Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Three weeks later
C ynthia sat at the small round table on the patio area outside the French doors of the villa. She didn’t remember the first ten days after Jonathan and Benny were killed. The doctors had kept her sedated. Jennifer had told her she kept waking up screaming. The advice she was given to alleviate the initial shock was to rest.
“How are you feeling today?” Jennifer asked, pushing a mug of green tea in front of Cynthia.
“I don’t know to be honest. I have made a decision. Staying here is not an option. I’ll go insane with all the memories and end up a mad old woman roaming the shores looking for her lover.”
Cynthia looked up to see Jennifer looking at her. Her eyes filled with concern about what Cynthia was about to tell her.
“I am going back to Copper Island.”
“You can’t. That place is evil for you. You turn into another woman when you’re there. It’s like the ghosts of your ancestors inhabit your body and take over like a puppet master.”
“You were always dramatic, Jennifer. I can’t stay here. I have nowhere else to go. I’m asset-rich and not cash rich. I have savings, but most of my wealth is in this place. Benny’s business will be shut down, and if there is any money left over, I’ll use it to start again.”
“When? When will you start again? You’re seventy-nine!” Jennifer clipped out.
Cynthia thinned her lips and looked out across the lake.
“I keep thinking I’ll hear the boat pull into the dock. Jonathan’s feet on the stone steps. His mouth on mine when he greets me. My heart is shattered.”
Jennifer grabbed her friend’s hand and squeezed. “Okay. What’s the plan?”
“I’m going to get Freddie’s children to come home to Copper Island. Get them all wives and Archer to have a child as soon as possible. With a bit of luck, I’ll get that done in twelve months. Then I’ll hand over everything and move away. I’ll be able to stay for a year before Turner Hall penetrates my bones again.”
“Those kids hate you. There is no way they’ll come back because you want them to take over.”
“I have a plan for that too. They’ll come back because they will have no option. I knew Freddie better than he knew himself. I watched those children grow up. They’ll come back, and they’ll come back together. I won’t give them a choice. They just won’t know it wasn’t their idea, but I’ll make it look like it was.”
“Cynthia,” Jennifer warned. “You did not treat his kids very well. They’ll remember.”
“I did nothing to Archer. He had his grandfather’s protection. Jason will probably remember. Luke, maybe, but Daisy won’t. And don’t forget you played lookout, so we’re in this together.”
Jennifer’s face turned to fury, but Cynthia knew Jennifer had nowhere to go.
“And what about Imelda? She isn’t dead. What if she hears what you’re up to?”
“The only people who can piece together what I’m up to are you and Mr Porterfield, the solicitor. Everyone else will be oblivious.”
“Cynthia,” Jennifer said softly.
Cynthia straightened her back. “I’ll fly Jonathan and Benny to Copper Island and bury them in the family plot. No one needs to know they are there. It will be my secret. They’ll be safe there. No one will disturb them. I’ll contact Mr Philpott. He won’t say a word.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jennifer asked.
“The alternative is a bottle of vodka and a bottle of pills,” Cynthia replied.
“Well, I don’t want to see that happen. What am I packing?”
“Just an overnight bag. We’ll leave in a week, and travel with my two loves to take them to their final resting place.”
“Okay,” Jennifer whispered. “Drink your tea, and we’ll make plans.”