Annoyance glowed in her gaze. “I was in the helicopter. I was the only one.”
I did my best to understand how I’d been thrown clear, along with the Evermores. Estelle had been in the middle of the cabin, protected on both sides. It would make sense that she would be the last to be flung free.
Conner took Pippa’s hand, looking at Estelle. “We walked back to the helicopter last night. Did you see the pilot?”
Pippa shivered. “He’s sleeping like Mummy and Daddy.”
Estelle swallowed hard. “You mean he’s—”
“Didn’t make it. Yes,” I snapped, worried about Pippa and how she’d react bringing it up again. Couldn’t she see things like that ought to be discussed when juvenile ears weren’t around to hear?
Estelle’s nostrils flared. “Will you stop? Just stop. Okay?”
“Stop what?” I drowned in her angry eyes. They turned more green than hazel when she was mad.
“You know what.”
I did know what, but I wasn’t sure how to stop it. She brought out the worst in me.
I hoisted myself higher. “Look, help me up, then if you want to leave, you can. I won’t bother you again.” Holding out my hand, I did my best not to piss her off. “Please. Just help me stand and I’ll be a lot less annoying. I promise.”
She didn’t warm to my peace offering. “For now, I think you should stay there. I’ve explored one side of the island. There’s nothing but beach and sea for miles.” Looking over her shoulder, she looked into the thicket in the opposite direction. “However, I haven’t explored that way yet. Perhaps, there are people. I’ll try and find help for your leg.”
My heart leapt but the niggle of doubt was too big to ignore. “And if there’s no one else on this island?”
“Then I guess we’d better make more of an effort to get along and remember how to survive better than what credit cards and home delivery has taught us.” Striding away, she left without another word.
Damn woman.
Damn gorgeous, opinionated, strong-as-hell woman.
Conner and Pippa gawked after her. Pointing at his sister, Conner ordered. “Stay with Galloway. I’m going with her.”
“But—” Pippa tried to grab her brother.
“No, Pip.” Conner pushed her. I managed to snag her wrist as she stumbled closer to me.
I wanted him to go with Estelle. Someone needed to be with her and, hopefully, keep her safe.
“Keep me company. I’d love that.” Winking at Conner, I added, “I’ve got her. Go ahead. Fingers crossed you find civilisation and this will all be over.”
Conner jogged after Estelle, still protecting his wrist.
Pippa sniffed, sliding unwillingly into a cross-legged pose beside me. Her brown eyes met mine, almost identical to the copper-brown on her head. She’d been well-dressed and excited when we’d boarded the helicopter last night. Now, she looked wild and unkempt.
We both did.
Holding out my arm, I invited, “You must be tired. How about you get some rest and I’ll keep an eye out?”
“But I wanna know when Conner comes back.” Her voice argued, but her body accepted my offer, slotting beneath my arm. Her little head rested on my chest.
I tried not to think about the blood from her shoulder. She needed to be tended to—disinfected and bandaged. But all of that would have to come later.
“I’ll wake you the second he comes back. How about that?”
She bit her lip, pondering. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”
As the little girl fell asleep on my chest in the middle of unchartered waters, I fixated on the spot where Estelle and Conner had disappeared.
I wanted to know, too.
I wanted to know what they found.
I was just terrified of the answer.
Chapter Thirteen
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E S T E L L E
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Breathe. That’s all you have to do. Breathe. When life shines brightly. Breathe. When the world turns its back. Breathe. When nothing works out. Breathe. When luck favours kindly. Inhale with hope and exhale with distrust.
Breathe.
That’s all you’ve got.
After all...that’s all you can ever do.
Lyrics: ‘Breathe’ Taken from the notepad of E.E.
...
“THAT’S IT, THEN.”
My voice was calm and accepting while inside, I was a crying disaster. However, I couldn’t break down. I couldn’t scream with fear or beg fate for a second chance. Not with a child beside me. A child looking up to me to be strong and brave.
“I guess.” Conner gasped in pain as we leapt over a fallen palm tree and padded down the beach to the shore. We’d explored the other side of the island. We’d found that there was nothing on this side, just like there was nothing on that.
We were stranded.
Alone.
Utterly marooned and unwanted.
Tears welled but I forced them down. The pain from my ribs kept me centred and the knowledge that things had to be taken care of (if we had any hope of existing past the next couple of days) weighed heavier and heavier on my mind.
Where do we begin?
How do we begin?
Conner groaned as his wrist bounced again. He’d nursed it every step we’d taken. It killed me to see him in pain and not help.