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“I’ve been wrong about the fire on Echo. I thought it was Declan Jr.’s doing. It’s got to be . . . someone else.”
“Why?” When she didn’t answer, Ravinia asked, “Okay, then, who?” When Catherine still failed to engage with her, Ravinia said, “You said you needed me to do something for you. What?”
“When are you leaving?” Catherine asked her.
“Leaving . . . what? For good? I’m not sure I am. What are you saying?”
“Cassandra’s seen you on the road with a friend. I’m asking you, when are you planning to go?”
Ravinia stared at her aunt. She realized she’d been entertaining ideas of staying ever since Catherine’s accident, like she could change things for the better at the lodge. But Ophelia was already making plans to do just that, and Ravinia’s reason to stick around had become no reason at all. It would take a long time to really change the atmosphere around Siren Song, to really instigate changes. And Ravinia couldn’t wait that long.
“Tomorrow,” she heard herself say, and Catherine nodded once and said, “Then you’ll need some money.”
CHAPTER 29
Savvy awoke to unfamiliar surroundings and the distinct smell of leather. She sat bolt upright, and her memory flooded back. She’d taken Hale up on his invitation to spend the night, but she’d refused his bedroom. That was just . . . not a good idea, and instead she’d insisted on the couch.
And her sleep had been interrupted by the baby enough times to make Savvy feel tired, yet happy. Victoria had managed to stumble awake once, but seeing Savvy, she’d turned back to her bed with a desultory wave.
Now she heard someone in the kitchen. She’d slept in her shirt and pants, which was all she had, and she ran a hand through her tousled hair as she walked out barefoot to meet them. But it wasn’t Hale; it was Declan. He was in a robe over pajamas, and he, too, ran a hand through his white hair upon seeing her.
“Going to the office today,” he announced. “Time to get back to work.” He eyed her keenly. “But you, now. You’re not going to want”—he turned around and motioned down the hallway—“that girl taking care of the boy.” He harrumphed. “She doesn’t have the good sense that God gave her.”
“Hale’s working on it and the memorial service,” Savvy said diffidently. If Hale hadn’t told Declan what his plans were, there was probably a good reason. And she was telling the truth. Hale had told Savvy that he had a call into the nanny service that had supplied them with Victoria and arrangements were being made. They’d also talked over the memorial service. He was thinking of having something at the house, although it would be tight if they got a crowd. Ian and Astrid Carmichael, who had found Kristina unconscious in the living room of their home, had suggested a hotel in Seaside that had meeting rooms. Astrid, though pregnant, seemed to want to take over all the planning for the service. She was, in fact, a little manic about it. Survivor’s guilt again, Savvy felt. They were all suffering from it.
But she said none of that to Declan, whose voice was rising as he warmed to his theme of Victoria’s shortcomings. “Witless, that girl is. Nice enough, sure, but you could fill a continent with nice people, and if they don’t have it up here . . .” He tapped his skull with his finger. “It doesn’t count.”
“I’d better get home and take a shower,” Savvy said before he could go on.
“You can use mine,” Hale’s voice said casually. She looked over as he appeared from the hallway. His hair was still damp from the shower and curled dark and wet at his neck.
“Thanks, but I don’t have any fresh clothes.” She slipped away from him and into the den and gathered up her things. It was downright annoying, the way she noticed everything about him.
Had it really been less than a week since she’d thought him cold and uncommunicative?
“What are you going to do about that girl?” Declan was complaining when Savvy returned a few minutes later, back in her shoes and socks and with her coat slung over her arm.
“Leave it alone,” Hale told him. “Declan’s safe with her for now.”
“You sure?” He squinted up at Hale as he leaned on his cane.
“I heard you say you’re going to the office,” Hale said, changing the subject.
“Well, I can’t sit around here all day, now, can I?” he demanded querulously.
There was just no way to win with Declan, so Hale gave up and turned to Savvy. “Call me later, and let’s get this memorial service nailed down.”
“You got it,” Savvy said and let herself out into a crisp, cool morning, for once without a hint of rain.
Ravinia crawled over the wall, her hand slipping a little on the railing. But it was dew, not rain, and she caught herself and dropped lightly to her feet. She probably could have asked someone to open the gate, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, for some reason. It felt too much like begging, and, anyway, this was nearly the last, if not the last, time she would sneak away.
Money. Catherine had given her a stash that had made her eyes widen. The speed at which things were going, now that Catherine had accepted she was leaving and was okay with it, boggled Ravinia’s mind. Her aunt hadn’t once decreed that Ravinia could never come back since they’d made a tacit pact to work together. It was just a fact that Ravinia would go and Catherine would remain with the others, and they would work together to keep Siren Song’s secrets safe.
She’d told Aunt Catherine she was leaving today, and she found the idea kind of scary. Where would she go? What would she do? She was taking a trek out this morning to Deception Bay, and with the money she now had, she was going to buy herself a few things. Some new clothes. Some of those energy bars. A knife—you never knew when a weapon might come in handy. A new pair of hiking boots. A disposable cell phone.
She’d left early, because it would take some time to get to town on foot and she really wanted to be alone with her thoughts. Inside, she was brimming with a kind of repressed excitement she was afraid to let out. She was free! It was what she’d wanted for too long to remember. It was . . .
She walked around a corner and saw the figure of a man at the next rise, right in the middle of the road. There was something familiar about him, and she realized it was her friend, the man she’d dreamed of running away with. Briefly, she thought of Rand and wondered if she should make a point of saying good-bye. Why, she wasn’t sure. She barely knew him. But seeing her friend again made it just all the more clear that she was going to go away, and if she ever did come back, it wasn’t going to be for a long time.
