Page 83 of Stolen Kiss

“Seemed the timing was perfect for Aunt Cynthia.”

“I waited until you left with your brother and father and then sat her down and told her. Then I sent you the text that she never wanted to see you again. I thought I was acting to protect her. Seems like I was protecting the Turner legacy. But it wasn’t until early December when your grandfather came to see me, that it all fell into place. We had a chat at The Anchor and he passed me an envelope. It was the deeds to this peninsular. He said there was nothing he could do with the land and he knew I surfed a lot, so he gave it to me as I was your best friend. He wanted it to go to someone he could trust. I didn’t think the Turners gave up any land. I thought every inch was leased. Albeit, each plot was leased for a hundred-and-fifty-years but at the same it was odd. I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I didn’t want toleave the island, but I didn’t want to work in an office or out at sea. I loved the water, so I thought I could build a house and run a surf shop and a snorkelling tourist spot.”

“I don’t see a house,” Jason said, scanning the horizon.

“No. Come the new year and there was no wife, marriage or even you, I had a bad feeling. I’d cut all ties with you so it wasn’t as if I could ask you what the fuck was going on. I couldn’t ask Heidi, Freya was tight with Luke but I didn’t think it was fair to put any pressure on her.”

“What did you do?”

“I marched up to Turner Hall, demanded Bailey let me in and I cornered your aunt. Do you know what she said?”

“What?”

“The Countess had changed her mind and had married a European prince instead.”

“I knew then it was a crock of shit but the damage was done. I ran my business enough to cover my bills. They’re not many because I still live with my parents and they refuse rent. But the guilt ate away at me and I couldn’t figure out the lie. My anger blinded me. It wasn’t until I saw your face when I asked who you were marrying that I realised you had no idea she was fixing you up.”

“I had no clue she was doing any of this and we still don’t know why. She seems obsessed that we all marry to continue the line. Archer got lucky, Luke can’t wait to get married, Daisy says she’s never getting married and I want to spend the rest of my days with Heidi and I don’t care if we don’t get married.”

“Dad will. He won’t want his daughter living in sin, no matter what the year says on the calendar.”

Jason chuckled. “I agree with him but I can’t make her want to be a Turner and everything that goes with it.”

“It’s a lot to ask. I wonder if this is how outsiders feel when they agree to join the Royal Family.”

“I’m not sure I want to be a Turner and I have no choice,” Jason said.

“Is Erica as lovely as everyone is saying?” Keith asked changing subject.

“She’s fantastic. I don’t know why you won’t come up to the cottages and meet her.”

“I don’t trust myself up there. If I saw your aunt I don’t think I’d be able to keep my hands off her throat.”

“There’s a line, mate. Seriously come up for Christmas drinks. We’re doing it early because we have a big wedding to get ready for. It’s in a couple of weeks.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Jason nodded and looked over his shoulder. The water was too calm to do any surfing, so he stretched forward until he was prone on the board and started paddling to shore. Keith followed him and for the first time in many years, Jason was finding some peace. He had his friend back. Heidi was in his bed and his siblings were enjoying life.

“You should build a house, Keith. Make this peninsular your home, set some roots here. There’s no point letting it go to waste. How are you going to get a woman living at the bottom of your parent’s garden?”

They were trudging up the loose sand to the mini car park.

“Until now, I never thought I deserved to be happy after taking yours and Heidi’s away.”

“Well we can put that to rest. Neither of us died and we’re back together. Build your house and she will come.”

“Fuck off,” Keith said laughing.

It was the first time he’d hear his mate laugh since they’d started speaking again and it felt good.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Heidi

Watching Jason work was mesmerising. He was spinning a cake slowly on a turntable whipping the icing into peaks so it looked like a snow sculpture. She’d come to realise he was very talented. His skills were wasted on the rig workers if this was the creation he did freehand.

“Have you decided yet?” Jason asked.

---