Page 23 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

He touched Alexander’s chest, surprised to feel a racing heart. “You’re very good at that,” Elliot whispered. “Kissing, I mean.”

Alexander’s smile curved upward, his cheeks flushed. “You, too.”

Elliot opened his mouth to say more, but snapped it shut when he saw Mother. The kindness in her eyes had vanished, replaced with determination. Elliot hesitated, his breath hitching in his chest. He stepped away from Alexander. It felt like the cake frosting had spilled from the holes in his mind, creating a haze in his head. He wanted to move out of the way, to wrap his arms around Alexander and never let go. There were so many things he wanted, but he couldn’t make himself move. As his mind spun with fear and frosting, Mother launched herself toward him, her eyes seeming almost feral. She collided with Elliot, knocking him off balance as she screamed, “I won’t let you do this,” though Elliot hadn’t done anything at all.

Alexander rushed forward, trying to help, but Mother was a force. In the scuffle, she and Alexander became entangled, their arms and legs flailing every which way. With a sudden, horrifying lurch, Elliot watched as Mother and Alexander tumbled over the railing. Elliot’s heart stalled in his chest as he saw them hanging from the side of the ship, their fingers gripping the cold steel.

It was as if someone flipped a switch in Elliot’s mind, launching him into action. “Hold on!” he shouted, his voice stronger than he could ever remember it sounding. Part of him wanted to go to Mother, offering his support. But what support had she ever given him?

He lunged, clasping his hands around Alexander’s forearm and holding on tightly.

Alexander hurled his dangling arm up, wrapping his hand around Elliot’s wrist for support. As Alexander kicked and crawled his way up the side of the ship, then through the unnecessarily large gaps in the railing, Clarence cried out, “Emily!”

Elliot had never heard anyone refer to her by her first name. She’d only ever been Mother or Ms. Broussard.

Mother was staring at Clarence, who had two hands around her wrist, pulling with all his might. “I’m slipping.” Her voice was a whisper of disbelief. Fear flashed in her eyes, and then resignation. Then her instincts kicked in, and she reached her dangling arm up for Clarence to take, but when he relinquished the hold of his right hand, his left hand lost grip of her.

Her eyes were wide as she fell, and Elliot couldn’t look away from them. He felt he owed her that much. The drop was long, and it felt as if time was running at a snail’s pace.

At Elliot’s side, Alexander shouted, “Man overboard,” but they were the only ones at the ship’s rear. There wasn’t another soul in sight. “Don’t worry. We’ll get a raft. There’s still time.”

Elliot watched in horror as Mother’s head slammed against the side of the ship during a tumultuous mid-air tumble.

Mrs. Peppercorn placed a hand on both men’s shoulders. “After that, I don’t think the raft is necessary.” She peeked over them and past the railing as Mother’s head hit the side of the ship three more times. Nodding, she added, “Yep. That’ll do it.”

They stayed that way for a while, wrapped in a shroud of stunned silence.

“Emily,” Clarence whispered again. “No. . .”

Elliot knew the pair had always been close, but he’d never heard the automaton refer to her so informally. Standing, Clarence rushed off, and Elliot didn’t have the strength to go after him. If he was going to alert the staff that Elliot had gone rogue, there was nothing he could do to stop him.

Alexander turned as if he was going to run after Clarence, stopping when Mother’s butler paused at the stairs leading up to the ship’s wheelhouse. The captain was inside, Elliot was sure. Or, at least, someone was inside. It was where they steered the ship, so it couldn’t be empty. Instead of walking up the stairs, Clarence walked a few steps forward, then rushed down a flight of stairs leading to the lower deck. There were emergency vessels on the side, and he frantically pried one loose before chucking it over the side of the ship, and climbing over the railing. Without a second glance, Clarence plunged himself into the sea.

“Well. That’s two birds with one stone,” Mrs. Peppercorn observed.

Elliot threw himself against Alexander’s chest, his emotions finally getting the better of him. He stayed that way for ages, refusing to let go.

“I’m sorry,” Alexander soothed. “I’m so sorry, Elliot.”

After a while, Elliot reined in his emotions. Mother was gone. Clarence was gone. There had been a seismic shift in Elliot’s predicament. He no longer had Mother threatening his freedom. There was no worry about Clarence alerting the captain. All that was left were Elliot and Alexander’s beating hearts and dreary eyes.

“I can’t go back to him.”

“You don’t have to,” Alexander quickly assured him. “You never have to see him again.”

Alexander sounded serious, but Elliot couldn’t think of a way out of the situation. When they returned to shore, where would he go? Would he return to Mrs. Peppercorn’s lovely little home? Would Jared come looking? He couldn’t bear the thought of losing his brief taste of freedom again. Though he was more frightened than ever before, Elliot focused on the care in Alexander’s tone, and how it radiated affection.

“Where will I go?”

Alexander swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slowly. “Do you want to come home with me?”

Elliot breathed. “To . . .?”

“To stay with me.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers. “To live with me.” Alexander stroked Elliot’s knuckles with his thumb, making Elliot feel like fireflies were swarming in his stomach. “I’ll treat you well. I won’t hurt you. You’ll be safe with me.”

Elliot blinked, unable to form words. Dipping his head in approval, Elliot waited for the other shoe to drop, because shoes dropped quite frequently around him. The men stared into each other’s eyes, an unspoken conversation taking place that Elliot didn’t fully understand.

Alexander broke the silence. “Ever since that day on the dock, I haven’t been able to shake the thought of you.” Alexander tapped his chest, right over his heart. “Five years later, and you’re still here.” He leaned in until their noses touched. “May I kiss you again, Elliot?”

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