Chapter 5
926 Words
Let's make a promise. If one of us gets into difficulties, the others immediately pitch in to assist, no questions asked.
Friendship.
Stella had discovered that friendship was the one link in her life that could not be severed.
Another feeling came over her that was even more powerful, and it shook her to her core. She might not know anything about being a mother, and she might not be able to love, but she could be able to protect this child from the rest of the world by saying, "I promise."
Even if it meant coloring her hair purple, she would not break her word and honor her pledge.
Oscer pulled the bow line tight in order to prevent the boat from moving backward in the slip. He said, "I SAW LIGHTS in Castaway Cottage." The lights from the Ocean Club appeared to cast golden fingers across the surface of the water when viewed from a higher vantage point. Sounds of music and laughing could be heard drifting on the breeze, where they mixed with the calls of seagulls. "Are you familiar with that in any way? ”
"No, but I don't pay attention to my neighbors in the same way that you do," she said. I stay out of other people's business. Have you made an attempt to reach Sophie by phone? ”
"Voice mail. She is currently conducting archaeological research in Turkey in some location. I wouldn't be surprised if the sun hasn't even risen yet."
While Alec was setting the inshore stern line, the waves pounded against the sides of the boat. "Most likely a rental for the summer."
"Sophie doesn't normally rent the cottage." As they finished securing the boat together, Oscer winced as his shoulder began to protest. "Sophie doesn't usually rent the cottage."
Robert gave him a fleeting look. "Bad day? ”
"No worse than usual." The pain served as a constant reminder that he was still alive and should make the most of every moment. "No worse than usual." A fragment of his history that compelled him to pay attention to the here and now. "Let me know what you find out about the cottage in the morning," you said. "I'll be there."
"Or you could mind your own business," the response said.
Oscer shrugged. "Just a little island. I enjoy being up to date with current events.
"You're not going to be able to help yourself, are you?
"Just being friendly."
"You're like Sophie, always digging."
"Except that I tend to dig in the present, whereas she tends to dig in the past. Do you feel like getting back to sanding boards of wood right away, or would you rather have a beer? ”
"If you paid for it, I could get one down my throat."
"You ought to be the one footing the bill. You must be the wealthy Briton.
"At that time, I had not yet gotten divorced. You are the one who owns a bar, aren't you?"
Oscer paused to greet one of the sailing club coaches, glanced at the times for high and low tides scrawled on the whiteboard by the dockside, and then walked with Robert up the ramp that led from the marina to the bar and restaurant. "I'm living the dream," Oscer exclaimed. "I'm living the dream." Robert smiled as he watched Oscer. "I'm living the dream." In spite of the fact that it was only the beginning of summer, there was a lot of activity. As Oscer took in the lights and observed the people around him, he thought back to how the abandoned boatyard had seemed three years before. "So, how are things doing with the book? It's not like you to just hang out in the same spot for so long. If you sit in one position for too long, those muscles will atrophy, just like if you flipped through old books and stared at computer displays for too long. You're looking puny."
“Puny?
" Robert gave a confident shrug of the shoulders. "Do you need me to remind you who assisted you in completing the Ocean Club while your shoulder was bothering you? In addition, I spent the previous summer in Nederland constructing a model of a Viking ship and then sailing it to Iceland an endeavor that took more hours of rowing than I like to recall. That way, you won't have to worry about anyone else reading your condescending remarks about old literature.
"Are you aware that you're coming across as defensive? Like I stated. The alert on Oscer's phone went off, and he pulled it out of his pocket to see what the message said. "Puny." “Interesting.”
"If you're going to wait for me to ask, you might as well wait till the end of time."
"Hello, this is Sophie. The lights are on because she has allowed a friend who is having some difficulties to stay at Castaway Cottage. She has requested that I keep an eye on her.
“You?
" Robert bent over in an unintelligible fit of laughter. "That's the equivalent of handing a wolf a lamb and telling it, 'Don't eat this.'"
"Thank you. Who is to say that she is a lamb? It's possible that the companion is a werewolf as well, if she's anything like Sophie. Two summers ago, Sophie accidentally hit me in the butt with one of her arrows, and the wound is still visible today.
"I believed that she had excellent aim. Did she fail to hit the mark? ”
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