Chapter 46
“We’re not talking about a treasure hunt right here,” I say. “Let’s go to my villa. I mean the villa.”
Fortunately, no one objects and Tabitha, Keston, and Kelley follow me to the fancy whitewashed building. I let us in through the patio doors. Thank goodness housekeeping came while I was gone. My trays of room service are gone. My bed is made up.
“Take a seat,” I say before collapsing on a love seat, mentally and physically exhausted.
The energy in the room is not a “we’re part of a small island and must work together” vibe like Keston says is the norm on St. Nicholas.
Far from it.
Keston stands next to my chair. Kelley leans against the patio door staring out at the sea. Tabitha makes tea, like this is her room.
I don’t argue. I’m coming to realize she’s not going anywhere. She’s a disease you can’t get rid of.
Meanwhile, Keston is staring daggers at Kelley. Which is ineffective because Kelley is oblivious, or he’s used to being hated.
Seeing Kelley empty-handed I remember his flask and dig it out of my suitcase to give back to him.
“Thanks, CJ,” he says, opening it and taking a swig.
Keston’s face turns purple.
“That’s my father’s flask.”
“Mine, too,” says Kelley, cool as a kidney bean.
Tabitha claps her hands. She’s probably been breaking up their fights since day one.
“Cool it.”
I raise my hand. “I get why Keston and Kelley may want to search for their ancestor’s treasure, but why should you come along?”
“Because,” Tabitha hesitates, as if weighing what to say. Her light skin infuses with red. I’ve never seen her blush.
Kelley nods encouragingly. “You should tell her.”
“Charlotte Campbell was my five-times great-grandmother.”
“Whoa! I didn’t see that coming.”
“I told you everyone here is connected in some crazy fashion,” Keston says. “Although we’re not all blood relatives.” He gives a nod to Tabitha. Then he glares at Kelley. “While some are but shouldn’t be.”
“Charlotte married a Scottish nobleman when she was in her mid-twenties,” Tabitha intervenes quickly. “He was a governor of St. Nicholas. I’m from that line of descendants. Although the myth about her being involved with a pirate has marred her reputation for centuries.”
“It is no myth. She was involved. She had his child.”
Keston and Tabitha gasp.
Kelley taps on the patio door glass. “Bingo.”
“I also have information that can lead us to the pirate’s treasure. But we must go tonight.”
Keston’s voice is pained when he says, “Sorry CJ, I can’t participate in anything that involves him.”
Tabitha does a tut tut noise in her throat and focuses her beautiful green eyes on Keston.
“You already are participating in something that involves him.”
“What?”
“Everything! Breathing. Being here with your girlfriend.”
Wow! She acknowledges I’m Keston’s girlfriend. Finally.
“What are you talking about, Tabby?” Keston scowls at her. “I don’t have anything to do with this guy who showed up at my father’s funeral with a crazy story of how they were treasure hunting and how he’s Kellum Kips’s other son. Causing a scene at his funeral! My poor mother and sister. They couldn’t take the pity and the questions from all the islanders. It’s why they moved away.”
Kelley takes another long sip of dandelion wine. As if the discussion has nothing to do with him. I need to master his zen and the art of not being bothered.
“He was fourteen. Same as you. He was sad. Same as you.” Tabitha drops onto a stool and glances around to see if everyone is paying attention.
“He was Dad’s goddamn secret child,” Keston shouts.
From Tabitha’s shocked expression, I don’t think she’s ever heard Keston Kips raise his voice. He sounds as if his heart is being ripped out of his chest.
Tears shine in his eyes. His fists curl at his sides. “I hate him. I hate you.”
No one says a word.
Kelley walks over to Keston and tries to hand him the flask. “I didn’t know about you either. Until his funeral. My mother tried to stop me from going. I didn’t understand why. I thought I was his only son.”
Kelley’s eyes are haunted and bleak. Reflecting the look in his brother’s own.
Tabitha’s own eyes fill with tears. “I didn’t know that. You never told me that.”
“I never told anyone. The entire island stopped talking to me after the funeral. Even my mother. That’s why I moved out to my grandfather’s land. He died when I was eighteen. I never left until . . . , ” he stops and looks at Tabitha, “you came and got me.”
Both teens had lost more than their father. They’d lost their entire lives as they knew it.
“Secrets are horrible,” I cry.
Three pairs of eyes stare dismally at me.
I was never the cheerleader type. In fact, I’m the opposite. My favorite dwarf is Grumpy. My favorite Sesame Street character is Oscar.
I dig deep. “Guys, you were both harmed by your father’s secrets. Not to speak ill of the dead, but he was wrong to hide your existence from each other. Which could not have been easy on this small island. I can’ imagine how horrible it must have been for you both to discover the truth at his funeral.
“What’s not horrible, however, is when two people love each other more than life itself. And devote themselves to each other and dream of something bigger and better than their love. Something their love can inspire. Even if it doesn’t happen in their lifetime.”
Strangely, Tabitha claps her hands. “That’s the kind of love I want.”
“Me too,” says Keston, reaching for my hand.
“Me, three,” says Kelley, gazing out the patio window.
“Then let’s go find it. Because there’s proof that kind of love existed, and I know the way.”