Summer
Everyone arrives by 9am in the morning to finish painting the house on Sunday. By lunchtime, we just have the right side to paint. Seb and I pull Alex aside to talk as everyone cleans up for lunch. I take a seat on a lower branch of the live oak tree as Seb joins me. “Alex, I wanted to let you know about something that's happened. We didn’t mean to exclude you, but I realized we did, so we wanted to have a chat.”
“Man, it was an accident.” Seb tells him. “Sunshine and I had a conversation about becoming more than friends, and she agreed to try it quietly but wasn’t 100% sure about the idea. She, E, and I have been testing the waters, and I suggested a poly relationship. She and Nick have grown closer, and Bay wanted to date her but didn’t want a poly relationship, so they’re just friends.”
Alex takes a moment to process that information dump. We wait while he thinks things over. “I am not surprised, really. There has always seemed to be magnets between you all, pulling you together,” he smiles.
“So we’re good?” Seb asks.
“We are fine. Thank you for telling me.”
“Good. I’m sorry for not including you. It wasn’t our intention, Alex,” I add. I’m so relieved he isn’t upset with us.
“Noapologies needed, Summer. Shall we get some lunch?”
“Yeah, I’m starving,” Seb says, rubbing his stomach. He offers a hand to pull me up as we make our way to the kitchen.
After we’ve eaten, we go back outside to finish painting. The house looks wonderful when we're done. Bay takes a picture of all of us with his selfie stick in front of the house, then one of me and Zander. “The house really looks great, Zander,” I smile.
He puts an arm over my shoulder and surveys it. “It does, doesn’t it? A few windows and it’ll be done. It looks just as I remember.”
“Mara and Philip would be proud, I think.”
“Thank you,” he replies, squeezing my shoulder. “Chinese for dinner?”
“Sounds good.” He goes inside to order as we get some drinks and hang out on the back deck.
To allow Nick and me to train, Seb remains after dinner. I use the time to phone Sue while we wait for our meal to settle. She visited Mal and Jake yesterday, so I get filled in on all the gossip.
Seb joins us for a warmup run before we begin. Nick teaches me how to use my new knife before we switch to breaking holds.
Chapter 15
Summer
On Monday morning, there’s a letter with no return address waiting for me on the island. Opening it, I see a handwritten note.
Dear Summer,
News reached me that you and I are siblings!
Imagine my surprise when I found out my old man fathered your sister. Now you’ll never be rid of me. Serves you right after I got stuck in this shithole without my money. I’m glad the old man didn’t win his case, though. He doesn’t deserve my money.
Talk soon sister,
Ben
I drop the letter as if it’s scalding, burning my fingers from splattering oil in a pan. How the heck was he able to write to me? There’s supposed to be a no-contact order. This damn family will haunt me forever.
“Morning, darling,” Zander says, coming into the kitchen but quickly realizes I’m not okay. “Summer, what’s wrong?” Noticing the paper on the ground, he bends, picks it up, and reads it. “Son of a bitch,” he swears, setting the letter on the island and hugging me. “I’m so sorry. The letter was in the mailbox, so I thought nothing of it.”
“Not your fault, but how is he able to write to me? He shouldn’t be able to.”
“No, he shouldn’t. I’ll call Mr. MacLeod today and see what we need to do. Are you okay?”
“Shaken, but I’ll be fine.” Not a cheerful way to begin my week. Damn him.
“Have a seat. I’ll get breakfast for us,” he offers.
