CHAPTER 10

Five years later, at a reception, Cole and Phoebe sat close at a round table outside on a beautiful summer afternoon, watching the crowd dance. They were all dressed for the occasion. Phoebe wore a baby blue satin bridesmaid dress and Cole was in a tux.

"She looks beautiful doesn't she?" Phoebe said to Cole as they watched the bride and groom dance on the dance floor.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look?" Cole whispered in her ear.

"Many times love." Phoebe answered back as she leaned in and kissed his lips softly.

"But what I don't understand is how you can think I am beautiful, when I am so big?" She said looking down at her stomach.

"I told you baby, you are the sexiest mother here!" He said putting his hand on Phoebe's stomach and smiling playfully.

Phoebe laughed and hit him with her bouquet, then he leaned in and they started kissing.

"Daddy, daddy they are dancing! Will you dance with me?" Dallas said as she ran up and jumped on Cole's lap.

She was wearing a flower halo in her hair, and her dress was similar to Phoebe's.

Cole caught her in his lap and put his nose to Dallas's smiling at her.

"Yes baby, I was wondering when you would ask me!" Cole said in a silly voice while he tickled Dallas. "Did I tell you how pretty you looked today?"

Phoebe smiled at Cole and Dallas.

"Yes...Daddy come on." She giggled.

"Ok princess, mamma can't dance anyway." He said getting up from the reception table.

"Hey, you two!" Phoebe said playfully swinging her bouquet at them.

Cole ducked taking Dallas's hand, as they ran to the dance floor laughing.

Phoebe chuckled to herself and sat back with her hand on her belly. Gwen saw Phoebe watching the dance floor. Phoebe met eyes with Gwen and they smiled at each other. Gwen whispered in Patric's ear and walked toward the table. She plopped herself in the chair by Phoebe.

"You look smashing dolling!" Phoebe giggled.

"Well this is not my thing to be tied down and all, but it's strange sis… I just can't get enough of him." Gwen said smiling at Patric, her new husband, who was laughing with Cole and Dallas on the dance floor.

"Uncle Patric watch!" Dallas said as she twirled under Cole's arm.

Dallas was standing on his feet as they danced, then Cole twirled her under his arm like a ballerina. Phoebe watched them and smiled at Cole when he looked her way. He shot her a sexy smile, and then turned to Dallas again.

"Welcome to Paradise Gwen." Phoebe said smiling at Cole and Dallas.

"You and Cole have come a long way. I didn't know if you could do it after he came home, because so much had happened to you both in the three years he was gone. But I shouldn't have doubted that you guys would pull through. It's amazing Phoebe, you guys have been through so much, and you have only gotten closer. I didn't know about this kind of love until now." Gwen said smiling at Patric across the way. Phoebe looked at her and said, "I'm glad you have found the happiness I have."

Gwen turned to Phoebe and then took her hand to pull her up.

"Come on Phoebe's you won't be able to do this much longer, and you are… dancing at my wedding!"

"Thanks for the confidence sweetie!" Phoebe laughed sarcastically.

The two girls walked to the dance floor and joined the others. Cole kissed Phoebe when she got to him and Dallas.

"I love you Phoebe." He said putting his arm around her.

"I love you too Cole." She answered before kissing him again.

Dallas just giggled at them and took Gwen and Patrick's hand.

"They always do that." Dallas said playfully rolling her eyes at Cole and Phoebe. Gwen and Patric laughed and then Gwen leaned down to Dallas's ear.

"I know how you feel Dal." She whispered and then they giggled together.

Later that afternoon Gwen and Patric told everyone good-bye. They were off to Jamaica for two weeks, and Gwen couldn't wait. She and Phoebe had lived on the streets while they grew up and Gwen had lost all hope of ever finding love. That was part of the reason that she was so dispossive of men. She didn't think they cared about her, and so she didn't care about them. Until she meet Patric. He had come to work for Cole's new law firm that he and Phoebe opened together. He swept Gwen off her feet as soon as they met. He was more stable and focused, and that is what she needed in her life. The wild and reckless life she was leading was getting old. He told her she needed him and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. That was good enough for her. She also had never met someone that took her breath away, when he looked at her.

