“It’s okay, Dawn,” Mabel said, her eyes sharp and focused.“It’s okay.”
Danica nodded and hit the button to open the gate.
Everyone wandered out to the front porch to watch the old salt-and-pepper biddy drive her champagne-colored sedan down the driveway.She parked, checked her face in her visor mirror, and stepped out.
As always, she was in a hideous floral blouse and pleated slacks.She met my gaze, but only briefly, before focusing on Mabel.She reached the first porch step, but nobody was going to let her up.She needed to stay lower than us.
Mabel crossed her arms over her chest, the wooden bird still in her hand.
Jolene swallowed and stared down at the ground.“My apologies for posting a photo of you and your father on Facebook.”
Several of the guys made scoffing sounds behind us.Yeah, that was a pretty shit apology if I’d ever heard one.
Dawn growled, which prompted Jolene to cock her head to the side curiously, reminding me of a clueless puppy.“Who are you?”
“None of your goddamn business,” Dawn spat.
Jolene cleared her throat.“Right.”
“And?”Mabel asked.
Jolene’s gray brows narrowed.“And?”
“And, how about apologizing to my father as well?To Naomi and her entire family for the domino effect your ignorance and meddling caused.For the pain and suffering of everyone here.Naomi nearly died.You get that, right?Because you need to knoweverythingabouteveryone.”
Jolene’s complexion was getting ruddier by the second.She clenched her jaw and her copper gaze shifted back and forth across everyone’s faces.“I … I’m just looking out for the island.Someone has to.”
Lennox shook his head.
Mabel shook her head.“You need to learn how to apologize better.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I stepped down to Jolene’s level.“While I understand your reasoning—to a degree—Jolene, you need to understand the ramifications of your actions.Yes, you claim you were looking out for the island, but even you can agree that you took it too far.And I think it says a lot that you came here to apologize.However, I don’t think very many of these people feel that you truly understand that what you did was wrong, or feel that you are genuinely sorry.”
A flash of anger rushed through Jolene’s eyes.
“You’ve become an island pariah, no?”Danica asked softly.“People are afraid to speak to you or in front of you now?At least that’s what I’ve heard.”
Jolene’s chin trembled.
“People got hurt,” Mabel said.“And it could have been a lot worse.We came here because we thought it was safe.Never thought the most dangerous person on the island would be a woman in her seventies in a champagne-colored sedan.”
Jagger snorted.
“I’m not dangerous,” Jolene argued.
“No?”Tom asked.“You doxxed people who were hiding.That’s dangerous.”
“Honesty—”
“Jolene, either apologize and mean it, or go,” Gabrielle said.“This is a birthday celebration for a family member, and you’re kind of putting a damper on the whole thing.For once in your seventy-plus years, be accountable for your actions.Learn from them, and do better.”
Heads bobbed on the porch.
Jolene met my eyes, and this time, I could actually see understanding and true remorse forming in the lines of her face.“I’m sorry, Naomi.”Then she moved her focus to Mabel.“I’m sorry, Mabel.”
Mabel nodded.
Finally, she focused on Lennox.“I’m sorry, Mr.Paul.You’re a good principal, and … I was wrong.”
