‘Word of advice, Joji is not the best person to gather intel for you unless it’s about whether guests are hot or not,’ Xavier says.
I gasp and bite down on a laugh. Xavier is in touch with every little thing around this place, just like Mariola is.
Michel kicks the ground. ‘You did the right thing,’ he says in a quiet voice as if not quite wanting to admit it.
‘The only thing, as far as both my mum and I were concerned. This has always been home to her and home to the expats. We want to keep it that way. Sadly we had to make some concessions for that to happen, like the eventual demolition of the Cabana Bar and the development of the promenade. While I’m still the majority shareholder for the Last Chance Resort, there were conditions in the contract as to certain renovations that I had to agree to, for the deal to go ahead.’
‘And then the Gus drama happened? How did you explain the missing money?’ I ask.
‘I didn’t. I repaid it so they didn’t know.’
This guy is not a money-hungry, finger-clicking monster at all. The very opposite in fact. ‘Wow. You are a bit of all right in my book.’ I send him a dazzling smile and all the coolness I’ve felt towards him evaporates.
‘Thanks?’
‘Yeah, I guess this is where I apologise?’ Michel says.
‘No need for apologies. You only wanted to protect the island too.’
‘Isn’t it so much easier when we use words instead of glowering like we’re in a stand-off?’ I tease.
44
After a nail-biting chopper ride, we land and get a taxi to the address we have for Gus. We take the elevator up, the silence heavy.
I take the lead and knock on the door as the two alpha males near me suddenly seem to be enamoured with the carpet and are doing their best to look anywhere but eye level. Men!
I rap on the door and it soon swings open, revealing Gus, who looks just like I imagined he would with that grandfatherly vibe, long white hair and a beard. When he clocks Michel and Xavier, his mouth falls open. ‘Hi, Gus. I’m Harper.’
He quickly composes himself. ‘Harper Lee, in the flesh. What a surprise. Come in, come in. Anne-Marie is resting, so we’ll need to be quiet.’
Still not one word from Xavier or Michel.
Gus leads us into the bedsit which is compact size but maybe they chose this place because it’s close to the medical centre. Still, we’re not going to be able to talk freely here on the off chance we disturb Anne-Marie.
‘Is there a park or gardens nearby so we don’t wake up Anne-Marie, Gus?’
‘Yes, right around the corner. Xavier. Michel.’ He gives them a nod. At least one of the three of them has some manners. They return his nod, their hands shoved into pockets and shoulders hunched as if they’d rather be anywhere but here. Gus is handling it well but there’s a slight tremor in his voice that gives his anxiety away.
Outside, we wander along and soon come to a park. ‘It’s nice to finally meet you in the flesh, Gus.’
‘You too, Harper. You too.’
‘I was sorry to hear about Anne-Marie’s diagnosis. How is her treatment going?’
His eyes go glassy and he chokes back a sob. When he composes himself, he says, ‘We’re on the last week of the trial now. As for results, it’s a waiting game. One thing Anne-Marie is certain about is that she’s keen to return to Esperé.’
‘Everyone is missing you both. You sold your home though, so where will you stay?’ Gus and I walk side by side as Xavier and Michel hang back. Honestly, I want to bang their heads together. Xavier should be taking the lead here.
‘Yeah, had to. We’ve got family there, we’ll be fine.’
I imagine Anne-Marie without a bed of her own to rest in. Without her own room to retreat in for some quiet, after all she’s faced. I can’t exactly offer a solution but I hope that someone else will. Xavier for example…
Gus suddenly looks like an old man. It’s like you can see the energy drain from him as if this worry has taken a toll on him. What a horrible position to be in at his age. Anne-Marie’s health hanging in the balance, no home to call their own. No job. No income. Just a load of burdens to carry when all he should be focusing on is Anne-Marie. It’s cruel.
He stops and turns to Xavier. ‘We should address the elephant in the room. I’m sorry for betraying your trust the way I did. It’s unforgivable. But to be honest with you, I didn’t much like the man who returned to the Last Chance Resort. The one bossing staff about. It’s like you forgot where you came from.’
Xavier reels back as if he’s been slapped. I did not expect that from Gus.
