Chapter 11 #2
She unlocked the house, and they followed her into the darkened interior.
“I’ll advise you to keep the windows and doors closed when you go out,” she said.
“The locals’ idea of sharing is different to that of the Western world.
Everything is shared on the island. Of course, they’d give it back, if only you knew who took your stuff.
As good as the people are here, their concept of private property might differ from yours. ”
Andrea pointed to the kitchen, the bathroom, and then at the two doors at the end of the corridor. “Bedrooms are through there. You’ll find extra linen in the wardrobe.”
A closet! Libby hadn’t had one of those since she’d left Rick’s house in London four months ago. “Thanks, Andrea. This is great.”
“There’s homegrown coffee in the kitchen too, from Atiu’s own coffee plantation.”
“Gee, thanks!”
When Andrea left, Libby scanned the room for anything dangerous—or easily destroyed—and then set Karim down to explore.
The furnishings were sparse, just how she preferred it—fewer things to move out of her son’s way in case they got broken.
The pile of books on the coffee table quickly occupied Karim enough for Libby to crane her head to look through the kitchen doorway.
Dan was already investigating the coffee.
He sniffed the jar. “Smells good. Would you like some now?”
“Yes, please.” With Karim still occupied by the books, she quickly explored the bedrooms. Both rooms contained double beds, a chair, and the exciting closets.
The little bathroom had a small tub with a shower hose hanging over it, a sink, and a toilet.
Everything about Manui was basic but very homely. “This is so cute.”
She checked on Karim, then coaxed him outside to sit at the table under the thatched canopy that ran the width of the house. As she rummaged in her bag for Karim’s oatmeal cookies and a bottle of water, the bushes next to her rustled.
“What’s your name?” asked one of the kids she’d seen earlier, a girl of about seven, who traipsed through and made herself at home at the table. Then more children followed until there were four…five…no, six unexpected visitors.
“My name’s Libby, and this is Karim.”
“How old is he?”
“Almost three.”
“I’m eight,” said a bare-chested boy in bright-green shorts. “This is my sister.” He pointed at the girl who’d sat at the table. “I’m Rua, and she’s called Rellina.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“I’m Christopher Mac,” said the eldest child.
“Nice to meet you, too.”
Dan stepped out, holding two cups of coffee.
“Your husband is very big,” Rellina said.
“Oh, this is Dan. We’re just friends.” Libby thanked Dan for the coffee, which he placed in front of her on the small table. She quickly moved it out of Karim’s reach. “We do have the same last name, though.”
“How come?”
“It’s a popular name.”
“You didn’t have to change it when you got married.”
“Well, we’re not… Never mind.” Libby giggled at the girl’s innocence. “How old are you, Rellina?”
“Six. How old are you?
“Twenty-eight.”
“Where do you live?”
“All over now,” Libby said, “but I’m originally from California.”
“Oooh,” the children cooed in unison. They’d obviously heard of it.
The eldest boy, Christopher Mac, tilted his head to Dan and asked, “Where are you from?”
“England.”
The kids oohed again.
“Do you know Tony in Nottingham?” the little kid in green shorts asked.
“No, I’m afraid I don’t.” Dan’s lips quirked as he blew on his coffee. “Is Tony a friend of yours?”
“He’s my cousin.”
“We’re cousins,” said Christopher Mac, pointing to the youngest child, a girl of about five with a missing front tooth. “How old are you?”
“Thirty.”
The kids sucked air through their teeth, as if he’d said ninety.
Libby sniggered and sipped her coffee while Karim munched on his cookie.
“Why’s your knee like that?” Rellina asked.
Uh-oh. Libby stared at her cup.
After a long pause that screamed touchy subject, Dan said, “I had an accident.”
“How?”
Libby opened her mouth to stop the questions—not for Dan’s sake, but for the kids. She didn’t want him snapping at them and making a bad lasting impression. They’d only just gotten here, and the next ten days would be awkward if he upset the neighbors on day one.
“I fell off a horse,” Dan said. “And then the horse stepped on me. Several times.”
All the kids gasped as one.
“Yeah. Look at this.” Dan sat down, and to Libby’s utter surprise, he stretched his bad leg out so the children could study his scars.
“I don’t like horses,” Rellina said.
“Neither do I.” Dan moved his leg away and rested his arms on his thighs. “I’ve always been nervous of them.”
“Then why did you get on one?” Christopher Mac asked.
Another child peered at Dan. “And how did you fall off?”
Jeez. Juliana would love these tactless kids!
But wanting to know why he’d gotten on that horse in the first place had been on Libby’s mind too.
She couldn’t recall what had been reported at the time, and none of the articles she’d read since she’d met him explained why he’d been horse riding.
Most probably because it was irrelevant.
His near death, injuries, and canceled wedding plans to the glamorous Isabella were far more newsworthy.
“I was trying to impress a girl,” Dan said.
The kids laughed.
Libby’s head shot up. Two jokes in one day?
But Dan was nodding gravely. “True story,” he told them. “For her job, my girlfriend needed to pose on a horse, and she asked me to get involved too. But I didn’t want to tell anyone that I’d never been on a horse before and that I was nervous.”
The kids’ heads turned to Libby.
“Hey,” she said, “don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know him then.”
“Was this before you were married?” Rellina’s wide eyes darted from Dan to Libby.
“We’re not—”
“I’m not—”
“So what happened?” Christopher Mac asked.
“I got on the horse,” Dan said, “but I was scared, and the stupid horse knew it.”
“It wasn’t the horse who was stupid,” the boy laughed. “You should’ve been honest.”
Boom! These kids were something else. Libby snuck a glance at Cranky, but instead of looking like he’d huff and growl, he said, “You’re right, kid. If only I were as wise as you.”
Christopher Mac puffed out his little chest. “Next time you want advice, come and see me.”
The choking noise had Libby’s head shooting back to Dan. He’d nearly sprayed a mouthful of coffee all over the kids.
“Thanks.” Dan coughed, then sucked in his cheek, the usual crease on his brow returning. “I’ll bear that in mind.”