An intangible emotion that carried no price or guarantee but was the most valuable thing a person could earn.
The rest of the morning passed in an idyllic cloud as I guided Pippa around the beach to sandcastles engraved with Happy Birthday, seaweed streamers on trees for decoration, and even a shell pile with eight small sticks acting as a birthday cake and candles for wishes.
In the damp sand, I’d scratched good tidings and what I wanted to come true for her. I gave her a knotted vine bracelet that I’d hastily made as one of her presents, and when we finally sat down to eat a breakfast of clams and roasted crabs, Pippa complained her cheeks ached from smiling and proceeded to make my life complete when she announced it was the best birthday she’d ever had.
Estelle couldn’t stop touching me. Her eyes burned with desire and her bikini top failed to hide the hard pinpricks of her nipples.
She wanted me.
I wanted her.
Our failed coupling was forgotten.
Sitting beneath our umbrella tree, we all relaxed in the shade. Sliding my arm around Estelle’s sun-warmed waist, I hugged her close. “Tonight. Once the kids are in bed, come find me in the bamboo grove.”
She sucked in a breath as I kissed the sharp lines of her collarbone. It was my favourite part of her. The one area of her body that made me so damn hard. Sure, I loved her tits and ass, but there was something so femininely sensuous about her collarbone, looking like wings beneath her skin.
She nodded quickly as Conner threw a crab claw in our direction. “Like you said...it’s a date.”
My cock twitched in happy anticipation. “You damn well bet it’s a date.” Letting her go, I focused on the teen. “What was the flying food for?”
Conner squinted. “Oh, I dunno. For doing all this for Pip. For being the best uncle ever and for raising the bar high for when I turn fourteen. I expect the same treatment.”
Estelle shuddered beside me. I didn’t know if it was pride for me earning the title of Uncle or the fear that we would still be here when he turned fourteen. We’d already been here for too long. How much more time would pass before we were found?
Chuckling to ward off such thoughts (confused that they weren’t as depressed as they should’ve been), I called Pippa over who was playing with the pile of shells I’d made into her birthday cake. “Pip. I have one last thing for you. Do you want it?”
Her copper hair caught the sunlight, looking as beautiful as burning fire. “Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Yes! Very, very sure.” She dashed to stand in front of me. “Please? Please, can I have it?”
Swallowing my smile, I joked, “I dunno. Have you been a good girl?”
The best. I couldn't ask for more if you’d been custom born for me.
“Yes. At least...I think so.”
“Don’t give it to her, G. There’s room for improvement.” Conner chortled, choking on a piece of crab.
Serves him right.
Pippa scowled. “Hush up, Co. I’ve been good. Haven’t I, Stelly?”
Estelle pointed at her chest. “You’re asking me? I think it’s up to G to decide. After all, he’s the one with the gift.”
I couldn’t stop laughing as Pippa draped her arms around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. “Please, G? I’ve been good, and if I haven’t, I’ll be better if you give me my present.” She kissed me again. “I promise, promise, promise.”
“Fine. Begging isn’t necessary.” Pulling my surprise from behind my back, I handed it to her. I hadn’t wrapped it...not that we had any pretty paper to wrap with. But I hadn’t bothered with a leaf or anything.
Maybe, I should’ve.
Crap, I really should’ve wrapped it.
Nerves fluttered in my gut. I’d done my best. I’d sharpened the Swiss Army knife and spent most of the morning trying not to screw up.
It wasn’t pretty.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it was the best I could do...for now.
I tensed, seeing every flaw on the copied face of her favourite stuffed kitten, Puffin.
“Oh, my...” Pippa smoothed the carved creature in her hands. “It’s amazing!”
Hardly.
But the gratefulness in which she accepted my haphazardly rudimentary gift threatened to unravel what resemblance I had left as a man. A convicted man. A felon.
For so many years, I’d allowed only hate and anger to control me. Now, here in a different type of imprisonment, I found love and hope fuelled me with no greater power.
I smiled. “Happy Birthday, Pippi.”
Estelle gasped. “Galloway...” Her eyes watered. “That’s...it’s beautiful.”
“Pfft. It sucks. But it’s my first attempt. Next one, I’ll do better.”
“You always say that. And I keep saying that I love your first endeavours.”
Love.
My heart skipped a beat at the thought of ever earning such feelings.
“I don’t want a second one.” Pippa hugged the wooden figurine, complete with indented tail and carved whiskers. “I want this one. I love it.” Pippa rained my cheeks in kisses. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s perfect.”
I laughed, waving her away. “Well, I’m glad you like it. You’re welcome.”