Paradise Island: Complete Edition (18 page)

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be back soon. To the diner as well.” I said the words, and I thought I believed them, but somehow I sensed that that whole part of my life: living with Lucy, working at the diner, was done. I couldn’t explain it in concrete words, it was just a feeling that washed over me. I watched Lucy as she made her way down the hill. She looked back up one last time, anger or perhaps just the sun in her face, and she waved. I waved back and once she was a good ways away, I locked the door behind her. It was strange that she was so interested in Josie Browning’s journals. I wondered if she knew something that the rest of us didn’t.

“Is she gone?” Jack asked when he came up behind me.

“Yeah,” I said. “She is.”

“I overheard you guys talking. She seemed awfully interested in those journals. Should I look through the box to make sure they’re all there?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jack,” I said, but couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow he was right. I sat down on the floor by the boxes and looked through them myself just to prove him wrong. “Besides, I’m the one who took inventory of the journals. I doubt you knew how many you had before I arrived, am I right?”

“You might be onto something there. So I guess you should be the one to count them. Want anything to eat, I’m making myself a sandwich.”

“No,” I said. “I’m quite full for now.” And I went to work on seeing if any journals were missing, feeling like a fool for actually doing it. Lucy was my friend, and here I was checking if she’d stolen an old journal. After I made the final count, I was glad to report to Jack that no journals were missing. The last journal was still safe in my room, in the drawer, where Lucy hadn’t been at all.

“Good to hear,” Jack said. “But you know I don’t trust her.”

T
he next day the light shone surprisingly bright. For a moment, as I looked at the magnificent view outside, I could believe that if I went outside it would be warm and I could swim in the water without trouble. Of course, such thinking only lasted a moment. Then I noticed the wind as it made the grass sway in a not too gentle manner and remembered how bitterly cold it could actually be. I remembered as I plunged into the icy water after killing Henry, trying to wash his blood away. And I remember how I nearly froze to death and how hard it was to breathe as I made my way to that cottage and lit a fire. Not the fire that would destroy it, but the fire that would keep me alive. It was interesting how many different uses fire had. It was a dangerous element, one that needed to be used carefully.

I made my way to the living room after getting dressed and looked at the view from this side. I wondered where Jack and I would start digging. Now that I knew that Thomas Milton’s church had once stood in this very spot, I felt like Josie Browning was buried somewhere here for sure. I just wondered how long it would take us to find her.

But perhaps I was being a bit too hasty in thinking that Josie Browning was dead in the first place. What if she had just left town without ever meeting Thomas in the church? What if she did meet Thomas and decided to leave town anyway? But these were futile thoughts, for the only way to find out would be to dig. There was also strong evidence to point away from such frivolous theories. For one, Josie’s diaries. They were found in the walls of a house that used to be a church that then got converted to another, very modern house. That would not have happened had she decided to move. Surely she would take her precious journals with her and continue writing in the last one until it was full. No, Josie Browning did not get off this island. Whatever happened to her, I had a feeling that it wasn’t good.

“Some coffee, tea?” Jack said behind me.

I jumped up, startled for a second. Once I was back to the physical world, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Sure, tea would be fine.”

“Didn’t mean to scare you. What were you thinking about?”

“Oh, just Josie, and whatever happened to her. She was with child you know, and I think that this is probably the last place she was alive. Maybe she’s buried somewhere around here. It would make sense.”

“Yeah, I’ll have to go to town and get some shovels and some other tools. Do you want to start the dig today?” He brought a hot cup of tea and I took it gratefully, smiling at him, even though I didn’t feel too happy about the whole affair. I was still trying to wrap my mind around what Lucy was trying to do yesterday. Was I just over thinking the whole thing or was she really that interested in Josie Browning’s journals? I wondered if she knew something I didn’t and I also wondered whether I should confront her about it. And the things Jack said. There was still that wedge between us, and until it was talked about, our friendship could not continue the way it once was. Sleeping with Jack was one thing. That I could understand. He was very good looking and very famous if Lucy was to be believed. But purposefully giving him a drug she knew was one of his weak spots? I don’t know, that just sounded way out of line to me.

