Beckett nods and starts to follow Atlas.
“I think you do more than just ‘good’ with the kids. You’re great and will do everything in your power to protect them. Stop blaming yourself,” I say.
He heads into the kitchen after Atlas but stops just short. “You too.”
I nod silently.
“I’m going to go check and make sure they know how to use the pizza oven, you okay?” Langston asks.
“Yep, go.”
Langston reluctantly leaves my side and grabs one of the pizzas on the kitchen counter. He heads outside to the pizza oven on the far side of the deck with Atlas and Beckett in tow.
My stomach rumbles at the sight of the food, and a wave of nausea pulses through me. I race to the bathroom, thankful that Langston isn’t nearby to question me.
I try to hurry in the bathroom, quickly rinsing my mouth out with mouthwash. When I open the door, I find Siren standing in the doorway.
Her eyes search mine, and I know she heard me puking my guts in the bathroom.
She rests her hand on my stomach with a knowing twinkle in her eye as she raises her eyebrows in question.
“No, just sick,” I say, answering her question.
She frowns and moves her hand to my forehead. I’m sure it’s hot and sweaty from being sick.
“I’m okay, just an upset stomach with everything going on. I’ll be better once we get Declan.”
She nods.
“Can you do me a favor?”
She tilts her head waiting for me to ask my question.
“Can you get Phoenix brought here to the island? Lan
gston and I are leaving tonight, and although the kids are getting to know all of you, they trust her. She loves them, and she deserves a chance to say goodbye.”
Siren frowns. It’s not fair to ask her to do something like this when she can’t really argue back. She can only either say yes or no.
The look on her face tells me she’s going to say no, but she eventually nods.
“Thank you,” I say as she pulls out her phone to text.
I’m not afraid of Phoenix hurting the kids again. There will be more people here this time to watch her. She already knows we have suffered and paid for causing her to lose her kids. Once she sees them again, she’ll want to spend time with them. She won’t hurt them. She loves them.
And the kids need as many parents as they can get, as many people who love them as possible. You never know when one of us might be taken away from them.
27
Langston
“Mom!” the kids yell and jump up from their seats around the fire pit. They toss their empty plates to the side as they run down the beach.
For a second, I thought they were talking about Liesel, but then I turn and see Phoenix running up the beach.
She kneels down and hugs each of them. Her hugs and smiles seem genuine, but I know the wickedness that lies underneath.
My blood boils that she’s near the kids.