"Come here my little flower girl!" Gwen said to Dallas as they threw their arms around each other.

"Take care of you Auntie Gin!" Dallas said as she kissed Gwen's cheek.

"Take care of you Dal!" Gwen said with a lump in her throat.

"We are not going to miss you at all!" Cole said in a sarcastic voice as he hugged Gwen.

"You better Lady killer!" She snapped back with a smile.

Phoebe felt relived that Gwen was safe and happy. Even though she and Patric were going to have their own place, they would still live close and she would see her every day. She and Gwen had come along way and Phoebe was proud of the life they built.

"You have so much fun! And don't worry about anything but your tan!" Phoebe said as she squeezed Gwen tight.

Gwen shut her eyes and a tear rolled down her face. She also was so happy with the life they built and she felt safe at last. No more watching their backs and running scared. It was true, they had both found Paradise.

"Take care of my niece and don't have that baby until I get back!" Gwen said pulling way from Phoebe and getting into the car where Patrick was waiting.

They drove off with everyone waving at them.

When Cole and Phoebe's son was born, they moved into a ranch style house that was just outside of the city. They wanted to raise their family in the country, but still be close to Gwen and Patric.

One day Phoebe was watching Cole playing outside with the kids, and she was enjoying the view watching them run around Cole, and laughing when he would catch them in his arms. This made her smile and then laugh to herself.

Then she saw Cole was coming in the back door with Dallas on his back and Jr. in his arms. They were laughing and they made quiet a ruckus coming in.

"Dallas take your brother upstairs and get ready for your baths, I'll make lunch." Phoebe said after they were inside.

"Mom, Can we go to Auntie Gwen's tomorrow?" Dallas said taking her brother's hand.

"We'll see baby, now run along and take your brother. Wait, not without a kiss!"

"No, mamma no kiss!" Jr. giggled in a little dutchy voice. He had Phoebe's brown eyes and shiny brown hair.

"Yes, yes" Phoebe said as she kissed all over his face.

Dallas giggled at her brother.

"Mom, you are going to make him pee his pants." Dallas said laughing at her mom and brother.

"Ok, smarty, come here!" She said playfully to Dallas.

The kids giggled and ran upstairs away from her. She turned around and Cole was leaned back on the counter looking at her up and down, with a sexy half smile.

"What?" She said seductively walking up to him and slipping her hands around his waist.

He started to unbutton her blouse and kiss her neck.

"There isn't anyone else in the world I would rather share my live with Phoebe." He said in a lustful whisper.

He started breathing heavily, and his hands were fumbling with her buttons. She unzipped his jean shorts and put her hand down his briefs. He looked down at her with lazy and lustful eyes, then rest his lips on her forehead. He picked her up and laid her on the table, and pulled at her shorts impatiently.

"Cole, the kids, if they come down…" Phoebe said as Cole grabbed her lips with his mouth and kissed her passionately. Then he took her hand and they ran to their bedroom.

The next morning when the doorbell rang, it startled Phoebe, and she turned towards the front door. She opened the door and nobody was there. She looked around and there was no one in sight. She was about to shut the door, when she looked down and on the step there was an envelope lying there. She picked it up and read what it said,
Dear Phoebe,
I hope this finds you well, and I hope you have found the happiness you deserved.
You have taught me a lot and I wanted to thank you.
Hey, if you are ever in Cabo, look me up. I love you and I wish you the best.
Levi

Phoebe closed the letter and walked in the house. She smiled inside and was relieved that Levi was well. Cole came up behind her in his robe and put his arms around her waist.

"Who was that baby?" Cole said kissing her forehead.

Phoebe smiled up at him and hugged his neck, slipping the note into her robe pocket.

"I love you Cole." She said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

He smiled and squeezed her tight.

"I love you too Phoebe."

She never told Cole about the note. She thought it would bring back bad memories for him and there was no need. The note was for her anyway. Cole and Phoebe were right where they wanted to be in life, and nothing or no one would ever come between them again.

THE END