Chapter Ten #2
The hug had ended when it became plainly obvious that the only logical next step was a kiss, and neither of them were ready for that. Instead, they’d walked toward the stables. Finn had slipped his hand in hers. It was a thrilling series of events, but that was it.
“Flora, I am grateful to the boy for what he did, but I have no desire to go about hugging him in a field…” Fairchild attempted a joke, before sighing as Flora’s jaw tightened. “Flora—”
“Dad, a hug isn’t a big deal. He saved my life.”
“Rosa made it seem like it was more than just a simple thank-you hug. She said, in no uncertain terms, that you two were on the verge of—”
“Dad! It’s none of your business!”
“Flora, was she right or was she wrong?”
Flora couldn’t totally deny what Rosa had seen, only downplay.
She had no desire to involve her dad in her love life and would lie through her teeth if she had to.
This was all so infantilizing. It was times like these that made her want to leave the estate entirely and stop being watched like a child.
She was twenty-three and people were spying on her.
“She was wrong. It was a hug, nothing more. Do you really think Finn—Finn Woodhouse—would ever be interested in me? Finn is going to marry that Holly girl we’ve been seeing so much of, and whatever I do won’t change that.”
“Flora, what is your regard for him?”
“High. He’s a good man, Dad. You’ve said so yourself.”
“Yet you used to dislike him.”
“I didn’t know him.”
“And you know him now?”
“We’ve been hanging out more. Finn isn’t what he seems to be. He’s so much more sensitive than people think. And he’s so kind to me. He’s nicer than… he treats me like nobody else ever has.”
Silence fell.
“All this and still nothing is going on?”
“Dad.”
“I’m just asking because Finn is not the sort of boy to—well…”
“Fall for the driver’s daughter?”
“Well, unfortunately… yes!” Fairchild grimaced. “Flora, there is something rather suspicious about it all, don’t you agree?”
Flora did agree.
“Yes, it is undoubtedly suspicious. Completely. But I’m not presuming that this will ever truly go anywhere. My expectations are low. I know better.”
“Be careful, Flora,” he said. “I do not want to see you fall into a movie-screen plot. I do not like movies.”
***
A few days before the Fourth of July, Flora and Allison were far beyond Kovac Hill, though still technically on Woodhouse property. They were wandering through a small grove of redwoods, trying to decide what to do for the holiday.
“Boating?” Allison suggested. “Jett’s dad has a boat.”
“Hiking.” Flora countered.
“Mmm. Picnic.”
“All three?”
About three years earlier, they had managed to sneak aboard some billionaire’s party yacht leaving Tiburon Harbor, only to discover it was headed to Cancun.
They’d literally jumped ship. The splash alerted the partygoers to their presence, and the Coast Guard was then called, but Flora and Allison were much too fast to be caught.
They’d taken the bus back to the bottom of Cascade Drive, then walked the rest of the way, sopping wet, and convinced the Coast Guard was tracking them somehow.
Finn and Roman had driven past at that exact moment and seen them trudging up the hill.
“What in the world did those two crazy ladies do now?” Roman asked, squinting as Finn’s Roadster flew past.
“By the looks of it, nearly drowned,” Finn replied. “And are likely running from the law.”
The night had lived in infamy, and while they never wanted to repeat it, they were always looking for a thrill to rival the “Yacht Incident.”
“I say we go to Angel Island,” Flora said suddenly. “We could walk it, come back, and steal food from the kitchen for the Fourth of July party that will be happening here. Then go to the docks and watch the fireworks.”
“Have dinner on the docks,” Allison added. “Yes, it’s settled then. And much less sketchy than hopping onto some random boat. I never told my parents that story.”
“I never told my dad,” Flora replied in agreement.
“Angel Island sounds much better.”
“Good, good!” Flora said happily. “Now, where was I? Redwood leaf has been taped down. And… let’s see, what’s the Latin name again? Sequoioideae.”
Allison shook her head. “Only you would know that.”
They turned back toward the house a few hours later, laughing about an old memory…
And walked right into Finn and Holly. They must have been coming back from the stables because they were both dressed to join the Triple Crown.
Allison wrinkled her nose immediately, and Flora merely sighed. Finn never mentioned Holly, but she was around increasingly often, probably in town for the big Fourth of July party Mrs. Woodhouse was throwing—which Flora and Allison had, mysteriously, not been invited to.
Somehow, even after riding in the sun, Holly looked polished and effortlessly windswept. Flora did notice, however, that there was dirt all over the back of her white riding outfit.
The four of them paused upon meeting each other at the trailhead. Everyone sort of cleared their throat awkwardly, the tension already spiking.
