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“Hello, son,” his mother said when he got close enough.
She searched his face earnestly, and he manufactured a smile for her sake. When he hurt, so did she, he realized. Besides that, he doubted Ashleigh would have much to do with his family from here on out. Betty had lost someone she considered a daughter. “Hi, Mom. You got a bowl for me?”
“Oliver, give your brother your bowl and go get another one from the barn,” she said.
Twelve-year-old Oliver handed him his bowl, then he threw his arms around Jack’s waist and squeezed tight for just a second before ducking his head, obviously embarrassed, and running off.
10
Bo was dealing with so much, it seemed stupid to Ismay—not to mention self-indulgent and lazy—to sit around while he managed all the cleanup and repairs on his own.
When she told Bastian she was going over to help, he said Bo was getting paid better than most caretakers—it was a matter of pride for his mother—it was his job and he’d be fine. But she refused to make her decision based on that argument. Besides, she had nothing better to do.
She thought Bastian might call Remy, who’d tell her to stay away from the bungalow, using the excuse that it wasn’t safe now that part of the roof had caved in or whatever. But as far as she could tell, Bastian hadn’t said anything about finding Bo in the cottage, so she thought there was a chance he wouldn’t tell Remy about this, either.
Bo turned, his eyes widening when she knocked on his door, which was already standing open, carrying another picnic basket full of food. “What’s going on?” he asked. “You’ve brought lunch?”
She nodded with a grin. “And I’m here to help with the cleanup. It doesn’t make sense that you’re the only one working.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Bastian didn’t try to stop you?”
She set the basket on the counter. “How’d you know?”
“Just an educated guess,” he said with a chuckle.
“He said it’s your job.”
“That’s true.”
“But you’ve also just been through a hurricane—or as close to a hurricane as I’ve ever experienced—and you’re racing the clock. I might as well lend a hand.”
“This is supposed to be your vacation.”
“Yeah, well...” She looked behind her, then lowered her voice. “It’s a vacation just to get out of the cottage.”
She meantget away from Bastian; she just didn’t want to say it. But judging by the look on Bo’s face, he understood. He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something along those lines himself but closed it again.
“What?” she prompted.
“Nothing,” he replied. “I work for the Windsors. I’m grateful for my job.”
“Right. I get that. Don’t mind me. I’m just blowing off steam. The storm was difficult enough, and now... I think I’m going to struggle to get along with Bastian. He was pretty rude this morning.”
Bo hesitated for a second. But then he said, “He can be like that.”
“I guess he’s always been thebadtwin, huh?”
“Not always.”
“What do you mean?”
“Believe it or not, it was Remy who was more difficult as a child.”
Ismay was surprised Bo would know this information. “Really? In what way?”
He shrugged before he started to sweep the debris on the floor into a pile. “It’s just what I’ve heard. How long’s Bastian staying?”
“I don’t know. That’s the thing.”
