Forthenexthour,Dan and Libby worked solidly, recording and editing a statement in Tia Rosa’s garden while Mum and Malek kept Karim entertained.
“So here I am, everyone,” Dan had said into Libby’s camera.“Alive and kicking.Taking a holiday.”He’d then thanked everyone for their continued support and reassured them he was recuperating well.At the end of the statement, they included a short montage of the footage they’d shot on Atiu—of him swimming, diving, and dancing.The sequence ended with footage of his lightning strike victory pose at the island dance and a funky graphic that read,Subscribe and check out Part One!
“It’s done,” Libby said when it was time to upload and go live.“You ready?”
“Go for it.”
Libby dropped the video statement on each of their social media platforms.
“There you go.”She blew out her breath and stood from her laptop.“You’re officially alive now.”
He went to reach for her, wanting to kiss her, but Mum came in at that moment with Karim, who charged into Libby’s legs.
“Pee-pee,” he said.
Libby congratulated him for telling her, took his hand and said over her shoulder, “Please, pause the biggest moment in social media history while I take my son to the bathroom.”
Dan smiled and ruffled Karim’s hair.“When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go.”
As soon as Libby shut the bathroom door, Mum said, “She’s so lovely.”
Uh-oh.Dan recognized that tone.
“Yes, she is,” he said evenly.Whatever he and Libby had started last night was new and fragile and definitely not up for discussion.He and Libby had an understanding—a mutual understanding—just between them and no one else.He quickly changed the subject.“So, we’ve posted the statement, and now that I’m back from the dead, we’ll upload our Part One video.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this, Danny?”Mum asked.Worry had returned to her eyes.“The attention on you will increase when you get back home.”
“That’s the whole point, really.”But he couldn’t think about that now.Even though it was only two weeks away, returning home felt so far in the future that it didn’t quite seem real.If his and Libby’s plan worked, that pack of wolves would get bored and stop looking for dirt, but not immediately.“The important thing is that people leave my family alone.They went too far with Femi.I’m sorry I’ve put everyone through such a hard time.”
“It’s been harder for you,” Mum said.“You do what you have to do, but don’t feel pressured to do any of it.Isabella’s got a whole team of people behind her.And you’ve got no one.”
“I’ve got Libby.”She wasn’t a well-oiled media management machine like Isabella’s team, but she was all he had right now.And all he wanted.“Libby’s clever, honest, and creative.She’s also a lot of fun.”
“I can see that.”Mum smiled.“It sounds like she’s been a good friend to you.”
“She has.And we’ve got a good plan.I don’t need a team of PR gurus helping me through this.Libby and I are completely in control of our content, and we’re going to make it work in our favor.”
Something like pride flashed in Mum’s eyes.
Libby and Karim came back from the bathroom, and Mum nodded at Malek.“We’d better go.We’ll update Femi and Gabi.See you at dinner.”
They’d all agreed to meet in the restaurant on the beach, which was walking distance from the hut so that Karim wouldn’t be in bed too late.
“We’ve got three hours before dinner,” Libby said as soon as Mum and Malek left.“We can edit the next video and—”
“Take Karim to the beach,” Dan told her.
“You’re kidding me, right?Dan, we’ve got to be on—”
“Let’s leave it for now, Libby.We’ve done what we set out to do today.Let’s take a break.”
“But we—”
“Mamma, look.”Karim pulled his ball out from the beach bag.
“Take Karim for a swim and chill,” Dan said.“Everything else can wait.”
“We have to monitor the reaction.”
