River bound seacret swep.., p.36
River Bound Seacret Swept, page 36
“He’ll snap out of it soon,” Vince assured Suzy.
“Some ice-cold water ought to cool him off.”
“Go for it, Suze.” Lexy chortled.
“I double dare you.” Sondra chimed in.
Vince was skeptical. “Thriller’s a chicken.”
“I’m not!” Suzy objected. “If you promise to hide me behind your back right after, I swear I’ll do it.”
Vince guffawed. “If I gave you a million dollars you still would not do such a thing.”
“I know.” Suzy smiled ruefully. “I learned the hard way.”
Everyone laughed.
Vince’s phone bleeped and he turned away to answer it.
“We’re coconuts,” Sondra said.
“Guys,” Vince said as he hanged up. “Rona wants to see us. “She’s browsing the catalogue I left with her this morning at the guest harbor. Who’s coming with me?”
“Why were you there?” Lexy asked.
“Everyone was there for breakfast, Adrian included.”
Lexy sniffled loudly. “No one invited me.”
“Lex, you were dead to the world,” Vince exclaimed. “Even the roosters gave up!”
“I was jetlagged.” Lexy gave a tiny giggle.
“A catalogue!” Sondra came to life. “Suze, Allan, Lexy, a catalogue. Hellooo, people! Let’s go.”
“You guys go ahead,” Lexy said. “Suze and I have to catch up on secret stuff.” She sipped some lemonade.
“Fine,” Sondra huffed. “Let’s go, Allan.”
The sounds of a motor boat had Dr. Allan halting in mid-stride. “Company’s coming,” he said.
“You and I need to fight a little when I get back,” Vince told Lexy. “It’s sexy as hell.”
“Bring it on.” Lexy held up her fists like Bruce Lee.
“You don’t have to go all Rambo on me.” Vince pulled a long face and sniffled. “That’s it. My job here is done. Have your people call my people if you want to see me again.”
“They already did,” Lexy smirked. “We do lunch when you get back and after that, it’s the battle field, Hon.”
“Deal! Bye, Lexy, by Thriller.”
“See you later, Vince,” Suzy said. She glanced into Adrian’s office. He had disappeared!
“Lex, about the secret—”
“Company’s here,” Lexy whispered.
Suzy frowned as a strange boat loomed into her vision.
And suddenly the wharf was bustling as a couple of men began unloading a bunch of suitcases.
Behind them was a high-heeled woman.
“What the—” Lexy sprang up.
The woman smiled and waved at the reversing boat as if she was Aphrodite rising out of all the suitcases around her.
Suzy gasped the exact same moment Lexy pulled her off the swing and unto the ground.
“It’s Valini,” Lexy hissed. “Stay down, Suze!”
After a while, they lifted their heads to see Pamela heading towards the wharf to meet Valini, half-way.
Lexy panicked. “Quick. We’ve to hide!”
They giggled as they made it through the sliding doors and into Adrian’s study, undetected.
And then they both froze as the sounds of clicking heels on the stone patio, increased.
Lexy hastily took a seat behind Adrian’s oak desk while Suzy pretended to look for a book.
“Where are the workmen? I need my things from the wharf.” Valini’s voice drifted nearer, her heels clicking out her determination.
“We’re short-staffed,” Pamela said. “Carl’s busy—”
“I heard about Kalika’s death.” Valini interrupted. “I came especially to offer my sympathy.”
“Bull shit!” Lexy exploded vehemently.
Suzy frowned. “How did she know Grandma died?”
“Joseph must have told her. They’re cousins.”
“I got left behind last night. Your boatman, Vince said he didn’t have room,” Valini scoffed. “What a horrid man!”
Lexy spewed lemonade into the air. “Boatman—?”
“Where’s Adrian?” Valini demanded suddenly.
“That shrilly voice,” Lexy hissed. “It nettles my eardrums.” How did I put up with—?”
There was a knock and the door was pushed opened.
“Oh! Lex and Suze are here!” Pamela declared as she entered, Valini following her.
Despite her haughty attitude, the tall, dark-haired Valini was beautiful, poised and svelte in a sleek white dress and matching killer heels.
