Page 20 of Summer Storms

Izzy was watching her closely, waiting for her response. Well Christine would give her one though it may not be the one Izzy wanted.

“You would do well as a writer, I think,” Christine said in a thoughtful voice. “You understand so well how a villain’s mind works. Izzy, it doesn’t matter if what you told me is true or not, because both outcomes wound me. Either I reject him, or I open my heart to him and know he might break it.”

Izzy stared at her, eyes narrowed. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”

Christine smiled. “Far from it. Until recently, I’ve been a foolish, self-centred girl. But I hope to do better. Zek and I have forgiven each other, Izzy. Why can’t you do the same?”.

Izzy gave a nasty laugh. “I don’t believe you! Go back to London where you belong and leave us alone. I won’t have Zek hurt, I won’t!”

“Izzy?”

Christine and his sister looked to the balcony door. It was Zek. He looked from one to the other with a frown. “What’s the meaning of this?” he asked. “I was told you needed to see me in the kitchen, and yet I find you here?” he added, staring at his sister.

“I just... I...” Izzy floundered, not seeming to know what to say. Suddenly she looked like a sixteen-year-old girl again, and not some evil entity.

Christine could have enlightened Zek, but as Izzy shrank within herself it seemed unnecessarily cruel. If Zek was here to confess his feelings to Christine, the truth might drive a wedge between the siblings. And she did not want to do that, not now that it was clear to her that Izzy’s plan hadn’t been to hurt Christine so much as it had been to protect her brother.

Instead, she said lightly, “We were just talking about the old days, and the foolish things that children do. I was about to apologise for some of the things I said and did.”

Izzy stared at her, speechless. Zek’s frown deepened. “There is no need for that. We were just as mean.”

“She started it,” said Izzy.

“No one started it,” Zek said softly, “but we all escalated it. She sent me home cold and wet, and we repaid her in kind.”

Izzy stamped her foot. “But she was so cruel to us!”

“Children can be cruel, because they don’t know any better,” said Zek. “But people change. We are grown up now, and I don’t feel the same as I did then.”

“She was cruel to you!”

“Izzy,” he sighed, and looked to Christine.

Christine made her voice gentle. “I deeply regret those days, and I am sorry for what I did back then. I am so sorry, Izzy.”

Izzy didn’t seem to know what to say. She turned back to Zek. “I don’t want you to like her,” she wailed. “She’s going to hurt you again. She’ll go back to London, back to her theatre and forget all about you!”

Zek looked even more shocked. “Is that what you thought would happen?”

“I wanted to stop you from hurting yourself by coming out here and telling her that you love her!”

Zek blinked. “But… I wasn’t coming out here to tell her that I love her.”

Christine’s face fell as quickly as Izzy’s brightened. “Then what were you going to do?”

Zek turned to Christine with a wry look. “Well, I was going to ask her to marry me. The love part I thought was rather obvious.”

The silence that followed was profound. Then Izzy turned and fled. Zek moved as if to follow, then changed his mind. “Christine,” he said apologetically. “I am so sorry. Sometimes I have no idea what that girl is thinking.”

But Christine had a far more important thing on her mind. “You really want to marry me?” she whispered.

He nodded. “Yes, I had a terribly romantic speech prepared, but that moment is more or less ruined. Still, I think we are ideally suited to each other, don’t you?”

Her smile was wide and happy. “I do!”

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her desperately, and Christine knew they were in love. As crazy and insane as it was, Zek Nash and Christine Starling had fallen in love.

The sound of someone behind them broke them apart. “What on earth is wrong with Izzy? She was just—” Mrs Nash stopped herself short, and her tone changed completely. “Oh my! Zek! Miss Starling? Does this mean...?”