Dirty Thief

Tilting my head, I sigh. “It’s been so long since you’ve visited!”

“Only six months.”

“Exactly. Six months is almost a lifetime at Belle’s age!”

“We had a few visits from the queen mother in there.” She rolls her eyes. “But let’s stay positive! What’s the story on this orphanage?”

I’m leaning on my hands, digging my toes in the soft white sand. “It sort of came out the blue six months ago, actually. Rowan and I were in Italy, and the prime minister’s wife was really lovely.”

Zelda laughs, and I stop. “What’s so funny?”

She glances up at me, and her blue eyes glisten. “I was thinking about the words you’re saying and how amazing it is for you to be talking about the Italian prime minister and his wife.”

I’m quiet a moment. “It’s true. We’ve come so far so fast.”

“Is Rowan still treating you like a queen?”

“Queen regent,” I say, giving her a wink.

“Oh, right.” Belle is back, carrying a handful of wet sand, which she drops on her mother’s lower back. “Ah! Belle. Don’t put wet sand on Mommy!”

“Pish,” the toddler says.

“Sand,” Zee says in response.

“Pish.” She takes off toward the water again, and my sister follows behind her, leaning down to wash the wet sand away.

Zelda’s walking back when she returns to our conversation. “So the Italian prime minister’s wife turned you on to refugee children?”

“She basically told me what was happening, and I wanted to help. We only have ten.”

My sister sits facing me. “What about children of your own? I have to say, I’m surprised you don’t already have like two. Since you’re the queen.”

“Regent,” I add softly, letting my eyes go to Belle. I can’t help a little smile when I picture another toddler there with her, cousins playing together like sisters. Like me and Zee…

“Wh

at’s that look about?” Zee’s on her knees at once. “Are you pregnant?”

I start to laugh, and shake my head. “It’s too soon to know, but we’re trying. We’ve been trying for a few weeks.”

“Ava!” she shrieks so loudly, Belle runs up the sand to us again this time whining. “Sorry, baby. Mommy’s okay.”

“Da,” she pouts, reaching over my sister’s shoulder toward the house.

“Daddy is at work,” Zee tells her, turning her little body and helping her sit. The baby is up again, running to the water. “Cal spoils her so much. I swear, when he’s home, her feet never touch the ground.”

I smile, watching Belle’s fat little legs as she runs. “Rowan will be that way. He’s so protective.”

My stomach twists when I think about what day it is. I’m supposed to be leaving one hundred and fifty thousand dollars right now… Only Rowan took it from me.

“Okay, that’s it.” Zee slaps the sand. “What else is going on? It’s not like you to keep secrets from me Ava Lavinia Wilder.”

“Wilder-Tate,” I add softly.

“Stop correcting me, and tell me what has you so worried. Is it a high-risk pregnancy?”

“No!” I cry. “It’s not that…” My stomach twists painfully. Saying this out loud to Zelda is so much harder than I thought it would be. “It’s… Dwayne.”