“Sophie?”

“Hmm?”

“The dig?”

“Oh, sorry, Jack. I was lost in my thoughts again. I just can’t wrap my mind around the way Lucy’s been acting. But anyway, yeah, we should probably start today or as soon as possible. At least while the skies are still clear. Hopefully no surprise thunderstorms come our way.”

Jack sat on the couch and drank his coffee. Without even thinking, I joined him and sat by his side. I sipped my tea and let the cup warm me.

“You’re being very understanding about all this,” I said. “You just got this house built, and now we’re going to dig around it.”

“To be honest, Sophie, this is one of the most exciting things that has happened to me. Besides meeting you, of course,” he added.

“Of course,” I said mockingly and laughed.

“Plus, I know how much this means to you. And if there’s any chance you’re right, we owe it to Josie to at least make an effort in finding out what happened to her. That’s why I’m doing this. Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Soon afterward Jack went into town on his bike. I decided to stay home to give him more room on the bike and I needed some alone time anyway. Going to the library was one thing, and even that was a bit out of my comfort zone. I could not fathom having to go to town again and interact with the people. Working in the diner was different. I got paid to do it so I had to. Plus, it always helped to have Lucy there just in case things got a bit tough. I looked at the view outside and decided to go for a walk around the property, just to get a feel of the place. I put on my warmest clothes and closed the door behind me. I walked slowly around, but there was nothing here that screamed “Grave! Please dig!” If only real life was like that, it would be much easier. More often than not I found myself looking down on the view below, admiring the sea as its waves crashed to the shore, went back, and came back again. I was mesmerized by it. Behind the house, I could see outlines of houses far, far below. I tried to imagine how it all looked like in Josie’s time. Probably not much different. I did know that the place Josie lived was walking distance away from the church and I wondered where it could be located. Maybe I should have asked the old librarian for a map of the island at the time that Josie lived here. I had a feeling that there were a lot more houses and buildings here at that time. It seemed this particular island lost its appeal over time. I could see why. There wasn’t much to do here, and everyone who wanted to do something caught the ferry to the city, just like Lucy often did.

“Sophie,” I heard a familiar voice behind me, but I still jumped in surprise.

“It’s just me,” Lucy said, her arms up in surrender. “I just came by to talk. Where’s Jack?”

“He’s in town getting some things. Why, did you need to talk to him?”

“No, I came here to talk to you. I don’t know what came over me yesterday. Maybe it’s this whole thing with Henry. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize if I came off as too strong about the whole journals thing. I was just curious about them, that’s all.”

“It’s okay, Lucy,” I said. “They are very interesting pieces of history of this island. I can understand how you’d be curious, having grown up here and all.”

Lucy smiled and brushed some red hair out of her face. “I’m glad you understand. Anyway, what have you been up to this whole time? Have you and Jack...?”

“God, no! He’s just letting me stay here for a bit. I have my own room and everything.”

“Must be nice,” Lucy said. “I’ve never had a guy be that nice to me. Heck, even Jack wasn’t that nice to me! He must really like you, though.” She laughed as if she had just said a joke. I didn’t laugh with her. There was something that I needed to get out and this seemed like a perfect opportunity.

“Can you blame him, Lucy? The cocaine, I mean. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

Lucy looked down on the ground and kicked a bit of sand before she looked up again. “Yeah, I’m sorry I lied about that. I just didn’t want you to think any less of me.”

“But why, Lucy, why would you do that? You already had him in bed, why would you bring the drugs into it? You do know he went to rehab for that stuff a couple of times already? You could have caused a relapse.”

“I didn’t think it through. I got it before we went to his place. Before I even talked to him. And later, it seemed like such a waste to throw it away. It cost quite a bit. I thought he was still using, though. If I knew he was clean and sober, I wouldn’t have done it. You believe me, Sophie, right?”

