Page 53 of Hidden Raphael
Chapter 15
Kimberly's heart dropped into her gut, and her gaze swept the room with the secret door. This was not an old tearoom. The room's darkness held something else, but this wasn't her goal. Raphael had gone to the gym. She'd find out what the tower bedroom looked like. Did he see the ocean? It was the biggest question on her mind. She swallowed. The ocean view wouldn't bring a ship, but she'd know where to wish for one. She ran up the stairs and hoped she'd have time to look out. How big was the island? How much could he see from the tower?
She held the candelabrum tight. "I feel like a teenager who just discovered fairytales can come true."
Visions of Beauty and the Beast played in her head as she rushed up the stairs, but here, no enchanted objects would sing to her.
At the door at the top of the stairs, she clutched the doorknob and tried to turn it. The door stayed shut. Strange. She pushed harder, but the door didn't move. There had to be a trick to it. She opened her palm and pushed at the oak door. "Okay, I can figure this out."
She stood up on her tiptoes to reach the top half of the door. Raphael was much taller than her, but she swore she saw a lock. She placed the candelabrum on the step beside her, then jumped and brushed against the bolt.
Nothing moved. She pushed her hair out of her face. "It appears five hundred years old and rusted."
Then she jumped one more time, and pressed against the lock. It turned.
She heard it click. A smile grew on her face, and she picked up her candelabrum and twisted the knob.
This time the door opened. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. The ocean's heavy surf caught her gaze. She clutched the medallion and realized she hadn't given it back. She should have. Then she saw the remains of the plane.
Raphael must have seen the crash from here. She could see everything on the beach. The fires in her memory almost choked her. She turned away from the window.
Her breath caught in her throat. What? She walked over to his bureau and picked up a wedding picture. She held it tight in her hands, not understanding what she saw in the glass frame. It was her sister, Erica. How?
She stumbled back and sat on the bed. Erica appeared so happy and in love with a man who vaguely resembled Raphael. How did Raphael have this? Erica's face beamed with excitement. Kimberly brushed away the mist in her eyes.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside in the hall. Kimberly didn't budge, but she assumed that Raphael came up. She held the picture to her chest and rocked.
"Kimberly?"
Her gaze flew to him, but she held the picture as tight as she could. "How do you have this?"
He took a step closer to her and his shoulders blocked the view of everything else. "Have what?"
"Erica's picture." Kimberly rocked, but she didn't show him the wedding picture. This was too personal. "Why do you have her wedding picture?"
"The only wedding picture I have…" His voice trailed off and he glanced at the bureau. He swallowed. "Kimberly Mira."
Her gaze met his. "That's my whole name. Why is that important?"
He came closer and they shared the same air. He looked down at the picture in her hand. "I have met your sister, Erica."
"Clearly. You have her picture." She stared up at him. Raphael shouldn’t have this. Her fingers ached as she clutched the picture. Why would Raphael know Erica? "Did you eat at one of her restaurants?"
"No. She married my brother." Raphael placed his hand on hers. "I was there. I'm Raphael Murphy, Gabriel's brother."
She blinked. How? No. She hadn't expected to be related in any way to Raphael. Erica was too special. "I saw Erica's wedding announcement online. They only married a few weeks ago. It prompted my return home."
"To get some of their money?" Raphael crossed his arms.
"How dare you? You don't know anything about me."
"You couldn't buy a ticket to come home, that’s what everyone thought."
"Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly from Tahiti to Miami? It's the other side of the world, but that’s beside the point. I make enough money to support myself. I didn’t find out in time."
He closed his eyes and answered, "I swore to my brother that I'd never harm the family name ever again. Kimberly, that kiss was a mistake."
She rolled her eyes. "Those kisses are unimportant right now. Why didn't you tell me you had this?"
