𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | RAFE CAMERON

Twenty three | G O L D

- the Bahama house

"Rafe, Scarlett, I didn't just bring you here because I need your help. I wanna show you two something."

"Is this the deal you've been working on?" Rafe asked.

"You could say that." Ward went over to a large black safe and typed in a code. "You ready?"

"What do you got in there? The Hope Diamond?"

Ward and I laughed and then he opened it up. My smile faded as I saw bars and bars of gold. Completely piled in there. Rafe was just as in awe as I was. "Is this Real?"

"Son, that's the realest thing there is." Ward took out a piece of gold and handed it to him.

"How..."

"I found it."

"You found the Royal Merchant?" I ask, taking a bar of gold and feeling the weight of it.

Ward nodded. "It's what all this has been about. All this gold. It's ours now." He put more gold in Rafe and I's hands.

"Jesus." He struggled with it.

I examine it. "Wow this is actually real."

"It can't bring Sarah or John B back, but it can save us." Rafe and I nod at his words. "See, guys, we were in a financial hole, a deep one, particularly because of Scarlett. That's why I was so upset with you Scarlett about buying a car, but we're not in a hole anymore."

"I mean, i'm looking... i'm looking at what here?" Rafe asked.

"Half a billion." Ward said.

"Half a billion. Oh my God." Rafe hugged me, picking me up, "Holy shit!"

He walked onto the patio and cheered. Ward joined him. "Dad! What? How is this possible, huh?" Seeing Rafe so happy was a good feeling, but to me, no amount of gold would be able to accommodate for John B and Sarah.

I took a seat on the chair, and just thought to myself. The gold couldn't fill the void in me. Nothing can.

Rafe walks in the house finishing up talking with his dad. He looks at me with his eye brows furrowed, "What's on your mind Scar?"

"I don't know." I sigh, "Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like if I had died on the airstrip."

"What?" He walks over to me taking a seat. "How could you think that? You should be glad your alive. I'm glad."

"Yeah but at what cost." I look to him. "Losing John B and Sarah..."

"It doesn't make up for that I know, but it's what we have right now. Come on cheer up." He tapped my leg, kissing me on the cheek and goes out the door with Ward to transport the gold.

I decided to look on my computer at baby stuff, maybe it would help me determine if I'd want to keep our baby or not.

The screen of my laptop was a blur of pastels and patterns, a kaleidoscope of nursery decor ideas. I was knee-deep in Pinterest, scrolling through endless images of cribs, fluffy rugs, and adorable wall decals.

As I was scrolling I could see picture of happy parents with their babies, I thought to myself, maybe a baby would make me happy. I should keep it. I know Rafe would want that. Hopefully.

My finger hovered over a charming image of a nursery painted in a soft, sunny yellow. It was the color of a summer sunrise, radiating happiness and cheer. "Yellow it is," I whispered, a smile spreading across my face.

A sudden movement in my belly sent a jolt of excitement through me. A tiny, fluttering kick as if it was an unspoken agreement between me and the little one growing inside me.