“Hi, guys,” Flora said, waving as if there was nothing to be concerned about. “Did you go riding together?”
“Yes,” Finn said, looking totally out of his depth. “Yes, we did.”
“How nice,” Flora said, cheerily. She enjoyed watching Finn squirm more than anything. He was a great squirmer. “Perfect weather for it. I love riding on a day like this.”
“Are you a rider?” Holly asked, her lips quirked into a smile, eyebrows raised.
“I am, occasionally.”
“Flora’s actually a great rider,” Allison replied, smiling pleasantly at Holly. “She grew up using the stables.”
“I wouldn’t say great,” Flora said quickly, eyeing Allison. “I was just trained at the stables on one of the horses. My equestrian skills start and end with getting certain unruly horses to behave. You won’t see me at the Preakness anytime soon.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to one of those horse events,” Allison added now. “And wear one of those stupid hats. All I’d have to do is tape a cereal box to a baseball cap and I’d fit right in.”
“Or a pool noodle.”
Flora and Allison started laughing, then stopped short.
“Sorry.” Flora cleared her throat and changed her tone. “Are you a rider, Holly?”
“I have been riding since I was four,” Holly replied, same smile on her face. “I rode on the equestrian team at Oxford as well.”
Allison piped up again. “Well, that’s perfect because Finn rode at Harvard! Match made in horsey heaven, I’d say.”
Flora held back an ungracious snort, looking to the side and biting her lip. Finn elbowed Flora lightly in warning. Allison and Flora were both too witty to be teasing one person together. It was an unfair fight.
“Well, we both share a certain amount of expertise in the same subjects,” Holly replied, not biting on Allison’s joke. “It follows that we share the same hobbies. Don’t we, Finn?”
“Uhhh?” Finn said, looking skeptical.
He was clearly trying to think of what else, exactly, they shared.
Now Flora elbowed him.
“Business knowledge,” Flora helped, “well known families, life experience. Very wonderful… educational things.”
“And we both love animals,” Holly offered.
“Of course,” Flora replied, nodding.
“I run an animal wildlife charity through my fashion company, Giraffe Girls,” Holly added. “Have you heard it?”
“I haven’t,” Flora admitted. “But I’m not really online much.”
“Well, either way, wildlife conservation is definitely going to be our big thing.”
“Interesting,” Flora said evenly, staring at Holly’s purse. “Especially since your bag is leather, you know.”
Allison cut in. “And are you both planning something fun for the Fourth? Must be going to the party, right?”
“Yes, we are going to the party.” Holly tugging on Finn’s sleeve now, smiling. “I’ve never experienced a real Fourth party with you Yanks—”
Yanks??
Flora couldn’t believe it. She’d only heard that in the movies.
“—I’ve always been in England for my summers doing internships with barristers and solicitors, so I’ve never had the chance.
What do you both do during the summer?” She said this while staring directly at Flora.
“Seems you both are always involved in some fun activity. I wish I had the time! In fact, I wish I was your age again and could run around collecting wildflowers.”
Flora was holding The Collected Best Works of William Shakespeare in one hand, a notebook bursting with flowers in the other, and Allison was wearing enough colors to suggest she taught elementary school, which she did.
“Oh, we are employed though!” Flora exclaimed, eyes shining. “I’m a clown at children’s birthday parties, and Allison works at the traveling rodeo.”
“I’m the bull,” Allison deadpanned.
Holly’s jaw tightened, realizing this was a joke.
“Which play are you reading?” Finn asked, trying to steer them elsewhere.
“I was rereading Hamlet, of all things,” Flora said. “I wanted to reread it because I watched the movie the other night. I haven’t read it since high school though. I hated it then, so I’m trying to learn to like it. I still think I hate it.”
“You hate Hamlet?” Holly asked, perplexed.
“I don’t love it,” Flora said honestly. “I prefer Much Ado About Nothing. I’m not much for dark reads.”
“Oh, but it would be too simple to boil it down to ‘dark.’ It’s much more than just a suicide,” Holly remarked.
“Hamlet says, ‘This above all: to thine own self be true,’ and if that doesn’t resonate beyond just suicide then I don’t know what does.
He felt being true to himself, in the end, meant no longer existing. ”
Flora took a step toward the trailhead. She was done having to bear the company of Holly Carlisle.
“That’s still quite dark, don’t you think?”
She paused for a moment.
“And Hamlet didn’t say that.”
“He did. It’s the most famous line in the entire play. Of course, Hamlet said it.” Holly’s eyebrows were raised. She was on the verge of laughing. “Plus, you said you hadn’t read it since high school.”
“Polonius said it,” Flora replied. “Act One, Scene Three.”