picture. "hmmm let me see..... I can see water, and people but I'm not sure yet." Ethan is jumping up and down and laughs "daddy your silly, it's you and me and Sarah-Lynn in the pool."
I guess she hasn't just had a big impact on me then.

"Do you want to go swimming with Sarah-Lynn then?"

Ethan just nods his head and says "yeah she is lots of fun, I bet she even does cannonballs!"

Emma and I start laughing "I think you're right Ethan, Sarah-Lynn is pretty fun. Who would make a bigger splash though?" I can see his little mind working away and he answers "it doesn't matter as long as we have fun together"

My heart melts at this insight. How do toddlers get to be so smart? Emma calls him over to wash his hands and she starts putting dinner on the table. I love that we can have his friendly relationship with her. I love that it gives Ethan a feeling of being part of a normal family. I'm so lucky to have Emma as housekeeper/friend.
After we have filled ourselves with her amazing lasagna she gets up to get Ethan an ice lolly, tiramisu isn't high on his list and he asks if he can eat it in the reading knook. With a nod he toddles off to the corner that is filled with beanbags, cushions, stuffed toys and books. He picks one and plofs down and starts to tell his teddy a story.

I glance over at Emma and raise the wine bottle with a questioning look. She nods in acceptance and I pour some in to the glass.

"So spill the beans Josh, how did it go?"

I look at her and simply state
"She's the one I'm going to marry and I can't wait."

Emma just nods at me, she knows me well enough that when I say something I follow through.

"Does she know this yet?" she asks "No, but she will soon enough".

SARAH-LYNN

As I'm standing under the shower rinsing the last of the beach off me I can't help but wonder whats next? I mean he is a single dad and I guess we just have to take it slowly and protect Ethan as best we can. But for the first time in forever I feel like there is something special for me ahead. I phone mom, I need to tell someone about this and even though she meddles she is my best friend and I am going to burst if I don't tell someone.

"Hi mom, fancy coming over for a coffee, there's something I want to have a chat about."

"Yes of course sweetie, I will be there in about half an hour."

I finish drying off and head down to make us some lattes. I swear it's been a godsend having one of those posh machines in the house. Worth every stinking cent. As im laying it all out in the living room I hear footsteps on the porch and mom's cheery cooeee comes from the front door.  She comes Into the living room, grins and wrings her hands together.

"OK, Spill it, what's got you all flustered."

"Ehmm, mom I might have a small problem. I might have fallen head over heels in love with someone."

Before I can say anything else mom has jumped up and screamed out and started running around the living room.

"Oh my god! Finally!!! OK tell me all, where did you meet? Have you been on a date together? Is he handsome? AAAAAAHHHH When can I meet him?"

I lean back in the chair and start to smile. "Well sit down and I will tell you. Mom sits down and is silently staring at me. This is exactly how I thought she would react. I tell her all about our meeting when he splashed me with his car, our trip to the cafe and finally the perfect day we just had. I can see her eyes getting all misty. She is the classic love at first sight believer and even in my ears this all sounds like a fairytale come true. She comes over and grabs me in a hug and just whispers "I'm so glad you found your other half".

"I hope so mom, but there is one problem. He is a single dad."

"Wait, What? You said single right?"

"Yes mom, he's single but he has a little boy of two."

She looks at me and says to my surprise,  "well that's not a problem! It just means I have a grandchild earlier!"

I shake my head and laugh at her. Gotta love how she always knows how to surprise me.