Page 54 of The Island Villa

Cassie’s face brightened. “Really? Are you sure?”

Adeline felt an ache build inside her. She knew that emotion. Insecurity. The voice of someone who wasn’t sure they were wanted.

“Yes. We’re in this together, Cassie.” She emphasized the word together and saw her sister’s eyes glisten in the few seconds before she blinked.

“Right. Good.” Cassie handed her mug to Adeline to hold while she opened the doors that led from the bedroom to the terrace.

They settled on sun loungers with their coffees. Immediately below them the sea sparkled, turquoise blue and inviting.

“It feels strange, doesn’t it, being here in this stunning place and being so stressed.” Cassie settled on a sun lounger and stretched out her legs. Tiny flecks of coffee spilled onto her T-shirt as she moved, and she cursed and put the cup down on the terrace. “My head is thumping. Probably shouldn’t have drunk that champagne, but in our defense, it was a very low point in our lives.”

“I know. Although generally I don’t overindulge when I’m at a low point. I don’t believe in using substances as a mood regulator.” But last night she had. Last night, she’d done and said all sorts of things she wouldn’t normally have done and said. She’d even talked to Cassie about Mark. Why would she have done that?

Cassie glanced at her. “You never overindulge?”

“No. I think it’s important to acknowledge your emotions and deal with them, not numb them.”

“I think of it more as numbing them until you’re ready to deal with them.” Cassie took a sip of her coffee. “And I think it’s a good thing you overindulged.”

“I don’t.” Her head throbbed. She slid sunglasses onto her nose. “The very worst thing you can do in a low moment is turn to alcohol, or sugar, or drugs.”

Cassie gave a fatalistic shrug. “Well, we didn’t do any drugs, so I guess that’s a win.”

“I shouldn’t have come. Mark was right.”

“Mark’s the guy who thinks you need to rethink your priorities? I don’t like the sound of him.”

What did it say about her relationship that she didn’t even feel the urge to defend him?

She was starting to wonder why she’d stayed with him for so long.

“Why do you think it’s a good thing that I overindulged?”

“It was good for me. It made you seem less intimidating. More human.”

Adeline couldn’t have been more shocked. “You find me intimidating?”

“A bit. You’re very composed and in control. But last night you were a little unbalanced by everything, and also very honest. That was refreshing. And it made me feel a lot better at a point in my life when I was coming unglued. Did you take something for your headache?”

“No, but I’m hydrating.” Adeline was reeling from the revelation that she was intimidating.

“If you don’t usually drink, or stuff yourself full of sugar, how do you deal with stress?”

“Meditation. Controlled breathing. Yoga. Exercise if it’s convenient and safe to do so.”

“And does that work?” Cassie was staring. “As someone who tends to dive head first into chocolate, I find that impressive. And a little daunting if I’m honest.”

“It works, depending on the level of stress.” Adeline put her coffee down. Maybe caffeine hadn’t been such a great idea. “Is it me or are those plants really bright?”

“The bougainvillaea? They’re bright, but even brighter after a bottle of champagne. Shame there isn’t a way to mute them until we’ve recovered.” With her tumbled hair and sleepy eyes, Cassie reminded Adeline of a kitten, fluffy and comfortable.

“You love it here, don’t you?”

“Yes. Particularly this cottage. My room is so peaceful. I love the little desk under the window. I’ve spent so many hours writing in that spot. Distracting though, with the ocean right there and the garden and the birds.”

“Writing?”

“Essays. Homework. That kind of thing.” There was a tinge of pink on Cassie’s cheeks. She seemed about to say something and then stopped herself. “Boring stuff.”

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