Page 37 of Stolen Kiss

“I don’t doubt that,” Archer mumbled.

“I miss dad,” Daisy said quietly.

“Yeah me too. Let’s toast him,” Jason said.

“To Dad,” Daisy said and took a swig.

Luke did the same and then Jason and Archer, even Erica took a mini sip and handed it straight back to Jason with a wince.

“You love rum and raisin ice cream but you can’t tolerate neat rum?” Jason asked.

“Seems that way,” she answered breathing out heavily like she was breathing fire.

Jason laughed and gave her a nudge. “We’ll convert you. When we’re here next year, you’ll be swigging like the rest of us.”

She gave him a megawatt smile that stunned him for a few seconds and then she took Archer’s hand.

“Can I get a tour? Do you know all these graves?”

“All but two. They have nothing written on them. No one will tell us who is buried there and Aunt Cynthia says shehas no idea. I don’t believe her because they were put there in my lifetime and nothing happens on this estate without her approval,” Archer said.

“Oh, sounds like a mystery to be solved,” Erica replied.

“There are hundreds of mysteries to be solved on this island. I spent most of my childhood seeking them out,” Luke said.

“With Freya,” Archer added. “Your platonic friend.”

“Guys can be just friends with girls,” Luke said defensively.

“Sure they can,” Jason said.

“They can’t,” Erica and Daisy said at the same time.

“I’m out of here,” Luke said giving the line a glare. “Ready Daisy? Ralph will take us back to the airport.”

Daisy and Luke were only there for a couple of hours to mark the passing of their father and then they were heading back to college. They said their goodbyes passed around hugs and were walking away.

Jason needed to go back to the kitchen to plan what food he needed to buy in for the wedding. He left Archer and Erica to wander around the private graveyard that only had Turner family members buried there. He felt a shudder run down his spine when he realised one day he would be six feet under. He hoped it was many years from now.

A few hours later, he closed his laptop just as his phone rang. It was growing dark outside. Freya’s name showed up and he gave it the side eye.

“Everything okay?” he said as a hello.

“Can you come into town? To Heidi’s house?”

Freya sounded fraught. When Heidi was knocked unconscious Freya wasn’t worried and now she sounded frightened.

“Of course, what’s going on?” he said, already on the move.

“She’s had a really shitty day and I think she needs you.”

“She say that?”

“Not explicitly but nothing I can say will calm her.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Jason hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair in his living room. He was due to have dinner with Archer and Erica and was dressed to pop round.

---