Secrets Whispered from the Sea - Emma St. Clair Page 0,57

had been clinging to her. I’d written it off as just being about Nana.

“Marriage isn’t easy,” she said finally.

“Why do you think I haven’t gotten married?” I said, cracking a smile, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Is that why?”

Was it? Yes and no. I didn’t need to be married to know that it would be difficult. Ann and I had front-row seats to that growing up. For years and years, I think we’d expected—both dreading and hoping—for our parents to divorce. When Mom died, it seemed to me like an inevitable outcome. Shocking in terms of timing, but not truly a surprise. Painful, but we’d already been in pain for years.

“Speaking of marriage difficulties, I think you’re right about Dad and Nadia.”

“We can only hope,” Ann said.

“Ann!”

“It’s not like you have any more love for her than I do.”

“True. But Dad, despite being an idiot to fall for someone like her, seems to love her.”

Ann chewed on a thumbnail, something I hadn’t seen her do since we were kids. “Love doesn’t work when it’s one-way. Neither does marriage.”

I couldn’t argue with that. But I hated the thought of Ann or Dad being unhappy.

“They asked us for money,” Ann said. “That’s why they invited us to dinner last week. It’s why they’re here.”

That had me reeling back. Dad? Asking Ann and Tommy for money?

“Why? He hasn’t asked me.” Though maybe that’s what the visit was about yesterday. Perhaps Chuck and Alec had kept them from asking.

Ann snorted. “I’m assuming because Nadia blows through his professor’s salary pretty quickly. And he wouldn’t ask you.” She pressed her lips together, like she’d said something she hadn’t meant to say.

“What’s that supposed to mean? We’ll both get a share of this place when it sells. That’s no small thing. And I’ve had good jobs. I have money.”

Even if I didn’t come anywhere close to what Tommy made.

“Well, maybe they will ask you. Nadia has no boundaries.”

“Clearly. She was flirting with Alec yesterday right in front of Dad.”

“Who’s Alec?”

“He’s Auntie Clem’s boyfriend.” I looked up to see Sophie standing in the doorway. “I like him.”

“He offered to hire us as consultants. How much does Dad make?” Camille asked.

“That’s not a polite question to ask. When did you meet Alec?”

I met Ann’s confused gaze, waving a dismissive hand. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s the one helping with the plans for the house. We met up at the coffee shop earlier.”

“He’s not your boyfriend?” Sophie asked.

“He should be,” Camille said.

Ann’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. Are we talking about Alec, the guy from the council? The one Tommy mentioned having words with after the last meeting? I thought he’s the one who tanked the original proposal.”

I’d totally forgotten about the altercation with Tommy. “That was a misunderstanding. He’s helping suggest plans that will get approved.”

“Why would he do that? What’s in it for him?”

I’d wondered the same thing, and I honestly didn’t have an answer for Ann or for myself.

“Can we go?” asked Camille. “The movie’s over.”

“Sure. Thank Auntie Clem.”

Both girls gave me hugs and gathered their bags inside. Moments later, they were gone and the silence they left behind was jarring. With the first guest room cleared, I could finally sleep in a bed, but couldn’t bring myself to do so. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth when I heard a loud noise that made me jump. It sounded like the door slamming. I really should have fixed that lock.

My heart thudded. I spit toothpaste into the sink and dashed out of the bathroom with an ugly vase in hand, the only weapon I could find. I stopped when I saw Alec standing inside by the door, a drill in his hand. As I watched, he pulled the whole metal lock from the front door, then picked up a new one from a toolbox at his feet.

“What are you doing?” I asked, hiding the vase behind my back.

He half turned, the barest hint of a smile on his face. “Just replacing the lock. I heard your dad say yesterday that it was broken.”

I shifted on my feet as he turned back to the door. The drill started up again, and within a minute or two, Alec had finished replacing the lock.

“That should do it. Not that the island has a high crime rate or anything, but now you can rest safe.”

“I’m not staying here,” I said.

“Of course not. You wouldn’t disobey a direct ordinance and risk the fines. Or the danger of the whole house collapsing with