Page 67 of Lipstick Kiss

“Jonathan Cranford. There is no record of him ever being on Copper Island. I can’t find him on any electoral roll after 1970. This is the only place he pops up. I’ve applied to get the birth certificates of the two descendants, albeit one of them passed away at birth.”

“When was the other child born?” Archer asked.

“It indicates 1983,” Luke said.

“That makes them older than me. I was born in 1987. Is there a name?”

“No, I’ll need to get the birth certificate first.”

“This is huge,” Luke burst out. “All of this we’re working towards can be taken away in a flash once Cynthia dies and the heir rocks up.”

“Don’t you think he would be here by now? Don’t you think he would be living at Turner Hall?” Archer posed the question like the information wasn’t rocking their worlds.

“So many fucking questions. So many fucking secrets,” Luke shouted. “I am sick of this whole legacy bullshit. I just want a girl, a house and a job. I want to love all of them and live a simple life. If Cynthia lives as long as Grandfather, I am never going to see that. What is the point of staying on this island?”

Jason and Archer stayed silent as Luke roared through his thoughts. He muttered that he was calm, but somehow, the island had turned him into a jittery wreck.

“Why did Dad have to die?” he said, choking on the words. “Why couldn’t I have saved him? We wouldn’t be in this mess if I had.”

Jason and Archer took a step towards him, but Luke raised his hands.

“I feel like I’m going to lash out, and I don’t want that to be with anyone, especially you two. I’m going to clear my head and then get to the school. Freya said as long as I tell Mr Morris by eight, she won’t be in trouble.”

“All right, brother. You need to talk to either of us. We’re here for you. No matter what we’re doing. You hear me?” Archer said.

“I hear you, later,” Luke said, not looking at either of them.

Archer’s words nearly broke him. He’d spewed out his feelings, and his big brother was still there for him.

Taking the buggy to the town, he parked next to Heidi’s old house and let himself into Freya’s house. He bounded up the stairs and grabbed clothes he thought she would want if she wasn’t feeling well. Striding into the school, he ignored anyone looking at him. He was in too foul a mood to indulge in any pleasantries. The head teacher’s office was in the same place it had been when he was in school. He’d already spoken with Mr Morris after he found out he was bullying Freya, but he hadn’t stepped foot in the office. This time he wanted privacy to share what had happened with Freya.

He knocked on the closed door and then entered when he heard a barkedcome infrom Mr Morris.

“What do you want?” Mr Morris said once he’d looked up from his papers.

The bespectacled man looked older than he was. Luke thought he should’ve retired years ago, but he was still hanging on at seventy for some reason.

“I’ve come to tell you personally, so nothing gets lost in translation, that Freya Riley won’t be in school today.”

“Why?” he clipped out.

“She was in an accident yesterday, and I think she’s suffering from delayed shock.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She nearly drowned yesterday. I had to save her, and it was touch and go for a few moments.”

“Likely story,” he scoffed.

“What?”

“I said likely story. I bet she’s lording it up at Turner Hall, being served breakfast by the servants. Her neatly ironed newspaper ready for her perusal.”

There were so many things wrong with what Mr Morris had just said. Luke didn’t know where to start.

“She’s unwell. I would believe me if I were you.”

“You Turners parade around town like you own the place. It’s sickening.”

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