“Someone’s out there,” he said with long strides to the window.
My heart took off. “There can’t be,” I said, following him.
He looked back at me, offended that I didn’t believe him. “I just saw them, Circe,” he said, pulling me behind him. “Does anyone know you’re here?”
“No,” he was too tall, blocking my view. When I peered around him again, I caught sight of another boat swaying in the water next to mine.
“There.” He tapped the window. “Someone came looking for you.”
And I knew exactly who it was.
CHAPTER 26
ADORA
Oh,no, oh, no, oh, no. The waves clipped the boat in time to the words in my head.
Alice steered a flat-bottom at least thirty feet in front of me, a clear shot to the harbor. I was already behind, so I had to throw on clothes. I revved the engine to full speed, needing to catch her before she got to Mrs. Cantini. Though, what would I tell her once I reached her? How could I convince her to keep my secret? What would happen to Stone if she refused to stay quiet?
It was still morning. Almost noon, perhaps. Though an ugly morning.
Above, the sun was a ghost behind spiritless clouds, and the wind was as harsh as my beating heart. The motor shook at its speed. Tears of my beloved black sea sprayed my eyes. I kept them open and fixed on Alice as I ate the distance between us.
Once her boat reached the dock, she jumped out with a rope tangled in her hand. She hurried to tie it to a wooden beam. My jon boat slowed until it clipped hers from behind.
“Alice, stop!”
She finished before I could and threw me a glance before taking off.
“Alice, listen to me,” I begged, working faster to get my boat secured to the dock.
Then I charged after her, grabbing the back of her raincoat just before she reached the wooden stairs. I spun her around to face me.
Alice appeared much older under somber skies, her jowls shaking, her wrinkles deep and angry, and her button nose aflame. Most of all, her eyes narrowed into black beads.
“Why did you follow me?” I grabbed her jacket and pulled her closer. “Why couldn’t you just leave it alone?”
Alice’s nose twitched with disgust, and she looked deep into my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t see anything,” she lied. Right to my face. She escaped my grip and straightened her back. “But if I were you, Miss Adora, I would spend the remainder of my day with my mother. That way, when the dutiful maid returns to the manor, and Mrs. Cantini asks if she found you, and where you’ve been, the maid won’t have to lie.”
My sore fingers dropped to my side.
She was willing to keep my secret. But why?
“That’s where I was,” I whispered, catching on. “I was with my mother.”
Her dire eyes nudged me. “Because you missed her.”
I did miss her. That wasn’t a lie.
A rain shower started. It was icy and soft and came down on us slowly. I looked up, and the silver clouds morphed into darker, ashen ones.
“I’ll be with my mother for the rest of the day.” I returned my gaze to her so she understood the seriousness on my face. “But we will talk about what you saw. Don’t bring this to Cyrus or Mrs. Cantini. To anyone.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to say.” Then she turned and trotted up the slick wooden stairs.
I didn’t know what to say either.
When I steppedinto the cottage, I expected laughter and the scent of pancakes, French toast, or crepes seeping and swirling. I didn’t expect silence and a chill.
