Beachcombing in the Bahamas (Once Again #11)

Chapter 19 – Adeline

19

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ADELINE

T he fish is indeed flaky, as Olive predicted, while also being moist. Grilled, it’s topped with some sort of lemon sauce that doesn’t stick to the ribs. The steamed vegetables are done to perfection.

I have trained our chef here well in what I like. Just plain food, nothing spicy, nothing fatty, nothing deep-fried like the kingfish the rest of them are enjoying. Though the accompanying mango salad looks quite delicious.

Brock commands everyone’s attention. “What do we all want to do tomorrow?”

Obviously, it will be something I’ll have to exclude myself from.

The boys shout almost in unison, “We want to rent ATVs.”

I’m well aware that ATV is the acronym for an all-terrain vehicle, and just as I have guessed, they choose something I can never do. But let them have their fun. I still have more work to do on Lorna. She’s becoming a bit too familiar with me, sometimes ignoring what I instruct her to do. I do believe she was even laughing at me when we told the family about the spa trip. I could have slammed her down, but it will be so much better to find a private moment for that.

“So is ATVing the consensus among all of you?” Brock asks.

All the young people raise their hands.

Then he rubs his lower back. “My fifty-eight-year-old body won’t like it. I’m already aching from those waterfalls today. Not to mention the zip line the other day. So I’m out for the ATVs.”

Brock isn’t old. He can handle an ATV. He often goes horseback riding. How can it be any worse?

Then he adds, “I’d like to do some shopping in town and get a few souvenirs. Who wants to join me?”

I can’t help but pooh-pooh the idea. “Lorna and I have already gone shopping. We don’t need to go again.”

But he turns to Trevor and Lorna as if they will consider doing something I don’t want to. “What about you two?”

With a broad smile, Trevor says, “I’ve already made plans to take Adeline and Lorna to the bird sanctuary Adeline talked about. Everyone is welcome to come. What about you, Brock?”

It looks as if, for a moment, Brock considers it. But then he says, “No. I’d rather have lunch in town and do a little shopping.” He juts his chin at Yvette. “How about you? Bird sanctuary or shopping?”

She rolls her lips between her teeth and bites down. As if she has to think about it.

And I say, “Yvette wants to see the bird sanctuary, don’t you, dear.” It isn’t a question.

But something smolders in the woman’s eyes. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told her what to do because she says, quite defiantly, “I want to go shopping. I like to find one of those embroidered blouses we’ve seen the local women wear.”

Which meant they will go alone. Together. That is completely unacceptable. “All right then, if you want to go shopping, we’ll all go shopping too. We can do the bird sanctuary another day.”

But Trevor shakes his head. “I’ve already bought our tickets. And you’re the one who suggested the bird sanctuary. You’re coming with us. No arguments about it.”

“You’ll love it.” Lorna pats my hand like I’m a child or a very old lady. I want to snatch it away. Or slap her. “You said that was a place you wanted to go,” she adds.

I’m being outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

What is going on here?

The boys are colluding to get me out of the way. But Brock can’t possibly be scheming to spend time alone with that woman. He simply wouldn’t dream of doing that. Never. Yet why is he so protective of her, vetoing every plan I have for putting her out of the gatehouse and giving it to Trevor and Lorna?

Is he actually attracted to her?

Then Brock looks once again at Yvette. And he says, without a single inflection in his voice, “I guess it’s just you and me then. Is that okay with you?”

Yvette answers, “I suppose I can handle it.”

And something horrible and cold slithers down my spine.