Page 76 of Totally Shipped
“She’s not my cousin,” Key snaps, her bottom lip pouting.
“Honey, it’s OK…”
Apparently it’s not, as Key gets to her feet and runs from the cave. Shit. Daisy is in my arms, cradling the baby.
“Can you go after her, Lea?”
He nods. Daisy doesn’t notice; she’s gazing at her baby.
“You need anything, Killian?” I have no idea what the fuck he’s doing.
“The bleeding is slowing, like it’s clotting on its own. This is good.”
This is good, this is all good.
Apart from Key. Fuck, poor little thing, she’s been through so much. I should have realized not being the only child would freak her out. I can hear her at the cave entrance. She’s yelling at Leander.
“SHE’S NOT MY COUSIN,” she yells, and stomps her foot. “SHE’S MY SISTER!”
“Tell Keyara her sister wants her,” Daisy murmurs to me, making my heart explode with love.
“Key? Come see what your sister is doing…” I call.
Within a second Keyara comes running back to us. “What is it? Hello, baby. I’m your sister.”
DAISY
I’m a mom.
Rex, Leander Killian and Key are in my peripheral vision, but my eyes are focused on one thing. The little bundle laying on my chest.
She’s so perfect. My perfect little girl—our perfect little girl.
“I love her,” whispers Key.
“Me too,” I reply. “And I love you, Key.”
Rex is holding Keyara tightly in a hug. My eyes prickle when I see how he’s making sure Key feels loved and completely included. That’s what a father should do.
The love in his eyes as he looks between me, our daughter, and Keyara, is endless.
“You're amazing,” he tells me. “A miracle, a warrior. Our little girl is going to be just like that too. Just like Keyara is.”
The baby gets a little disgruntled, making little complaining noises. I don’t think I’m producing milk yet. She starts to cry a little more, and that quickly forms into a full pitch wail.
“So loud!” Key covers her ears, and we all laugh. That’s when I realize I’m missing someone.
“Where’s Gray?” Though I’m totally exhausted, a jolt of adrenaline goes through me. “Is he OK?”
“Gray got really worried about you; he went out for a breather, I’ll go fetch him,” Killian tells me.
“Please do. I want to show him everything is alright.”
“Of course, one minute.”
Rex holds a bottle of water up to my mouth and I drink down thirsty. “Thanks. I’m starving as well, do we have any food?”
“We have taro root in the embers, but we can’t have that for another few hours. Gotta cook it for a long time so it isn’t toxic—I’m afraid it’s just coconut until then.”
