“It’s wonderful. I’ve never been happier. And it gets better all the time.”
His eyes reflected that rare glow of deep satisfaction. I envied him for finding his centre at last. I was still scrambling about in the dark, looking for mine.
“Crisp’s now Mother’s official business partner.” He shook his head in disgust. “Savanah’s hired a computer hacker, I believe.”
“That’s going down the criminal path.” I wiped my mouth with a cloth napkin. “You still suspect that it wasn’t an accident?”
He took a sip of water. “Mother and Crisp haven’t wasted time, have they?”
The resort and how fast it was movingdiddisturb me because there was also one other clear suspect in all of this. Our mother.
Chapter 13
Mirabel
Afteraweekofrecording in London, I was back in Bridesmere, and seeing that my cupboards were bare, I headed off to the supermarket. While strolling along the aisles at the local grocery store, I ran into Theadora.
“Hey you,” she said, hugging me.
“I’m so glad I saw you. I was going to call you about doing a gig in London for the release of my CD.”
Rather than blocking the aisle, we stepped aside to let people pass.
Her frown faded, and her face lit up. “I know. A swap of sorts.”
I gave her a quizzical look.
“I’m performing tomorrow night at Merivale. Perhaps you could join me? They’re hosting a soiree, of all things.”
That piqued my curiosity. What I really wanted to ask was whether Ethan would be there. “That’s not surprising. Caroline Lovechilde likes to parade as a woman of culture.”
She rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t she.”
Her cool tone wasn’t lost on me. “I’m sensing you’re not close.”
“She hates me. A former maid marrying her darling son.” She chuckled. “Nothing I can’t handle. I’m well-practised at cold, domineering mother figures.”
My eyebrows rose at that loaded comment. “That sounds intense.”
“I don’t let it get to me.” She wore a strained smile.
We paid for our goods, and I followed her out to the street.
“Let’s walk over to the pier so that I can buy some fresh fish,” she said. “That’s if you’ve got the time.”
I placed my backpack over my shoulders, and we crossed the road.
The tide was high, as unrelenting waves crashed against the pier, splashing froth in the air. Sea spray spritzed our faces as we walked to the fishmonger’s shop.
“I suppose your mother likes Declan?” I asked.
“She hasn’t met him.”
I stopped walking. “Really?”
“She keeps ringing for an invite. She’s dying to visit Merivale.”
Theadora told me what had happened to her, and I shook my head in shock. She was surprisingly deadpan and unaffected as she described her hideous upbringing.