Not wanting to think about it any longer, Apollo steered the conversation away from the ghost of his brother. “I never thanked you for making all of the funeral arrangements. You don’t know how bad I felt when I woke up in the hospital and found out that I had lived while my brother had died.”
“That must have been horrible.” Popi leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Not being there for his brother and cutting Nile most of the way out of his life—they were the regrets that weighed upon his heart. He wasn’t sure he would ever forgive himself for living while his brother died without ever getting to meet his little son or daughter.
Though Apollo did find comfort in Popi’s words, he didn’t feel he deserved them. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You lost just as much as I did that day.”
Popi didn’t say anything. He felt her body grow rigid. And then her grip on his hand tightened once more. The baby was almost here.
His gaze moved to the window. It was still dark out. But as he listened, he noticed that the turbulence of the storm had dissipated. But would help be able to reach them before the baby arrived?
“I need to push,” Popi said between pants.
His blood ran cold with the thought of being responsible for the lives of Popi and the baby. His mother hadn’t survived childbirth, and she’d been in the hospital, with people who knew what they were doing. He didn’t have a clue besides what he’d read, and that hadn’t been much.
Please let them be okay. Please.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“WAAH... WAAH... WAAH...”
Popi used her last bit of energy to smile.
They’d done it. Together they’d brought a new life into the world. And it was amazing. It was miraculous. And she’d never known such happiness.
“It’s a boy.” Apollo placed the baby, wrapped in a soft towel, on her chest.
Popi glanced up at her hero and noticed how pale he looked. In fact, he looked as though he were about to pass out.
“You should sit down.” She attempted to move over, but her body protested the thought of moving so soon.
“Maybe I will.” Apollo sunk down on the floor. He didn’t seem to care that there was no mattress beneath him. He drew his knees up and rested his arms on them. He glanced over at her. “You were amazing.”
“We were amazing.” She turned to the baby in her arms, who’d calmed down now. “But you are the star of the day.”
Apollo leaned in close. His finger stroked the baby’s cheek. “You are a miracle, little guy.”
“I just wish...”
She didn’t have to say it, because he’d felt the same way. “I wish the same thing. His parents would be so proud of him.”
A tear rushed down Popi’s cheek. “They definitely would.”
Whup. Whup. Whup.
The sound of an approaching helicopter gave Apollo his second wind. In a heartbeat, he was on his feet. He rushed to the door and swung it wide open.
He stepped out onto the porch. The early morning sun was shining brightly as a gentle breeze circulated through the bungalow.
“How is it out there?” she asked.
“Blue skies and a calm sea.”
“What about the island?”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Which is exactly what it did—worry her. If it was so bad that he wouldn’t even tell her the damage, it must be really bad. Thank goodness they had a crew showing up today. It would appear they had more work ahead of them than they’d originally been planning on. She just hoped they were up for the challenge. Because she wasn’t. She had other priorities now.
She turned her attention to the cutest little boy in her arms. He had blue eyes that seemed to take in everything around him. And a head full of dark hair. He was definitely going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up—just like his uncle.
Just then Shadow decided to make an appearance after hiding for most of the night. He crept forward, stretching his neck out and sniffing the new baby. Popi smiled. Something told her that these two were going to be good friends.
As for her and Apollo, she didn’t know how things were going to work out now that they were about to leave the island. But their time on the island had most definitely changed things between them. The Apollo that she thought she’d known was much different than the actual caring, giving man that was now crouching next to her to fuss over the baby.