Chapter 166: Chapter Nineteen

Stephen

After five days of travel, three restless and bored kids, we’ve finally arrived at our new home for the foreseeable future. Hawaii isn't so bad, right? Sure, we’re used to cooler weather, but who would complain about being able to enjoy this?

When they first mentioned Hawaii, we were a bit skeptical about the need to move, especially considering we were moving so close. But once Lachie and the US Marshalls explained it all to us, it actually made a lot of sense.

The obvious place for the CPD to look would be Europe, especially Spain with our connections there or the UK with Chad's connections. They didn't want to move us too far either in case we had to be back quickly for trial.

When they arrived at our door that morning, it kicked off a few days of commotion. We were initially taken to a safe house out of town and each brought in at different times in case we were being watched. They didn’t want it to appear we were all on the move at the same time.

Once the six of us and our kids arrived, we were transported out of the country, to Canada. And from Canada is where we disappeared. Once we arrived across the border, our identities seemed to go no further. What really happened was we flew out of Canada under different aliases provided to us, flew into Mexico, and then flew back out to Hawaii under a different name again.

They took their time getting us here, not rushing it. They had to be sure we weren’t being followed when the moves were made.

As promised, we had all been housed together. It made me more comfortable in the process, knowing that if anything went wrong, I could trust Clint and Dave and myself to have each other's backs. We would fight for our families.

So here we are, the first day of our lives here in Hawaii. I woke up earlier than my wife and children, but there was one tradition in our lives I wasn’t going to compromise on. I had been laying in bed, watching my wife sleep and waiting for her to wake up. Around seven o’clock, she started to stir. Opening her beautiful brown eyes, she stared back up at me.

Trinity - “Mmm, morning baby. You’re awake early.”

Stephen - “I am, but I wanted to wait before getting up.”

Trinity - “Wait for what?”

Stephen - “We might have different lives for the moment, momma, but I still want my uninterrupted half an hour.”

Trinity - “Come here, you.”

I lay back down and my wife wraps herself into me as I cuddle her to my chest.

Stephen - “You sleep okay?”

Trinity - “It's not our bed, but it's with you. That's all I need.”

Stephen - “Same, beautiful.”

I kiss my wife and we just cuddle in our new bed, holding each other and talking until we hear our kids start to stir. The first in is my little princess. The hassle of the last few days instantly melts away when I see her sleepy face light up the moment she sees us sitting in bed looking at her.

Olivia - “Hi, daddy.”

Stephen - “Hi, princess. Wanna come for cuddles?”

She walks round to my side and I pick her up, putting her in the bed between her mother and I. I am tormenting my little girl who has started to get into the habit of sucking her thumb. Every time she does it, I take it out of her mouth and pretend to eat it. She is now cuddled up into her mother, playing with her mom's hair, something I love to do also. I get my phone, taking a pic of the perfect sight before me.

Stephen - “My beautiful girls.”

Trinity - “Stop picking on your princess then.”

Olivia - “Yeah, daddy.”

I smile at them both and scoop my princess out of her mother's arms.

Stephen - “Want to go get some breakfast with daddy and we can see if Bluey is on for you?”

Olivia - “Mommy come too.”

Trinity - “I will, baby. Let me just check on your brothers.”

I head downstairs to the kitchen with my little girl and find Dave already in the kitchen with Belle.

Stephen - “Morning, bro.”

Dave - “Morning, mate. You want a coffee too while I’m making?”

Stephen - “Love one. Wouldn’t we, princess?”

Olivia - “And Mommy, Uncle Dave.”

Dave - “Is mommy awake too, princess?”

Olivia - “Yeah, she's getting Na.”

Dave - “Alright, baby. I will make mommy one too. Do you want Uncle Dave to put the TV on for you and Belle, or do you want to come outside with us?”

Olivia - “Bluey, please.”

Dave - “You got it, princess. Let's go.”

Stephen - “I'll finish the coffee then.”

I pass Livy to Dave and he takes the girls in and gets them settled. I’m lost in my thoughts, thinking how lucky we are to have the family we do, seeing how good my mates are with my children, knowing each of us would throw down for the other in a heartbeat. I’m trying to focus on all the positives we have instead of getting into that dark headspace again. Before long, Trinity comes down with Jay.

Stephen - “Where's Nate, baby?”

Trinity - “Still fast asleep. I brought his monitor down so we can hear him when he wakes up.”

Dave, Trinity, and I head outside and I take my youngest boy off my wife, giving him a cuddle and kiss good morning as we sit down and have our coffees. It isn't long before the whole house is awake and the kids are chilling inside while we sit out on the deck.

Felicity - “So what's the plan for today?”

Mia - “Well, we definitely need to get food in at some stage.”

Trinity - “Agree, these lot won't last long before they start whining.”

Clint - “Hey, I represent that remark.”

Mia - “You sure do, baby daddy.”

Willie - “Haha, daddy's a baby.”

Clint - “Hey, you take that back, dirtbag.”

Clint races off, grabbing his boy and tickling him.

Mia - “Why aren't you with the others, baby?”

Willie - “Juice, please.”

Clint - “I'll get it. Hold that thought about today. I got an idea.”

Dave - “Just because you've got one, doesn't mean it's a good one.”

Stephen - “Hahaha.”

Mia - “Hahaha.”

Clint - “Ha ha, fuck off.”

Willie - “Fuck off.”

Trinity - “Woah!”

Mia - “Hey!”

Clint - “Hahaha.”

Mia - “Do not encourage him, Clint!”

Clint - “Sorry, baby.”

Stephen - “Hahaha.”

Mia - “Little man, what have we spoken about before?”

Willie - “Daddy's naughty and I shouldn't be naughty like daddy.”

Trinity - “Hahaha.”

Clint - “Hey!”

Mia - “That's right. Now what do you say?”

Willie - “Sorry, mommy.”

Mia - “Good boy. Now go have your juice inside, please.”

Clint takes him in to get his juice and we all burst out laughing.

Felicity - “Damn, you did good, girl. Staying calm. I would have lost my shit.”

Dave - “Me too, if that was Belle.”

Mia - “I'll lose my shit on Clint later over it.”

Stephen - “Hahaha.”

Trinity - “Hahaha.”

Clint comes back and jumps in his seat.

Clint - “So, here’s what I’m thinking. We need a chill day. No stress. We’ve been through enough crap these past few months.”

Stephen - “Sounds good.”

Clint - “We’re in a tropical paradise, dude. Let’s get our ladies in their bikinis and take the kids out for a fun day in the water. I checked my phone—there are amazing beaches and waterfalls all around here.”

Stephen - “I’m in. Let’s explore our new home.”