I looked away. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. My whole life has turned upside down in the past few days. People I thought were my friends ended up doing things I never thought they’d be capable of.”

“Surely you don’t mean me, Sophie? It’s me, Lucy, remember? Your friend? The one that helped you out when you were all on your own. I don’t think we should let a guy get between our friendship. Not even a guy as famous as Jack.”

“That’s not what’s going on here, Lucy, and you know it.”

“But isn’t it? All of this stuff started happening when he showed up. When he hit on you. Remember? Henry was a creep but I think he only lost it when he saw you with Jack.”

“So now it’s my fault that psycho kidnapped you and tried to kill me?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant, Sophie. I’m sorry if it sounded like that. I’m just saying that maybe you need to put a little distance between you and Jack. I don’t think he is what he seems to be. Yeah, he’s famous and all, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good person.”

“Jack is a wonderful person. You don’t know him the way I do.”

I looked away, at the far side of town, and wanted Lucy to just go away. She was planting doubts in my mind that I just didn’t need right now. Soon Jack would be here and we’d start doing what needed to be done. We’ll start unearthing the ground beneath us, and maybe putting Josie’s spirit to rest. I wasn’t sure if I actually believed all that, but it was a nice thought. I knew that if I had died a death like hers I’d be pissed off. Of course, it was more than possible that there was nothing after death, which meant that the only consolation our dig would bring, if indeed it did unearth something, was consolation to her family. And I thought that was more than enough. And here was Lucy talking about things that didn’t really matter right now.

“Listen, Sophie, I’m not trying to be the bad guy here. I’m just telling you the way I see things. You’ve just met Jack, and he’s nice and lovely right now, but what about the long term? You really think he can stop the constant sex and drugs for you? It’s romantic, I know, but guys like him, they’re used to getting what they want when they want it. Don’t think for a second he’d hesitate shagging some bimbo hitting on him on the street just because he has you waiting for him at home.”

“You mean a bimbo like you?” I spat the words out in disgust, and regretted them as soon as they left my mouth.

“Sophie, there’s no need for that,” Lucy looked shocked.

“I’m sorry,” I immediately said. “But the things you were saying were hurtful.”

Lucy came closer and put her gloved hands on each of my arms. She looked me straight in the eyes. I could see pity in her eyes as she looked upon me. “I’m not trying to hurt you, Sophie. I’m just telling you the way this world works. I hope I am wrong, but more likely than not, I’m probably right. Who knows, maybe Jack is banging some girl who came onto him in town right now?”

“Wow, you really don’t know when to stop, do you, Lucy? I gave you a chance before. I gave you the benefit of the doubt when you fucked Jack right in front of me. And if you were being reasonable, I was willing to forgive you for the damn cocaine thing, but this. Whatever this is that you’re doing right now. This is not the Lucy I called my best friend. I’m not sure what happened to you, but I think you should leave. Right now. And leave me alone.”

Lucy took her hands back and stepped back a few steps. “True friends, Sophie, don’t lie to your face. They tell you the truth even if it hurts. I know I made a mistake when I went after Jack, and I already apologized for that. But don’t you see? I didn’t put a gun to his head. He came and fucked willingly. And that was when he was actively pursuing you! That should tell you something about what kind of man he really is. Call me when you’ve really thought about this, or when he does something that you don’t like, and I’ll think about forgiving you this time. Goodbye, Sophie. I hope you two are very happy together.”

And with that, Lucy turned to go. I saw her storm down the hill at the same time that I heard Jack’s bike roar in the distance.

Jack parked his bike by the side of the house, but this time the bike had an addition to it that wasn’t there when he left. He had a carriage attached to the back of the bike that held shovels, plastic, and other assorted tools.

He took the two shovels and walked up to me and handed me one. I gladly took it as I looked down below at Lucy walking away. I saw her turn back and stare up for a moment or two, then she stormed off again. I wondered what she thought we were doing with the shovels and whether she cared at all. But I was done with Lucy. The things she was saying were just too hurtful.