Beautiful Creatures Series

France, five years later...
Gordon got out of the cab and paid the driver. He stood in the driveway of his house and took a deep breath. Freedom never felt
so good. He had finally been paroled, and Gordon could not wait to see his family. A lot had happened in five years. Aster had
married and had a son of her own. Mackenzie had visited him faithfully every week, and they spent every week in the trailers.
Since he went in, she had given birth to another son and was at this moment was pregnant with a third.
He had only seen his children in pictures. He wrote to them every week and sent the letters back with Mackenzie. He could not
wait to meet his sons. Gordon had not told anyone he had been paroled. He had wanted to make it a surprise.
Gordon strolled up the steps of his house. He stepped up on the porch and reached for the door handle than with a steadying
breath, he pushed the door open and went inside. Mackenzie jumped up from the couch and came to the door. When she saw it
was Gordon, she threw herself in his arms. “Gordon! Why didn’t you tell me you were getting out?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“I’m surprised.”
Gordon put his hand on Mackenzie’s ripe belly. “And the little one?”
“Active,” Gordon then looked past Mackenzie at the two boys sitting on the floor who had been watching cartoons but were now
intently watching him. “Boys come here,” she said, taking their little hands and bringing them over to him. Preston stood next to
his mother while Hayes hid behind her hugging her leg. “Boys, I want you to meet your father.”
Gordon knelt and looked Preston in the eyes. “You have gotten so big.”
“Hello,” Preston said quietly.
Gordon smiled. It would take time for them to feel comfortable around him, but he had all the time in the world. Gordon then
looked at Hayes. “Hello,” he scooted farther behind Mackenzie, hiding his face from view. It was sad that his children did not
know him, but he would rectify that. Now that he was home, no one would take him from his family again.