Everything and everyone familiar belongs to Janet.
Before Harper and Kane get here and we all head back to Jersey, Cal and Bobby joined Stephanie, Olivia, and I, in our effort to enjoy a short vacation away from all the shit we've been dealing with lately. My wife being the perceptive and compassionate woman she is, wanted all of Olivia's family, which she pointed out always includes Cal and Bobby ... and essentially every other person in my organization, to hit the beach together.
It didn't take me more than a millisecond to agree. I thought seeing Stephanie's face as she watched Olive's joy at experiencing something for the first time, would help wipe away the gruesome yacht discovery and multiple-murder recount for Cal. In the past, he and I have talked about how when he was twelve, he came home from school just in time to witness, but not be able to stop his mom from being shot dead by his estranged father. And years later, he and I swapped war stories about living through particularly brutal battles, and him having to live with flashbacks and nightmares of the ambush that took the lives of the 'family' he had pieced together during Basic after he lost what little he had of his biological one. We're both alive for a reason, and I was more than happy to supply him with a tangible one by hiring him when I started Rangeman.
Cal couldn't save everybody he loved, but I had pointed out that he could live a good life for them while helping those who still need a protector. Our clients and the other Range-Men filled that role until Stephanie ... then Olivia came into our lives. One of the most important things I've learned since I enlisted, is to pair every bad memory with something good so sanity can stay one step ahead of the horror. And I've passed that knowledge onto my men. Nothing in life is perfect or easy, but you can find a strength inside yourself to survive it if you're doing so in honor of someone else.
"You are not going to believe how freakin' adorable our baby is," Steph said, coming out of the bedroom with our smiling, babbling daughter on her hip.
"I can believe it," I replied. "She's as stunning as her mother is."
"See, Olive, the right guy says stuff like that to you and actually believes it's true."
"You can't argue with fact, Babe."
"Stop flirting with me and back me up by telling Olivia that she's the cutest thing ever created."
I kissed my wife and took our daughter, suspending her in mid-air above me. I never get tired of seeing her arms and legs moving excitedly in flight, while trusting me not to let anything happen to her even so many feet off the ground. I did an impromptu weightlifting session and moved her close enough to kiss, and then back out at arm's length. It's addictive how first she smiles, then makes happy girgling sounds, followed soon after with dimple-flashing laughs, just because we're nearby, playing with her, or talking to her. Olive's love of life is contagious.
"My daughters and my wife are all breathtaking, in looks and emotion."
"Well, duh, but this is different. We're Beach Babes today."
It's one of the Long Beach's warmer 'winters' and the sun was still out despite us waiting until it was cooler outdoors. Olive's one-piece swimsuit, which will be more of a sit on a parent under a canopy, splash the water occasionally, suit is cute as well as functional. I'd expected Steph to choose black and white - always a popular choice - but she went the opposite route and picked something red and pink.
Olivia's beautiful just breathing, so I don't care about clothing options as long as she's wearing appropriate ones, but even my heart stopped seeing the red and pink hearts that mimicked leopard print covering the white swimsuit. She is my heart, so the one affixed to the two-toned pink and red ruffle near her shoulder was fitting. Olive's also wearing a matching three ruffle skirt that made it seem more like an outfit than a bathing suit, which I definitely approve of. And Steph had added a pair of tiny white sandals that had the edible baby toes sand-ready. To complete the 'Beach Babe' look, and to work with the sunscreen and canopy to protect our baby from the sun, my wife had completely mystified our daughter by securing a floppy, white hat onto her wavy, dark-haired head.
They are obviously ready for a day at the beach, but I doubt the beach is ready for them.
