Page 22 of Voyage with Dad's Best Friend

Sea giggles as I put her onto Dan’s lap.

I clean the fish while Dan plays with our daughter, thinking about how I’m going to cook it. Dan has taught me how to cook, like he promised me two years ago. Dan likes his fish baked, and I like it sauteed. I think I’ll bake it today and sauté it tomorrow. After all, there is plenty.

I gut the fish with a knife like an expert I’ve become in the past years, but as soon as the stench hits me, I’m overcome by the wave of nausea. I turn away to breathe and to fight back the retching sensation.

“Are you okay, Elle?” Dan asks.

“Yeah,” I say and attempt to return to my task.

Another wave of sickness attacks me, and this time a taste of acid rises to my throat. Shit. I rush to the edge of the deck and throw up.

“What’s the matter?” Dan comes to next to me, holding Sea in one arm while patting my back.

I sit down on the deck, panting. “I think I’m pregnant, Dan.”

I missed my last period, but I didn’t give it much thought.

He grins ear to ear and hugs me. “Oh, baby, this is fantastic news!”

I smile, thrilled by his reaction.

Now, you go rest in the saloon. I’ll take care of the fish later,” he says.

He helps me to stand up and walks me down to the saloon with Sea in his arm.

He hands me a glass of water to rinse my mouth as I slump onto the couch.

“I’m sorry, Dan,” I say, feeling guilty not able to help him out with housework.

“Stop being silly,” he chides as he sits down next to me and pinches my cheek. “I love you, Elle, and I enjoy taking care of you and the babies.”

He leans closer and kisses me tenderly on my lips. And then he whispers, “I want more.”

“Me, too,” I say. I wanted him the whole morning. “Let’s rock Sea to sleep first.”

He chuckles. “Sure let’s do it. But Elle, I want more babies. At least a dozen.”

A dozen?My mouth hangs open, dazed by the number. “Oh… but the boat isn’t big enough.”

He laughs louder as he balances Sea on his lap. “That’s not a problem, Elle. We’ll get a larger yacht. Your husband is a billionaire.”

Sea lets out a cute baby cry and claps her hands.

Wow. I lean against his shoulder while holding Sea’s tiny hand. A dozen babies. A yacht family. I can’t wait to complete that dream.

“I love you, Dan,” I murmur.

“I love you too, Elle,” he says and stamps a kiss on my cheek.