Once Upon an Island

“Seriously,” I say.

She lifts an eyebrow. “He gets my family connections, he gets to give away half of his wealth in our eventual divorce and he gets a first wife. Everything a man of substance could ever desire. Remember? Men love this sort of thing.”

“I thought you were joking when you mentioned this before. When you were aiming for Declan.”

“That’s because you thought I was good.”

“You are good,” I say.

She doesn’t respond. We both stare toward the windows of the solarium reflecting the soft spring sun. I think we’ll have to go in soon.

“Are you going to live in England?”

“Yes,” she says simply. Then she turns to me with that deliriously happy smile on her face again. “I get to see my niece and nephew. I’ll be in my sister’s wedding. I can have my mum’s pudding. I can go home. All that, La-La, and all I had to do was marry a charming, good-looking gold digger.”

“There’s a great deal of irony in there,” I say wryly.

She stands up and brushes off her skirt. I stand too and we make our way back to the house.

“Speaking of irony, Declan Fox was the best man at my wedding.”

My stomach does a hard flip. “What did you say?” I stop walking.

Kate turns around and gives me a conspiratorial smile. “I know. It was ridiculous. He showed up out of nowhere at our hotel and strong-armed Michael into signing the prenup. I wasn’t sure he would until Declan arrived.” She shrugs. “Then he stood as best man at our wedding. It was just the three of us. Very awkward. He didn’t say a word. I swear that man has a stick up his arse a mile long. Since I married without love, I’m glad I chose Michael and not Declan. You were right, La-La, that man is arrogant and cold. I don’t know where he gets off ordering people about like he does. I would’ve hated being his wife. Even if it was only for a year.”

I’m having a hard time taking in what Kate’s saying. Declan was at her wedding. He found them and made certain that Kate was protected.

“Did Declan say anything? About why he came?”

Kate shakes her head. “He left right after the ceremony. Didn’t say anything at all. Not even congratulations.” She looks put out about that and I almost laugh. Although it’d be a hysterical sort of laugh.

Instead I pull open the door to the solarium and follow Kate back inside. I can hear Arya and Michael talking in the kitchen. Before we go back I catch Kate by the arm.

“I’ll miss you,” I say.

She nods and I see the beginning of tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a year or two.”

After the divorce, I suppose she means.

“Maybe not. Maybe you’ll fall in love and live happily ever after.”

She thinks about that for a moment then says, “I think my happily ever after and your happily ever after are two different destinations.”

I study her expression. Then I say, “I think you’re right.”

When we walk back to the kitchen I see that Harriet is back from the shops. She’s brought out a bottle of champagne and more teacakes.

“It’s the bride,” she says happily when she sees us. “Congratulations! You must be Kate.”

At that she pops the cork.

Arya sends me a look, which I know means, how could you leave me with the rat for so long.

“Sorry,” I mouth at her.

She shakes her head and grabs a champagne glass.

After a round of toasts for good health, good fortune, a good marriage, and a good life, we clink our glasses and drink.

“Young love,” Harriet says. “Isn’t it lovely?”

Apparently Michael has been sharing his stories with Harriet.

I take a long gulp of the champagne. The bubbles sting my throat as they go down. While Arya talks with Kate and Harriet dishes up teacakes, Michael wanders over to my side. I try not to stiffen at his approach.

He holds out his glass and clinks mine. “I’m pleased to see you again.”

I think he’d like me to absolve him for leading me astray. I assume he was only using me to get closer to Kate, or perhaps to make Declan jealous. I don’t know which, maybe both.

His eyes are friendly and guileless. I think Kate was right, I see people as I want to see them. Michael seems to be the epitome of kindness and sincerity.

I smile at him, then say, “Kate told me Declan was at your wedding.”

The change that comes over Michael is subtle but immediate. His friendly expression turns wary.

“Yes.” I can see the flurry of thoughts taking place behind his eyes. “Dec and I have decided to leave the past behind us.”

Meaning I should too.

Then something occurs to me. It’s either the guilty look on Michael’s face or the way he says the words, but I suddenly remember Kate saying that she didn’t think Michael was going to sign the prenup until Declan showed up.

“Did Declan give you something?” I ask. That doesn’t come out right, but Michael gets the point. Sort of.

He leans closer to me, giving me that look like he’s about to share a confidence. He touches his nose, telling me this is a secret. “Dec finally gave me the money I deserved from my father’s estate. A wedding gift of sorts.”

My eyes open wide and Michael nods.

“I know. Dec’s arrogance knows no bounds. You and I both know that.” He winks at me.

I give him a weak smile. He still thinks I don’t care for Declan. That I find him arrogant and cold. That I want nothing to do with him.

Michael clinks his glass against mine. “I’m glad we had this talk. I expect we’ll stay friends for a long time.”

He smiles at me and I smile back, although my stomach churns uncomfortably.

Declan…

When Declan left me at the edge of the maze, he wasn’t hurrying to get away from me, he was hurrying to help me. To help my friend.

How many times have I gotten him wrong? How many times do I have to correct myself before I learn to trust that despite his outward demeanor he’s a good person. A kind person.

Declan made sure Kate was okay.

He gave Michael money he didn’t deserve. It seems like he kept the truth from Michael about how poorly his father behaved – to keep Michael’s positive memories of his father from being tarnished. All this, because I looked upset and told Declan how worried I was.

Does that mean…?

Does he still care for me?

My breath feels short and tight in my lungs.

Michael frowns at me, he looks as if he’s waiting for my response to something.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked if you’ll be returning to Mariposa soon. Swim with the turtles and all that.”

“Yes, of course,” I say distractedly. But then something else occurs to me. “Michael, if you loved Kate from the time you saw her at the gala, then why did you send me the turtle?”

Michael gives me a confused smile. “What turtle?”

“The turtle sculpture. From the gala,” I say. The one he sent with the note that said, Look, a turtle. It’s pretty but you’re prettier. It was the reason I invited him on the sail.

Michael shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember a turtle. Was it something important?”

I stare at him. He’s honestly confused. He has no idea what I’m talking about. Which can only mean one thing. He didn’t send it.

“No. It wasn’t important. Never mind.”

He nods and then excuses himself to go sit by Kate.

I stare out the kitchen window. Thinking and thinking and trying to come to any conclusion but the one I know is the right one.

Declan sent the turtle.