Page 93 of Hopelessly Wild


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A moment later, Seb is pulling at my skirt. “Let me see.”

“Where are your manners, Seb?” Faith rouses. Dad lifts him so he can see Rose. “What about a kiss for your favorite aunty?”

Faith chuckles as he leans in and gives me a sloppy kiss.

“Do you want to meet your new cousin?” Faith asks. He stares at Rose as though she’s made of china, and he knows he’s not allowed to touch.

“Give Rose to me, darling. You must be tired.” Mum takes Rose from my arms and stares down at her admiringly. A pang of sadness rises inside me in a weird way with Rose being taken from my arms.

This is it.

The start of our new life outside of Ulara.

“Let’s get home, so we can all hear about your adventure,” Dad says. In the months I’ve been gone, he must have had time to digest my reasons for traveling into the jungle. He takes my case from my hand and then grabs hold of Seb’s hand.

Faith and I fall in behind them.

“You look exhausted,” she says.

I give her a sideways glance and smirk. “So do you.”

Faith rolls her eyes. “I’ve barely slept the last two years. Rose is only three weeks old. I want to knoweverything.”

“And I’ll tell you. But what’s with Dad showing interest in the jungle?”

She smiles warmly. “He has done a complete circle while you’ve been away. He didn’t want to lose you, so he’d rather support you. I may have mentioned his secret sister.”

“What? He knows?” I whisper.

She nods. “Pick your words. He’s still fragile.”

“Understandably.” Though I doubt us all sitting around and bonding over a cup of tea and cake will be enough to prepare him for what I’m about to say.

While away, Faith has updated to an SUV with more seats, so we all file into her new car fitted with two car seats and a baby carrier for Rose.

“This is nice,” I tell her as I buckle my belt. I wiggle Rose’s belt to ensure she’s safe. Her little eyes are wide open as if she’s listening to the unfamiliar noises surrounding her.

During the drive home, I check my phone for a message from Samuel.

When none register, I drop it into my bag. The last thing I want is for my parents to see me pining for Samuel. It might alert them that something isn’t right, and I don’t want anyone to assume anything.

When we reach the esplanade, I’m distracted by the blue ocean, a beautiful azure color that I love this time of year. I’ve missed celebrating Christmas by a few days, but the decorations still twinkle all around us.

We pull up in the driveway of our apartment complex. The white façade looks different, and yet it’s the same. I guess it’s what time away does to your memory.

“Walk, don’t run,” Faith says to Seb as he dashes toward the stairwell. “You would think he doesn’t know how to walk.”

He holds up his foot to show me his sneaker. “I got new shoes, and they make me run fast.”

I laugh at my nephew. “I bet they can make you superfast.”

Inside my parents’ penthouse, Dad follows me to my room. I haven’t decided where I intend to live with Rose, but for now, home with my parents is best. “We have Rose’s crib set up beside your bed. I assumed you would want her in with you for a while.”

I open the door and admire the new set of pale pink water-colored paintings donning the wall near the crib and a mobile fixed to the side of the crib.

“Thank you. This is great, and I appreciate what you have done for me on such short notice.”

“Anything for my girl.” Dad places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Now, are you tired? Do you want to rest, or do you want something to eat or drink?”

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