Page 125 of Lost In Kakadu

Abi nodded, unsure of what else to say.

“Are you in love?”

Abi looked into Mackenzie’s honey-coloured eyes. “Very much so.”

There was a moment of pause as Krystal studied Mackenzie as if looking for an answer to an unasked question. Then she walked with purpose around the bed and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”

With his gaze on Abi, his face was a tangle of emotion as he hugged the daughter she thought she’d lost forever.

Pain rippled across Abi’s stomach, and she cried out.

“What’s wrong?” Instantly Mackenzie was at her side.

“Mum, are you okay?” Krystal reached for her hand.

The pain went away as quickly as it came, and Abi looked into the concerned eyes of the two most important people in her world. “I couldn’t be better.”

Another slice of pain gripped her and once it subsided, she grinned at them. “Are you ready to meet our new family member?”

Krystal’s smile lit up the room. “Absolutely.”

Mackenzie dashed off to get a nurse and Abi squeezed Krystal’s hand as another contraction overtook her. She screamed this time and moments later Mackenzie came running in with a nurse.

Abi was comforted by both Mackenzie and Krystal throughout the swift birth. A healthy squeal from the baby boy made them all laugh and cry at the same time.

Tears teetered on Mackenzie’s lower lashes as he leaned in to kiss Abi. “I love you.”

His words made her feel complete. “I love you too.”

The nurse wrapped him in a blanket and placed him on Abi’s chest. She touched her little boy’s cheek. “Hey little guy, we made it, and you look just fine.”

Mackenzie unrolled the blanket and when he touched the baby’s little hand tiny fingers stretched and wrapped around his thumb.

Abi rode a swell of emotion as she finally knew what it felt like to be a family.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

The following day, two police officers requested time to meet with her and Abi invited them in after she finished feeding the baby.

The female officer approached her bedside offering her hand, which Abi shook. “Hello, I’m Detective Sergeant Powder and my associate is Detective Jenkins.” She indicated to a great hulking man who dominated the doorway. “We have a couple of questions if you feel up to it?”

“It’s about the drugs.” Mackenzie rolled his eyes.

Abi frowned. She had long ago forgotten about the packages of marijuana they found in the plane.

“You seem a little surprised?” Jenkins looked down his nose at her.

“I forgot all about that.”

“How could you forget?”

“It was a long time ago; a lot has happened since then.”

Powder tilted her head at Abi, as if questioning her answer. “How about you tell us what you found?” she said. “Mackenzie, would you mind leaving us for a couple of minutes?”

“Sure.” He stood up and kissed Abi on her forehead. Then he maneuvered the baby crib around Detective Jenkins and out the door.

Abi wriggled down the bed to get comfortable, adjusted her pillow and draped the white cotton sheet over her now clean-shaven legs. “What do you want to know?”

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