Luckiest Bastard(13)

I’m smiling as they give me a blow-by-blow of their entire day. The moment they’re done, Indi pushes me toward the door. “Watch your sister for me boys, I need to speak to your father in private.” I smirk when she gets me out into the hall, half closing the bathroom door behind her as she goes.

“Couldn’t wait to get me alone, huh?” I ask, cocking one eyebrow.

“Dream on,” she laughs. “There’s a pile of wrapped Christmas presents hiding under our bed. Can you put them up in the top of the wardrobe before the kids find them?”

“That’s it? You dragged me out here for that? I was hoping you’d at least give me a touch up, or something.” She laughs at my comment before reaching out to give my junk a squeeze.

“There. The rest will have to wait until the kids are asleep.”

“I can’t wait,” I say, cupping her face in my hands and placing a chaste kiss on her lips. With three small children, our alone time is scarce. I miss our marathon sex romps.

After grabbing the stepladder from the laundry, I head into the bedroom. I smile to myself at the amount of presents under the bed. I love seeing the kids’ faces on Christmas morning when they open all of their gifts. My children want for nothing. I’m thankful I can give them everything I didn’t have when I was a kid. I know my mum did the best she could with what little she had.

Opening the wardrobe doors, I grab the first few boxes and climb the ladder. That’s when I see a small wooden box sitting on the shelf. It’s pushed towards the back. After unloading what’s in my arms, I reach for it. I’ve never seen this before, it must belong to Indi.

Removing the lid, a smile graces my face when I see what’s inside. It’s a treasure box of some kind. It’s full of little trinkets, letters and cards. She has things that I’ve given her in there as well.

As I go to replace the lid, something on top catches my eye. It’s a list. A bucket list to be precise. Written up top are the words, ‘Things I want to do before I die’. I get a pang in my heart when I read that. All the memories of Indi and the tumour flood my mind. I’m so glad she beat that fucker.

My eyes scan down the list. Half of the things are already crossed off.

THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE:

1.    Experience a white Christmas.

2.    Marry the man of my dreams.

3.    Have children.

4.    Open my own Veterinary Clinic.

5.    Build a snowman.

6.    Go skinny dipping.

7.    Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

8.    Go snorkelling somewhere tropical.

9.    Dance in the rain.

She must’ve written this when she found out she was sick. My mouth curves into a smile as I read number two. I married the woman of my dreams as well. Come to think of it, I played a part in all the things she’s crossed off her list so far.

Memories of the time we went skinny dipping flood my mind. We’ve actually done it twice. Once in the lake out the back of her place in Sydney. The other time was before the kids were born. One night we snuck across the road and went skinny dipping in the ocean.

I read over the list one more time making a mental note of all the things she’s yet to do, before placing it back in the box. I’m gonna try my damn hardest to make sure she gets to do everything she wished for. I’m not sure how I’m going to pull off the white Christmas though. It’s too fucking hot in Australia in December. It will never snow here that time of year.

My mind goes into planning mode as I set about putting the rest of the presents away. The snorkelling will be easy. We’re taking the kids to Fiji in March with Megan, Drew and the girls. I can organise that for her when we get there. Then it hits me. A brilliant fucking idea. I think I can actually do everything on that list, or die trying. I have four weeks, surely I can pull this off in a month.

The kids already have their passports. I’m going to give my wife a Christmas she’ll never forget. Well, try to. We did get married on Christmas Day, so that’s going to be hard to top.



By the 15th of December, I have it all sorted. I can’t wait to see her face when she finds out what I’ve done. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. I just want to see her happy, and help make all her dreams come true. After everything she’s been through, she deserves that.

“Carter,” I hear her call out as I finish reading a bedtime story to Eve.

“Another story, Daddy?” she pleads. I chuckle as I stand, before gazing down at her hopeful face.

“Not tonight, princess, it’s time to go to sleep, and I need to go and see what Mummy wants. I’ll read you another story tomorrow night.”