last few weeks. He's snapping. Take this. It will get you into the embassy in Panama City," Gustave says and hands him a thick envelope. "Leave now. You're running out of time."
Axel takes it and leaves.
"She's so beautiful. She's a mini Penelope," Emilia whispers, fixated on Millie. She strokes the freckles on her cheek and kisses her head again.
"We can't go back to the embassy with her," I say to Gustave.
"Yes, I know. I have secured a mountain home for you. The plane is chartered. In five days, we will pass her off."
"Pass her off?" Emilia gasps and pulls her closer to her.
Gustave nods. "To Julieta. She must get to Bermuda with Julieta, not you. You and Malin are needed for other things."
"Julieta...she's okay?" Emilia asks.
"As good as to be expected," Gustave replies. Another car pulls up. "I need to get to Bernadette. Clothes are in the trunk for everyone. The driver will stay with you until it's time for the transfer." He leaves, and our driver takes us several hours away into the mountains.
We get out and go into the bedroom. Millie stays in Emilia's arms. I hold ma belle in mine.
"She's going to be so scared when she wakes up," Emilia frets.
"Where's the photo of Penelope?" I ask.
Emilia digs in the little pocket of Millie's pants and hands me a folded piece of paper.
I open it up just as Millie wakes.
She gasps, and her face scrunches in tears when she sees Emilia and me.
"Shh," Emilia says, stroking her hair. "We know your mummy. Axel went to get your mummy so you can be together."
Millie sniffles and cries, "I want my mummy."
"I know, baby. Shhh. Do you want to see a picture of your mummy?"
Millie nods her head into Emilia's chest.
"Okay, sweetheart. I'm Emilia, and this is Malin. He has a photo of your mummy. Do you want to look now?"
She lifts her tear-stained face away from Emilia's chest and slowly looks at me.
Her green eyes are stunning and just like Penelope's. "You have your mummy's eyes," I say. "Here's her photo."
More tears flow as she looks at it.
"Millie, are you hungry?" Emilia asks.
Millie stares at the photo again and cries some more.
Emilia pulls her into her chest again. "Okay, sweetheart. Do you want to see what we have for food? Should we make Malin cook for us?"
"I think I saw pancakes. Do you like those?" I ask her.
She looks at me. In a tiny voice, she squeaks out, "Yes."
"Good. Should we go out to the kitchen and see what else we have?"
She nods.
"What about a piggyback ride? Do you like those?"
Her eyes light up. She nods again and bites her lip.
"Okay, then. One piggyback ride and pancakes coming up." I sit up on the edge of the bed and pat my shoulders.
Millie hesitates but then reaches around my neck.
"Are you ready?" I ask her.
She sniffles. "Yes."
We all go into the kitchen, and I set her down on the counter. "Do you know anything about making pancakes?"
She shakes her head.
Emilia opens the fridge. "What about blueberry pancakes? Have you had those?"
"No."
"Do you want to try some? We can make both."
"Ummm...okay."
We spend five days playing in the snow with Millie, making as many kid meals as we can think of, and keeping her mind off how much she misses Penelope. When it's the night before we're supposed to leave, Emilia has tears in her eyes.
Millie is curled into a ball, asleep next to Emilia.
"What's wrong, ma belle?" I stroke her hair.
"I'm so happy she's going to be back with her mummy, but I'm going to miss her."
I stroke Emilia's hair. "I know. Me, too. Hopefully, we will all be together in Bermuda soon."
When nighttime comes, Millie is asleep. We carry her to the car, and the journey begins. A few hours into the ride, we stop. Gustave gets into the car, and we travel farther.
He hands Emilia a note. "Stick this in your handbag and show it to Julieta without removing it from your purse. Everything on the plane is being recorded. Emilia, can you add a French accent to your English?"
"Yes, why?"
"Just buys us a bit more time."
"Okay."
"Keep the blanket over her at all times. Do not let her face or red hair be visible. Call her Darcey." He hands me a vial. "Dab this on her nose. It will keep her asleep until it's time for her to wake up."
"Will it hurt her?" Emilia asks.
"No. Not at all. But she can't wake up until she gets to Bermuda.