Page 63 of Death

But not anymore.

“We live on an island.” Grace begins to talk, and she moves the camera, letting me see all the greenery around her. There’s even a stream. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. We have everything we need. Even a hospital. That’s where I gave birth to Kristian.”

My voice is soft as I ask, “Did it hurt?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing I couldn’t handle, and I had an epidural. He took his sweet time, though. Fifteen hours.”

“When is his birthday?”

“The sixteenth of May.”

“He was born the same day I found you,” Santiago mentions.

Surprised to hear that, I pull back to look at him.

“It’s your birthday soon,” Grace mentions, drawing my attention back to her. “Are you planning anything special?”

I shake my head, then ask, “What day is it today?”

“The fourth of June,” Grace replies. “If you could have anything, what would that be?”

There’s only one answer to that question. “I want to see you in person.”

A wide smile forms on Grace’s face. “That would be so amazing, Ciara. If you’re ready, I can come to you.”

“Are you ready?” Santiago asks me, and when I nod, he continues, “We’ll come to the island on Sunday so Ciara has time to settle before her birthday.”

“Thank you, Santiago,” Grace murmurs, and her tone grows hoarse as she adds, “For everything. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

“I’ll get Ciara a phone and give her your number so the two of you can talk whenever you want,” Santiago says, and my eyes go wide as saucers.

“Really?” I gasp. “A phone for me?”

He nods, and the expression on his face makes me feel like I’m the only person he sees. It also makes me more aware of him as a man, and a kaleidoscope of butterflies flutters in my stomach.

I quickly look at the screen again, and Grace must see something on my face because she tilts her head and says, “Just in case you need to hear it, Santiago is a very close friend of mine, and I trust him. You’re safe with him. Okay?”

My head bobs up and down. I needed to hear that. Grace is the one person who has always done what’s best for me.

“Message me your new number as soon as you have it,” she tells me, and when Kristian begins to cry again, she adds, “I need to feed him. I’ll see you on Sunday. Okay?”

I nod again, then quickly blurt out, “I love you, Grace. So, so much.”

Her face tightens with emotion. “I love you, too, Ciara.”

Santiago ends the call, then ducks his head lower to catch my eyes. “How are you holding up?”

Grace says he’s safe. She trusts him. He’s her friend.

Knowing Grace’s past and that she won’t just say those words, it feels as if the last bit of fear drains from me.

Santiago has done so much for me in such a short amount of time.

Lifting my arms, I curl them around his neck and hug him. His arms immediately wrap around me, and I try to scoot closer, but the chair is in the way. The next instant, I’m lifted out of the chair and find myself on Santiago’s lap. He squashes me to his chest, and the position makes it possible for me to bury my face in the crook of his neck.

“Your strength and how well you’re doing amazes me,” he whispers. “Fuck, I’m so proud of you,mi vida.”

With my eyes closed and Santiago’s woodsy scent filling every breath I take, I relax completely against him and just let the good moment wash over me.

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