Valini twirled a loose curl, her gaze on Suzy. “Hello Lexy,” she said in a singsong but nasal voice. “What’s this? A new friend? Really, Lexy.”
“You don’t remember Suzy?” Lexy clutched her glass of lemonade and stepped out from behind the desk.
“How could I not? She scandalized her grandmother on the boat. And her poor bereaved grandfather.” Valini’s hard eyes dissected Suzy as if she intended to prove Suzy’s relation to dust mites. “Shouldn’t you be spending time with him?”
Pamela exchanged a shocked look with Lexy.
Subconsciously, Suzy began looking for a place to hide.
“Lexy, dear.” Valini sashayed up to Lexy. “You and I have lots of catching up. But first, show me to Adrian’s room.”
“Adrian’s room is off-limits,” Lexy snapped.
“No sweat, I just need to freshen up.”
“You’ll have to use Kavin’s room,” Pamela said. “Allan’s using our guestroom.”
“No problem.” Valini simpered and took off.
“Mother!” Lexy made an outraged pose. “I can’t believe you invite that woman into our private gathering!”
“Don’t blame me. She’s your friend,” Pam retorted.
“Who’s responsible for littering the wharf?”
Suzy jumped at the deep sound of Adrian’s voice.
“Valini’s here.” Pamela said as Adrian entered the room.
Suzy shrank into the space between the two bookcases before he had a chance to look in her direction.
Adrian opened his mouth to speak but Valini appeared as if on cue and threw herself into his arms.
“Adrian, darling, I’ve missed you,” she purred.
Suzy grabbed the chance to escape.
Stealthily, she exited her hiding spot, walked around them and took off into a desperate run for the patio doors.
Chapter 35
Self-pitying tears blurred Suzy’s vision.
She was unaware of her surroundings until Vince’s voice halted her.
“Thriller!”
Suzy bolted upright in her saddle.
Her breath caught in her throat at the danger before her.
“Whoa, Pegasus!” Suzy reined him back.
They had gone past the guest harbor and almost stepped into a deep gully hidden by grass and shrubs.
“Pegasus, my love,” Suzy said in mock reproach. “I don’t think it’s all apples on your mind. I bet you thought we were off to Olympus to visit the Gods, yes?”
“Neighhhh,” said Pegasus.
Suzy turned Pegasus around and aimed for Vince who was standing a few yards away from the guesthouse’s gazebo.
“I got you some berries.” He opened his palm.
Big mistake.
Pegasus stepped forward and licked the delicious red berries clean off his palm.
Vince remained gobsmacked until Pegasus nuzzled him in gratitude.
“Aww. You dog…er…God of a horse.” Vince sounded completely sold out. “I’m now your forever berry-picking slave.”
Suzy couldn’t help a little giggle. “Pegasus thinks booloo-booloos are mini-apples, Hera and Zeus approved.”
“Those are my favorite mini-apples too,” declared Vince.
“Where’s everyone?”
“They’re browsing catalogues under the gazebo.” He studied her face. “Are you ok?”
She grimaced. “Adrian’s ex is here.”
“I knew it, knew she’d never give up!” Vince vented. “Hey! Look at me. They were never an item, ok?”
Suzy made a face. “Hmm—”
“She doesn’t believe me.”
“Nope.”
Vince began miming Timberlake’s lyrics in Valini’s nasal voice and pose. “I’m bringing pagli back…cuz that Adrian dunno know how to act.”
Suzy gave a reluctant smile. “Nice try but it doesn’t erase the fact she’s very beautiful.”
Vince gaped at Suzy in disbelief. “In comparison to you, she’s a rotten potato and she smells like it too.”
Suzy burst into immature giggles. “You’re so bad.”
“That woman is trouble—”
“You’re here!” Momma called out suddenly. “The kids left to find you a few minutes ago.”
“Momma!” Suzy shrieked. “You sent them off all by themselves? Oh, God.”
“So?” Momma teased. “You were far younger when you ran around here without caution.”
“Momma!” Suzy gasped, utterly appalled. “Did you forget to pack your protective instincts?” Suzy nudged Pegasus into a gallop. “See you later, Vince.”
“Uma and Josh took them trotting,” Momma called after her, laughing. “Now you know how I felt when your father released you here in wild like some…little stray puppy!”
