AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With a final scowl at the tree that had ruined his next several days, he went back outside. The sky was still dark and ominous, promising more rain. He considered tarping the roof while he had the chance but decided to check on Honey before he did that. If she was in distress, it wouldn’t help her if he got there too late.
The trees all around him dripped onto the soggy ground as he made his way down the narrow muddy path that led to her small cottage. Unlike some of the incredible vacation homes on Mariners, her place was nothing to look at. It hadn’t been one of the nicer homes on the island even when it was new—and it hadn’t been updated since. She could sell it for a lot of money now, though. Whoever bought it would most likely strip it down as far as they’d be allowed before building it back up much bigger and better. But she had no interest in selling. In recent years, her kids had been at her to do just that. They didn’t think it was safe for a woman of her age to live alone in a place that could so easily get cut off from the mainland. But she told him she’d lived on Mariners her entire married life and planned to stay until the bitter end, after which she’d be buried next to her late husband in the local cemetery.
Fortunately, although Bo saw some broken branches strewn about as he walked down her long drive, the house didn’t seem to be damaged in any way. Did she have power? It didn’t look like it—although it was difficult to tell now that the sun was up.
The wooden steps leading to the porch creaked as he climbed them.
“Ms. Wellington?” he called as he knocked.
There was no answer. He was just about to make his way to the back to see if he could rouse her there when she finally opened the door. “Bo, is that you?”
Honey had several layers of clothing on, including a bright red scarf and hat she’d knitted with flowers that had button centers.
Her tabby cat, Clementine, slipped past her feet to come out and circle his.
“Yes, it’s me,” he said, bending down to give the cat a good scratch. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t getting too cold over here.”
“The power’s been out for some time, but I’ve got an electric blanket that runs on batteries. My daughter and her husband gave it to me for Christmas last year, so I’m managing to keep warm, and Clementine snuggles right there in bed with me.”
“I’m glad you’re both okay. Do you have enough groceries?”
“Oh, yes. Plenty of groceries. I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast.” She lifted one arthritic hand to smooth a piece of silvery hair out of her eyes. “Probably not what I would’ve chosen if I’d had a working stove,” she admitted, “but it was tasty and filling. At least I was able to open a can of Clementine’s favorite—seafood combo.”
He straightened and peered into the house behind her. “Any leaks or other problems I should take care of while I’m here?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“And you have a flashlight?”
“I do—with a fresh set of batteries on hand. I read for hours last night.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Sounds like you’re doing pretty well for yourself.” He remembered Ismay’s brother. “Have you thought any more about going to visit your family this summer?”
“Not really. They keep trying to convince me, though.”
“What if I could recommend someone who would house-sit for you?” he asked. “And Clementine could come stay with me? Would that change anything?”
She pursed her lips as if she was giving the idea serious consideration. “It might. Who do you have in mind?”
“You don’t know him. I’m not yet sure he’ll be coming to the island. It’s just a possibility at this point. But I’ll let you know what he decides, and if he comes, you can meet him and see if you can trust him.”
“Sounds good.” She opened the door wider to let her cat back in. “Where do you know him from?”
“It’s Remy’s girlfriend’s brother.”
She made a face. “Is he anything like Remy?”
Bo had already known she wasn’t fond of the Windsor boys. She’d once told him they’d both been little devils while growing up. She was actually one of the few people who preferred Bastian to Remy, and it was because she caught Remy kicking the cat she had before Clementine—and when she told his parents about it, he lied and said he hadn’t done anything.
They, of course, had taken his side, and that didn’t surprise Bo in the least. Remy’s parents had a long history of shielding their children from the consequences of their behavior. And with the money and clout they had, they could smooth over almost anything. “I doubt it. If he’s like Remy’s girlfriend, however, I can almost guarantee he’ll be perfect for the job.”
“She’s that nice?”
“She’s that nice,” he confirmed.
“Then it might be a possibility.”
“Should I take your cell phone and charge it over at the big house and bring it back to you later? Might be smart to go into the night with a full battery.” He gazed up at the darkening sky. “Storm doesn’t look like it’s over quite yet.”
