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“How are you allowed to have ligh—?” My words dry up when he turns his head away from me.
Gabriel asks the same question. “Isn’t there a by-law preventing external light on La Canette?”
And this time Hal does answer. “They’re allowed in some exceptional circumstances.” He continues to fix the stones around the miniature pond, and now I know what to look for, I can see the tiny lights, each the size of a grape.
“Are you going to tell us, or do we have to ask twenty questions?” Gabriel asks again, drawing a half smile from Hal.
“If the lights are not white, lower than twenty lumens, and only used for safety. In this case, these prevent people from tripping and falling off the steps or into the pool, and they are fifteen lumens each.”
“Which is?”
“Like a small birthday candle.”
“And green.” Pierre looks around. “They must cast a dreamy green light, like the spirit of the forest.” She and Gabriel share a private look which they hold for a long moment.
Then as if recalling they’re not alone, Gabriel shakes himself and says, “Must be a lot of electric wiring.”
“No,” Hal says. “Solar powered.”
Of course, solar powered. Hal’s dream to create something that looks part of nature and is, in a very real way, eco-friendly. I watch him compulsively tidying up the pebbles around the light fixtures, pulling up weeds. Then, as if catching himself, he stops, his hand stills on the edge of the stream. He looks so bleak; it makes me want to cry.
“You won’t lose it.” Gabriel hunkers down to dip his hands into the pool and splash water on his face. “We’ll find a way.”
“Even if we have to kill them,” Pierre says hotly.
“Hopefully, it won’t come to assassination.” Gabriel wipes his face, standing up.
“I’m serious.” She insists.
Me too. I’d gladly shove the two men off a high cliff and into the sea.
Hal glances at Pierre over his shoulder and sends her a small grin. “Thank you. We’ll keep that as a last resort.” Then he rises and turns to continue down the path.
A last resort.
In truth, the last resort probably lies with me. With declaring my grandfather senile. And walking on this journey through the exquisite gardens that Hal conceived and built, part of me pushes towards that to save his creation. Voiding the contract would solve everything. Easy.
Just like pushing Grandad off a high cliff into the sea.
I’d much rather go to prison for killing Morris and Sweeny.
For the rest of the walk, I pray with everything in my heart and mind for the secret house to have the answer. Please God, if there is any justice in this world, don’t let us lose. I don’t care about my own losses. I came here with nothing, and I’ll go back to nothing. But Grandad would lose the only thing that still matters to him. And Hal? He will lose everything. Everything, not only here but back in England, and be as poor as twenty years ago when they were driven out of La Canette.
My mind goes over the lay of the land around the secret house. The trees that surround it. Perhaps we overlooked something, a path or a fence or a plant that stretches across the boundary.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Elodie
“What’s that?” Pierre suddenly calls to us.
We’ve been all around the clearing and the pond and found nothing obvious. Pierre has gone inside because she’s fascinated with the cottage itself and was just looking through the bedroom window when she starts knocking on the glass to attract our attention.
“What?” Hal is the first to reach her.
“A flash. Like someone taking a picture of us.” She points towards the trees behind the house.
We follow her gaze, but the cedars are too thick and overgrown; it’s impossible to see if anything, or anyone, is hiding there. It’s like a mini forest behind the cottage.
