Maybe we’d have a few more children, and we’d live in a big house, happy and safe.If there are any gods listening, please let us make it through this, whole and together.We’d been through enough.
“I miss my babies.” I didn’t mean to speak the words out loud, really. I should’ve known their crazy hearing would pick it up.
“I do too, Coya. I’m just glad the kids age slowly, so we won’t miss much.” He made a great point. At least we wouldn’t be missing major milestones in their development by being gone a few more weeks. I’d already missed the most important parts.
Chapter 13
The boat docked on Sun Island. We climbed off of the ferry boat onto a tiny wooden dock. Walking single file to the shore was a little nerve racking. The dock was narrow, wooden, and seemed like it was built a good two thousand years ago. I could feel the water pushing against the wood and a little bit of anxiety crept up my neck. “It feels like we're walking the plank.” I tried to joke to lighten my mood, but my voice was piercing.
Anthony squeezed past Elias to press close to me, one hand on my arm. He was trying to calm me again without using his juju. Knowing he was there to watch over me helped me push the anxiety down.
We were met on the beach by a smiling attendant in a polo with palm trees embroidered on it. “Welcome to theIsla Del Sol!” she said in a cheerful voice before speaking the rest of her greeting in Spanish. Elias pulled out some Bolivian currency and paid one of the many tolls required to be allowed to hike and visit on the island.
I left Elias and Anthony to sort out where we needed to go and tugged Michael to wander on the beach. A violent shiver made my teeth chatter. I hoped the rest of our time on the island warmed up.
We walked hand in hand toward the waves lapping up the rocky beach. The lake was enormous and gave the feel of being at the ocean, except with the magnificent Andes in the background. We stopped and Michael put his arms around me from behind. My head fit in the hollow of his shoulder perfectly. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his body.
“I never thought I’d feel your arms around me again,” I said.
“I was thinking the same thing. I can’t stop staring at you.” His voice was deep and loving. "I watched you sleep for so long last night.”
“I watched you too!” I laughed at our lovey-dovey behavior.
He adopted a more serious tone. "Riley, when this is over, I want you to know I've always done what I thought was right. Even today, being here. I'm here because it's the right thing to do." He pulled on my shoulders so I would turn. His hands cupped my cheeks and he whispered, "I want to do the right thing." He kissed me and pulled me into a hug.
"Of course, this is the right thing," I said, confused. "I'll do anything to be able to stay with you, and especially the kids. And now, I don't want to leave Elias or Anthony either. It would be more than I could bear to grow old and know I'd be leaving you behind forever. I mean, I don't even know anything about the afterlife. What’s there? Where do we go? I can't chance it that we won't find each other in death."
"I have an idea about the afterlife, and if we find Supay, I'm going to ask him." I let that one go and tightened my hold on his waist. I heard Elias and Anthony walking toward us, talking to each other, but I wasn't ready to take my face off of Michael's chest yet. I felt like I was home for the first time in five long years.
I didn't let go, but I did turn my head so that I could see Eli and Anthony while I hugged Michael. I hoped they weren’t jealous of the attention I was showing Michael. He was my husband and I'd only begun to have the slim beginnings of a relationship with them.They'll just have to understand.
I tuned into their conversation about altitude sickness. Supay were immune to such things, but I wasn’t.Of course, I have to worry about altitude sickness.They were concerned for me, I shouldn't have been mean, even in my own mind. But how glad I would be when I was more powerful—and also immune to human diseases and aging.
Anthony drew my attention away from my inner thoughts. "Riley, our packs are full of water for you and lots of snacks." He bounced his bag a little to show the weight.
Elias chimed in. "You're not carrying anything, and I don't want to hear any crap about you being strong enough. Youarestrong enough, but we're in a high region. You need to go slow and keep sipping the water. We also bought you some medicine that should help."
"I won't complain, I'll drink my water and take my medicine like a good girl." I rolled my eyes. "Is it time to go? Because I'm toasty warm, wrapped in Michael's arms."
Michael's chest rumbled under me as he laughed. "I'd carry you, baby, but people would question how I could be strong enough to carry a full-grown woman in this terrain."
I pulled away from him and took his hand. "What's the plan?"
"We’re on the south side of the island. The biggest village, Yumani, is on this side of the island. There’s a perfect little hostel here. We paid our fee, so let’s head to the hostel and drop the heaviest stuff off there," said Anthony.
"What about blood?" I asked.
"I've got a soft-sided cooler in my bag," said Michael. "We got it when we bought those pillows and your altitude sickness medicine."
"Did you bring the supplies for me to fill more bags?" Three heads nodded the affirmative. "Well then, let’s go."
Anthony consulted a map given to him by the greeter. He started toward the interior of the island, and we trailed behind. Michael and Elias flanked me and set the pace.
"I could go faster than this, you know." I could walk faster with a broken leg, blindfolded. Elias gave me a sympathetic grin and we trudged on. The ground was packed hard, smooth from years of travelers who came to explore the ruins. I stumbled once on a rock. The view was too breathtaking to keep my eyes on my feet, and I wasn’t watching where I was going.
The path led us ever upward over enormous hills. Given where I was raised, I couldn't call them mountains, but my body did feel like I was hiking at home in the Appalachians.
We crested the first hill and I stopped, awestruck. The water of the lake was cornflower blue and so inviting that I found my body itching to glide through it like a mermaid.I bet the kids would love this.
