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James flashed a quirky grin and offered me his hand. “That’s precisely why we need a plane.”
Less than a minute later, all four of us were racing along the same path we’d taken to get to the house. At first, Nick and Abby tried to persuade James to stay, but when he pointedly reminded them that they, too, were at the mercy of his grandmother, they eagerly joined the mission.
We streaked over the dusty path and rounded the corner to get back to the water, stressing the poor engine to its limits. Unfortunately, as soon as we reached the shore, the plane that carried us there flew over our heads, soaring into the wild blue yonder as we stared up helplessly from the dock.
“Fuck!” James shouted, leaping from the cart and waving his hands desperately from the ground. “Come on!”
The rest of us were slower to exit the golf cart, but we didn’t share in his rage. Instead, our eyes locked on someone just be
hind him, someone who was watching us with a smile on her face and a cane in her hand.
“If you’re finished shouting at my pilot, there are some caterers who could use a good scolding as well. The shrimp isn’t fresh!”
James whirled around just in time for his grandmother to reward him with a self-satisfied smirk.
“Dinner’s at seven, dear. Don’t be late.”
The two of them locked eyes for a moment before he turned on his heel and stalked off. “I’ll be on the beach somewhere, building a raft.”
Chapter 16
AS PROMISED, THE EVENING meal began promptly at seven. The table was set, the gourmet food was plated, and every seat was dutifully filled, but it was very clear that not everyone was happy to be there.
“Nothing for me, thanks, Walter.” James cupped a hand over his empty glass and pushed it deliberately away from him. “We never really know what we’re drinking around here.”
“Are you still whining about that?” Granny cackled, already on her fourth sherry. “It was hours ago, Jamie. You’re fine.”
“Don’t call me that,” he snapped reflexively. “As for the poison, there was no reason for you to do that. Why can’t you just talk to me like a normal person?”
“It wasn’t poison, love, just a...sleep aid.”
“Why must you do that? Why go straight to the drugs?”
Granny lowered her glass and threw a wry smile over the rim. “The last time I talked to you and let you pack, you left an SOS with our coordinates in shaving cream on the bathroom mirror. Ferdie found it and came for you within twelve hours.”
James stabbed sullenly at a spear of asparagus, obviously upset that the same tactic couldn’t be employed again. “That man is a saint. Clearly, I can’t say that about everyone I know...or am related to,” he said, scowling at Granny and then Nick.
“What about you, Nicholas?” Granny asked, turning deliberately away from her grandson. “You seem to be recovering nicely.”
Nick flashed her a tight smile, but recovery seemed to be the last thing on his mind. The very second we walked down the stairs for dinner, the man was relentlessly assaulted by her pack of corgis. They usually stayed right at Granny’s feet, but something about Nick caught their attention, and even as we dined, a wicked battle of footsie raged on with one of them under the table. “Yeah, it’s... I’m fine,” he fibbed.
There was a muffled snarl, followed by a painful gasp as his leg jerked under the table.
“Hey, I thought the dogs were back on the mainland with Joseph and the kids. Did you, uh...just bring them out here for the week?” he dared to ask.
Another snarl answered that question, and the silverware rattled as Nick jumped back in his chair.
Granny glanced up casually from her drink, then snapped her fingers for another sherry. “I had Jonathon fly them out. They’re such a comfort to me in my advancing years, and I seem to remember that you developed a certain fondness for them the last time you were here.”
Nick crossed his legs as the dog circled around again. “Actually, I think it was tetanus I developed,” he muttered, not loud enough for her to hear.
“So, Granny,” Abigail intervened, hastening to change the subject as she gestured around the room and donned her sweetest smile, “I love the renovations you’ve—”
“A week?!”
All eyes flew to the front of the table.
James suddenly slammed his fork down, effectively smashing that spear of asparagus. “You plan to keep us here for a whole fucking week, old woman?”
