Unseen Messages(120)

I nodded, flushing with heat. “Yep.”

“I love it, Galloway. Seriously. You made her so happy today. Thank you.” Her finger tipped my chin, guiding my face to her. I obeyed the fluttering touch, bowing my head to kiss her.

We kissed for a long time.

We kissed for the shortest time.

But I fell just as hard regardless.

I loved this woman.

And I didn’t know how much longer I could avoid telling her.

I didn’t know what held me back. She already knew the depth of feelings (how could she not with the way I watched her) but I wanted the moment to be perfect. I wanted her to know that I didn’t just love her for being here but because she was mine forever.

Tonight.

Perhaps tonight, I would finally be able to tell her.

.............................

For the rest of the afternoon, Pippa played with her carved cat, now named Mr. Whisker Wood, and Conner invented a new relay game where they chased each other on the beach, swam in the ocean, and flew through the sky like birds rather than stranded children.

The sun glided across the sky, illuminating us with happiness before finally descending and snuffing itself out on the sea-owned horizon.

As dusk turned to darkness and dinner was eaten and cleaned away, Estelle stood and looked at the tired children with such love in her eyes, I swore a cluster of planets existed in her gaze.

It was more than just love. It was contentment. Satisfaction. Fulfilment.

Who would’ve thought such things existed in the middle of nowhere.

We were all drowsy from eating, and my eyes turned heavy. However, the moment the kids were asleep, I had grand plans of what I would do to transform the bamboo grove before Estelle joined me.

I had a gift for Estelle, too, and it wasn’t just in my shorts.

Estelle shifted, pushing herself up onto her elbows and shaking her hair over her shoulders to tangle in the sand. She looked like a mermaid who’d climbed from the ocean for one magical evening. She looked otherworldly...like she would vanish just like every other mythical creature in the storybooks.

Scooting into sitting position, she twirled her fingers.

She’s nervous...why?

Keeping her eyes down, Estelle murmured, “I have one more gift for you, Pip. If that’s okay?”

Pippa sat up from sprawling on the flax blanket by the fire. Her little face turned solemn. “You’re going to sing for me?”

My heart stopped beating.

Ever since Estelle let it slip that she was a songwriter, she’d refused to tell me more, constantly changing the subject as if it was unimportant to our current situation. But I wasn’t above admitting I followed her sometimes when she thought she was alone. I saw her scribbling in her notebook. I listened covertly when she hummed certain lines and sang gentle lullabies to send the kids to sleep.

I stole her secrets one by one until I knew how passionate she was about music. And what a talented singer she truly was.

Not that I could tell her.

I wasn’t supposed to know.

To hear her finally give up this part of her coveted life would be the greatest gift.

Estelle clasped her hands, unsuccessfully hiding her shaking fingers. “Yes, if you’ll let me.”

Pippa dug her heels into the sand, hugging her knees. “I’d love it. Please.”

“Do you want a song you know or an original?”

Pippa chewed her bottom lip, full of seriousness. “Could you sing one about me? About us?”

I couldn’t move as Estelle glanced at me before straightening her spine. She looked petrified but resolute as if she’d hidden this part of herself for too long and no longer could.

Sing for me.

Please, God, sing.

“I can. The lyrics belong to a song I’ve tentatively labelled Sand Solitude. I can sing that if you want.”

Pippa shifted to her stomach, resting her chin on her upturned hands. “I’d like that. Pretty please, sing that one.”

Conner mimicked his sister, holding his face to listen. “I’m down with that one, too. Rock on, Stelly.”

Estelle smiled tightly, her concentration inward.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t move, locked into my recline with my legs splayed and elbows dug into the beach behind me. I had an awful fear that if I moved, I’d spook her and she wouldn’t sing.

I need her to sing.

Already, my cock twitched at the epic joy of finally hearing her. I’d be in huge trouble before the song was over.

I wanted her beyond anything.

If she sang for me...I doubted I’d be able to stand for a month.

For the longest second, she didn’t move.

But then, heaven happened.

She closed her eyes and let herself come alive. She transformed from the girl I’d fallen in love with to a goddess framed by fire and marked by ambrosia itself.

Her husky voice held the melody better than any instrument, so fresh and pure, so dark and sexy. Lyrics and verses tumbled from her mouth, wrapping around us like our green fishing net, capturing us forever.

In that single moment, there was no place on earth I would rather be.

“Once there was a little girl who played upon the shore. Her parents loved her deeply, her brother so completely, and her world was magical more and more.

Once there was a young girl who crashed upon the beach. Her past no longer relevant, her old life beyond negligent, and her world now full of prayers and beseech.