Unseen Messages(173)

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.

Pippa ran to her, hugging her tight.

“It’s okay, Pippi. You did the right thing. Of course, she needs to know. She’ll be longing to see you.”

My heart hurt at the thought of Pippa being taken from us.

But that wouldn’t happen, would it? We were her legal guardians. We didn’t have the paperwork, but she’d been ours for almost four years.

“I returned to see if Coco wanted to come to the gift shop to pick out a toy. Not to hurt you guys.” Pippa cried harder. “I miss my family. I—I couldn’t keep it a secret. Not anymore. They need to know. Conner—”

My pulse quickened; I was desperate to climb out of bed and hold her.

“It’s okay. I completely understand.” Estelle smoothed Pippa's hair. “And that’s very nice of you to take Coco. I’m sure she’d love to go.”

A thin veil of normality descended as Pippa sucked up her tears. “Okay...” The thought of spending time with the toddler went beyond the nurturing tendencies of an older sister but a full-blown requirement to stop thinking about a lost brother.

How guilty were we of using Coco as a safety blanket for such heartache?

Finnegan broke the tension-filled bubble. “If you don’t mind...I need to confirm something Joanna Evermore told me.”

Estelle never stopped hugging Pippa, gathering Coco to join in the embrace. “All right...”

“When I told her that Pippa’s aunt and uncle had been on the island and looking after her grandchild, she said Duncan never had any siblings. That he was an only child. However...I know from your medical records you listed your name as Estelle Evermore...which matches Pippa’s.”