I woke to the sound of hushed voices outside my cabin. Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, creating patterns on the wooden floor. For a moment, I just lay there, one hand resting protectively over my still-flat stomach.
"Whatever it is, you can't spring it on her right now," Maria was saying, her voice carrying through the partially open window. "She's been through enough already."
"I'm not 'springing' anything." Kieran's deep voice was unmistakable, though he was keeping it unusually quiet. "I just need five minutes to talk to her."
"About what?" Maria pressed.
A pause. "That's between me and her."
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, curiosity pushing away the last remnants of sleep. Whatever Kieran wanted to discuss, it sounded important. And Maria being Maria, she wa
