“The strength of the antibiotics have given your body a head start. However, you’ll need to take oral medication once we dock for twenty-one days afterward. This is the higher end of the scale, but after so long with no adequate vitamins, your system is too weak to fight on its own.”
Estelle said, “I’ll make sure he takes every pill, Doctor. I thought I’d lost him once. I won’t let him leave me a second time.”
Finnegan chuckled. “Good to have you on my side, Ms. Evermore.”
“Please...call me, Estelle. I told you that two days ago. You’ve already met my children. I want you to call them by their first names, too.” Smiling, she pointed at the two girls.
I was so used to them half-naked that their matching peach sundresses were ostentatiously bright.
“This is Pippa but you can call her Pippi, and Coco is short for Coconut.”
Finnegan touched his temple in greeting. “Pleasure.” Bending to tickle Coco under her chin, he grinned. “So you’re named after the tree that’s been dubbed a miracle, huh?”
Coco giggled. “Co co co coconuts. Yummy.”
Dammit, Conner.
Why did you have to die?
God, I missed that kid. He would’ve loved this. He would’ve been the centre of attention. Probably already earned a girlfriend or two.
Why was life so cruel to those most deserving?
“They are.” Finnegan smiled. “They’re also immensely helpful for stranded survivors such as yourselves.”
Coco shook her head, rosy cheeks glowing. “No. Home.”
Finnegan frowned. “What do you mean?”
For her young age of just over two, Coco had a good string of words and knowledge of questions. I doubted she could answer eloquently about her conception and birth, but I tensed. The age-old cliché that a man and woman were overcome with lust and just couldn’t help themselves. That we threw caution away just to have sex and screw the consequences.
We’d tried to prevent Coco.
We’d been very aware of how dangerous such a thing could be.
But she’d come anyway.
And we loved her so damn much.
“Born.” Coco tapped her chest importantly. “Home.” Crystal tears glittered on her eyelashes. “Home. No like here. Swim. Turtle.” Her bottom lip wobbled as she reached for Estelle. “Ma-ma, home!”
Estelle took her from Pippa, bouncing her and kissing her forehead. “It’s okay, little nut. You’re okay. We can swim soon. The ship has a pool. Would you like that? We can swim and I’m sure someone will have a pet turtle.”
Her eyes glanced at the man lurking by the door. “Stefan, does the gift shop have stuffed turtles for sale?”
The guy shrugged. “Not sure. But I can check for you.”
Estelle cringed as if she hated being an imposition. “It’s—don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll go.” Pippa moved toward the man. “I know how much Puffin helped me. I forgot to bring the doll Conner made for her. She needs a friend.”
Estelle melted. “Thank you, Pip.”
“No problem.”
She slipped out the door with the stranger. My heart went wild, hopscotching on the monitor. “Who is that? Is Pippa safe with him?”
Estelle looked at me. “His name is Stefan. And yes, I trust him.”
I wasn’t so sure, but Coco held her tiny arms out for me. The chance to hug my daughter overcame the fact I was hooked up like a damn robot to machinery. “Give her to me.”
Estelle moved closer, carefully transferring the weight of the wriggling toddler. As she pulled away, I snagged her wrist and kissed the delicate skin. I knew she had a scar there from a scary slip with the Swiss Army knife trying to open a coconut. Just as I knew she had a scar on her knee from falling from the umbrella tree and a permanent mark on her chest from her harness when we crashed.
I knew everything there was to know about this woman.
Yet...she seemed like a stranger in her cream shirt and denim shorts. Her hair was in a ponytail and she smelled different. Not like sand and sea and sun, but more like synthetic soap and overly scented body lotion.
Possessiveness rose to claim her. To sink into the ocean and wash away the unknown; to make love in spite of death’s attempt to separate us.
Finnegan cleared his throat, reminding us we had an audience. He glanced between me, my wife, and my baby. “So...you gave birth alone?”
Estelle flinched. “Yes.”
“But in your check-up, there didn’t seem to be any complications.”
“There weren’t.”
“You must’ve been terrified.”
“I was.”
I jumped in. “She was amazing. So proud of her.”
The doctor frowned. “So...you were married before the crash?”
None of your damn business.
Estelle dropped her eyes. “No. But we’re together now.”
Finnegan stroked his chin. “I must admit, that makes more sense. I couldn’t understand what she meant.”
“What who meant?” My voice was sharper than intended.
“Joanna Evermore.”
Estelle turned to granite. “Who?”
Pippa’s voice interrupted as she re-entered the room. “My grandmother. I told him to call her. I didn’t know her number, but I remembered her name and town.” She sniffed, not able to raise her gaze. “She needs to know about my...my parents...and...and...” She couldn’t hold the tears any longer. “She needs to know about...Conner.”
Estelle opened her arms.