As Suzy rode past the gazebo, she saw Sondra and Dr. Allan and Sondra sniffing from tiny pink bottles.
And the most shocking part of all was Valini and Grandpa’s foreman was about to join them.
How did they get here so fast? How long was Suzy riding around in circles? Only Pegasus would know.
As she neared the Jaldev’s she bumped into Uma and Josh leading the ponies home, the kids’ helmets in their hands.
“We left them with Lexy.” Uma smiled at Suzy.
“Thanks, guys.”
Suzy was out of breath by the time she charged through the open door to an amazing sight.
It gave her a sudden case of smiles.
Her tykes were sitting on the Jaldev’s comfy sectional with toys in their hands as if they just raided Kavin’s room like true pirates.
Lexy was on her hunches before them. “My name is Alexandra too!” she squealed.
Savarna drew in a shocked breath as if she found evidence of her long lost tribe. “Grandma Rona says my name was made for special girls,” she lisped. “Kave, you like it too, huh?” she asked in the same tone girls used to persuade boys to join their special club.
“It’s a good name,” Kave nodded sagely.
“I absolutely agree.” Lexy looked pleased. “…but you guys may call me Aunty Lex.”
“Ok, Aunty Lex,” they chorused.
“How old are you guys?”
“We’ll be four on the 10th of November,” Kavin supplied and then, “Mom’s here!” He spotted Suzy the same time Savarna exclaimed, “Mommy!”
Lexy turned to discover Suzy hovering discreetly behind the rectangular half-wall which partially obscured the sitting area from the door.
“Ohmygod, Suze,” Lexy mouthed. “They’re so cute!”
“Thanks,” Suzy smiled, feeling relieved Lexy held no grudges for being kept in the dark for so long.
“But I am older than Kave,” Saavy boasted.
“You’re only ten minutes older.” Kavin scowled at his sister.
He slid off the sofa and ran over to greet Suzy. “Mom! Aunty Lex’s house has cool toys! Some of them are yours!”
Suzy hugged him as if she didn’t see him for a month. “I know, my heart.” She set him down and he ran off in the direction of his late uncle’s room.
“I’m minutes older than my brother too,” Lexy was saying. “But he acts like he’s old as…the Sun.”
“My brother doesn’t know how to treat a girl.” Saavy couldn’t pass up this golden opportunity to commiserate similar grievances. “I mean, really.”
“Same here, same here…” Lexy made it sound as if she and her newfound bosom buddy faced similar injustices of tyranny. “Mine tries to boss me around all the time.”
“Saavy! I found more girls’ stuff!” Kavin yelled out and Saavy ran off to join her brother.
“Oh, Suze,” Lexy cooed. “What a lovely secret surprise. Obviously, they’re not Raju’s kids. I can’t believe I’m an aunty……oh, how I wished Kave could see them.”
Lexy thought they were Kavin’s kids! Oh God. “Oh, about that—”
The sudden bark of the dogs had Suzy swiveling around in time to see Yin and Yang bursting through the door.
“Woof!” They wagged their tails.
“Were you guys locked up all morning?” She stooped low to pet their excited heads. “Adrian is such a bad buoy, isn’t he, isn’t he, yes he is—”
She jumped violently as Adrian’s frame appeared in the doorway.
She sprang to her feet, her breath in her throat.
An excited squeal from Savarna had both dogs bolting for Kavin’s room.
Suzy tensed as Adrian reached for her, his arms pulling her in for God knows what, unaware Lexy was watching.
“Nauti girl,” he whispered. “I’ve decided to forgive you.” His lips moved down to her nape. “But you’ll have to spend an eternity with me to make up for it…”
He lifted his head to look into her eyes with unconcealed passion. “Do we have a deal?”
She nodded, her eyes widening in mute alarm as he aimed for her mouth.
Quickly, she averted her face, whispering. “Lexy’s here…”
The expressions on the siblings’ faces were comical.
“I should have known!” Lexy looked overjoyed. “You’re the culprit.” She eyed her brother. “Our dreams have come true.” She gasped. “Mom and Dad don’t know, do they?”
Suzy shook her head.
“Where are they?” Adrian asked.
“They’re outside pottering around the garden.”
