Page 165 of Stains of Desire
Axel pushes my hair behind my ear. "Take a deep breath, green eyes."
"How did you know I'm anxious?"
"I can read it on your face."
"What if she's scared of me?" I blurt out again.
"She won't be."
I stare out the window and tap my fingers on my thigh. The turquoise-blue water rolls onto the pink-sand shore.
Axel takes my hand and holds it when we land.
There's a black car waiting for us. As soon as the plane doors open, we descend the stairs and get in the vehicle. It takes us directly to Blaise's.
My stomach flips with excitement and nerves the closer we get.
We pull into the driveway, get out, and ring the bell. No one answers.
I panic. "Where are they?"
"Let's walk around to the back. They could be on the beach." Axel puts his arm around my back and guides me toward the ocean.
I stop as soon as I turn the corner and put my hand over my mouth. I grab Axel's thigh, digging into his muscle.
Everyone is on the beach. Just like my dream, Millie is sitting on Julieta's lap, and Zoe is next to her. It's too far to hear, but it looks like she's singing.
Millie wears the same pink and purple bathing suit. She's smiling, and Zoe reaches in to tickle her stomach. She puts her head back, giggling, and catches my eye.
Millie's green eyes widen and her mouth drops open then she screams, "Mummy!"
Millie and I run toward each other, and I fall on my knees, squeezing her tight.
"Mummy," she cries, and I don't know if her tears or mine are bigger.
I kiss her. "Look at you, gorgeous girl. I've missed you so much."
"Mummy," she cries again, unable to say anything else and buries her face in the curve of my neck, sobbing.
Time passes, but neither of us let the other one go or can stop crying.
I finally pull away, wipe her tears, and cup her cheeks. "You've grown so much."
She holds my face as well, and new tears fall.
"Are you having fun on the beach?"
She sniffles and nods.
"Do you want to make a sandcastle?"
"Okay." She kisses me and hugs me again. I squeeze her hard.
When she pulls back, Axel kneels down. "Hey, Millie." He holds out his fist.
"Hey, Axel." She smiles and fist-bumps him, and he blows it up. She giggles.
I spend the rest of the day with Millie attached to one hip and Axel on the other. And it finally feels like everything is exactly how it should be.
