AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The jury’s still out,” Hector replied, earning himself a light smack on the arm.
“How’s Minty doing?” I asked.
“Well, she’s certainly earned her name,” Adele said, resting her hands on the rails overlooking the edge of the boat. “She’s as green as seaweed.”
“Oh Jeez,” Hector hissed. “Eyelashes or no fucking eyelashes, I’m not leaving her side.”
I chuckled as he stomped off in the direction of his seasick girlfriend.
“Never thought I’d see him so pussy whipped,” Adele smirked.
I nodded. “He’s a charmer and a showman. He could hide his feelings far better than I ever could.”
Adele’s eyes grazed me up and down. “Evidently.”
“As I was saying…” I began, but Adele held up a hand.
“Save it. I don’t need thanks. I did it as much for me as I did for you. I was so sick of the rules and the lies and the snobbery and the double standards. I knew things weren’t right and that Father was hiding it all. I thought if I could just uncover one thing, it might help to unravel the rest.”
“Hmm.” I remained tight-lipped.
“What aren’t you telling me, Rupert?”
“I just don’t think anything will change,” I said, emptying my lungs with no small amount of sadness. “If the way the families are treating me and Hector gives us indication of how things might change, I’d say the outlook is bleak. They’re being polite, obviously. That’s what they’re trained for, but I know without a doubt, they’re talking up a storm behind our backs.”
“For sure,” Adele replied.
“Their views won’t change.”
Adele faced me, her eyes narrowing against the biting breeze. “Maybe not overnight, but you might be surprised.”
“Why?” I asked. “What else do you know that I don’t?
“Nothing yet,” she said. “But don’t give up hope. What are your plans now?”
I leaned back against the rail and squinted at the low afternoon sunlight. “Well, the rehab centres are a no-go, but my name’s still on the Thorn Pharmaceuticals papers. I can wind the business down, write it off, declare bankruptcy. That should piss Iris off some.”
“Indeed,” Adele said, grinning widely. “What about the Distillery?”
“I don’t know yet. My name is on those papers too, but it’s a good business, and it promotes the island. It’d be a real shame to close it down.”
“You could sell it to pay for the rehab centres,” she suggested.
“That’s true.” I stowed that suggestion away as an option.
“What will you do for a living?”
I frowned in surprise. “Didn’t Vivian tell you?”
“Clearly not.” Adele blew into her hands in an attempt to keep them warm. “Tell me what?”
“I’ve been growing Bas ethically, on an island north of Crow. The red tops are doing well and we’ll be able to cultivate them soon.”
“Doesn’t that need money?” she pressed.
I inhaled deeply. This was the problem with growing up around so much money I’d never once needed to think about it. “Yes. But I’ll get it, somehow.”
“I might be able to help you,” Adele said, with a timid smile.
