Page 53 of The Island Villa

Scooping her still wet hair into a ponytail, she opened the door of the bedroom.

“Good morning.”

Cassie was hovering by the door, holding two oversized mugs brimming with coffee. She was wearing a loose T-shirt in a bright shade of coral over a pair of cutoff shorts. Her cheeks were pink from the sun and dusted with freckles. Her eyes were tired and her hair was caught up in a scrunchie. She looked young and vulnerable.

“You’re already packed?” She eyed the open suitcase. “You don’t have to leave. If anyone is leaving, it should be me, so that you can spend some proper time with your parents.” It was said casually, but Adeline knew there was nothing casual about it.

Her half sister was as hurt and confused as she was, possibly more so. Cassie seemed to be picturing Catherine, Andrew and Adeline putting the past behind them and reverting to a cozy little family unit with herself on the outside.

Adeline wasn’t able to picture that at all, mostly because she knew it wouldn’t happen. They’d had their shot at being a functional family and failed. So what did that make them this time? She had no idea.

“I haven’t packed. I didn’t bother unpacking.”

“I’m not sure if that makes it worse or better.” Cassie gave a half smile. “I wanted to say thank you for last night. For coming to find me. For listening. I was feeling horrible and you made it easier. Sorry I was pathetic.”

“You weren’t pathetic. Your reaction was valid and understandable.” She met Cassie’s anxious gaze and some long-forgotten emotion uncurled inside her. A bond that she’d rejected. “Did you sleep?” She probably shouldn’t have asked. She was struggling to handle her own feelings, without taking on anyone else’s.

“Not much. You?”

Adeline shook her head. “No.” She glanced at her open suitcase. The box that Maya had sent her was still unopened. Figuring that this was as good a time as any to see what her friend had picked out for her, she slid her finger under the seal and opened it.

She blinked, dazzled by the rainbow of colors that greeted her.

“Damn it, Maya.” She muttered the words under her breath. “Mark was right. I should have checked.”

She picked up a sundress in a shade of pale lemon, and then another that was bright coral and hung from straps so thin they looked as if they’d snap at the faintest pressure.

“Wow. I love that.” Cassie was still in the doorway, and she was staring at the dress Adeline was holding up. “It will look stunning on you. Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but do you have painkillers? I don’t think I’ll survive the next few hours without medicinal support.”

Adeline reached into her suitcase and held out a small box. “Take them. I have more.”

“Thanks.” Cassie put the mugs of coffee down on the table and slipped the painkillers into the pocket of her shorts. She was still staring at the dress. “Why are you looking at it so doubtfully?”

“Because I don’t wear dresses like this.”

“So why did you buy it?”

“I didn’t. I have a friend who works for a fashion magazine, and she sent me a box of clothes as a gift. I should have checked what was in the box before I packed it.”

“That’s an amazing gift.” Cassie stepped closer so that she could see the contents of the box. “There are some fabulous pieces here. I need to rethink my friends. None of mine would send me stuff like this.” She held up a floaty nearly transparent beach wrap in a shade of turquoise. “I don’t understand the problem.”

“The problem is that she has picked out clothes that suit her life, not mine.”

Cassie put the wrap down and grinned. “As your sister, I owe it to you to tell you that if your life doesn’t suit these clothes, then you need to change your life.”

Adeline hung the dresses up. “Maya would agree with you.” She didn’t know why she was bothering to hang them, but she didn’t want Cassie to think she was going to leave the moment her back was turned. Hanging them up hopefully signaled that she was here for the duration.

“I don’t know if you’re a coffee drinker.” Cassie picked up a mug and handed it to her. “It’s strong.”

“I’m a coffee drinker, and strong works for me. Thanks.” Adeline tucked the empty suitcase under the bed and took the mug. “My head is killing me. Yours obviously is too.”

Cassie gave a brief smile of recognition. “Why do you think I was begging for painkillers? I can leave you alone if you prefer.”

She did prefer. She had so much to think about, and she always did her best thinking by herself. On top of that, she wasn’t sure that right now she could handle Cassie’s emotions as well as her own.

And then she glanced at her sister and saw the look in her eyes. Uncertainty.

Her lips moved, forming the words she hadn’t intended to say. “Let’s take our coffee onto the terrace.”

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