A knock on the side door had Adrian disengaging from Suzy to speak to Carl.
“Hey Lex,” Vince brushed past Adrian. “Congrats! What a lovely ditzy aunt you make!”
“You bum.” Lexy laughed. “How come you never told me?”
“What? And ruin the fun?” Vince looked aghast.
“I saw it first.” Kavin flew towards Vince, the dogs and Savarna on his heels.
“That’s not true!” Saavy yelled crossly, her arms akimbo.
“Uh oh! She’s a younger clone of our Bossy Lex,” Vince whispered in an aside to Suzy.
“I heard that.” Lexy glowered at Vince.
“Now, what did you see first?” Vince asked the twins.
“This boat, Uncle Vince,” Kavin said excitedly. “It even has my name on it.”
“That’s because you also had an Uncle called Kavin. And your dad made this boat for him but he was scared of boats and all things water.”
“Poor Uncle Kavin,” Savvy said.
“Let’s reconcile the problem,” Vince said to the twins.
And at that precise moment Pamela made her entrance. “Suze! You’re here. And your children, when did they arrive?”
“That’s your Grandma,” Lexy whispered to the kids.
“Hello, Grandma!” The twins said in unison.
The laden tray Pamela was carrying shook alarmingly. “Hai Bhagavan.” She blinked. “That’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.” She placed the tray on the table. “Come here, you two.”
Together, they flew into her welcoming arms, the dogs behind them with eager wagging tails.
“My name is Kavin and this here is my sister, Saavy,” Kavin told his grandma.
“Those are lovely names!” She hugged them.
“You’re very pretty, Grandma.” Savarna said endearingly as she smoothed a strand away from Pamela’s face.
Pamela’s reaction was dramatic. A tear rolled down her face and her mouth trembled a little. “Thank you, my honeysuckle flower.” She lovingly smoothed back Savarna’s hair. “You hear that, Lexy?”
Lexy scoffed. “Saavy says I’m pretty too, so?”
“They’re so sweet…and so cute.” Pamela glanced at Suzy. “They don’t look like you or Raj at all.”
“But they have Adrian’s good looks...eh, Mom?”
“True.” Pamela beseeched the roof. “I don’t know what he’s waiting for? He could have had three kids by now.” She glared at Adrian as he appeared beside Suzy.
“Oh Mom, don’t start...you know how touchy he’s on that subject.” Lexy was thoroughly enjoying herself.
“Hey, mates,” Vince said. “Let’s see if we can find a couple of boats in my old room.”
“Totally cool!” yelled Kavin as he flew past Savarna.
He came back a minute later, carrying a model of a cargo ship. “Dad!” He looked up at his father. “Uncle Vince says this is just a small model of the giant monster you made.”
Adrian nodded. “Would you like a tour of it?”
“Oh yes!” Kavin breathed.
He pumped his fist excitedly, his face a mass of fireworks. This was too much for him. “Saavy,” he shouted as he ran towards Vince’s room. “Dad says he’ll show us inside the real thing.”
Lexy chuckled but Pamela was perplexed. “Isn’t he supposed to call you Uncle Adrian?”
“Why should he?” Adrian drawled as his hands went around Suzy’s waist. She blushed as he kissed her neck.
“Why not?” Pamela’s mouth fell open. Her eyes flicked to Suzy and then back to Adrian.
“Because, Mother dearest, they are my children.” The ultra pride in his voice brought tears to Suzy’s eyes.
“Oh, my Lord.” Pamela dropped to the seat nearest to her. “Here I was praying for a daughter-in-law like our Suze and the whole time—great Mahadeva…”
Lexy grabbed a magazine and fanned her mother. “Somebody...get the Limacol, smelling salts...anything.”
“Child, be off with you.” Pamela glared at her daughter. “Here I was, pining away for grandkids, my hopes drying up and all the while...all the while, my own son’s been hiding them from me.”
“It’s my fault.” Suzy hastened to take the blame.
“It’s complicated.” Adrian guided Suzy over to the sofa and seated her beside him.
“We’ll explain later, Mom.” He held his mother’s hands in his. “But right now.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to spend time with my family. They’re boats to visit, ponies to ride, puppies and chicks to play with…you see?”
