The Poison Season(73)

Isola took Leelo’s hand, gripping it tightly. “If you need help, I hope you’ll ask me. I couldn’t save Pieter. I should have, but I didn’t. I won’t let that happen again.”

Leelo embraced Isola, who folded her arms briefly around Leelo before stepping back.

“Look, I didn’t want to tell you this, but I think you should know now, with everything that’s been going on.”

Leelo’s eyes searched Isola’s. “Tell me what?”

“Your mother...she... I think she was the one who built that cottage.”

Leelo laughed uncertainly. “My mother doesn’t know how to build a house.”

“Okay, she didn’t build it herself. But I think she had help. And I think she kept an outsider there.”

Leelo felt as if everything had gone still around her, and all she could hear was her own heartbeat in her ears. “What are you talking about? When?”

Isola looked pained when she said, “I think about nine months before your brother was born.”

Leelo’s eyes widened as she realized what Isola was implying. “You think my mother hid an outsider and had a child with him? Isola, that’s impossible. My father would have known. My mother would have told me. And Ketty...” She trailed off. There was clearly a secret in their family, one so huge that it had forever changed Ketty and Fiona’s relationship. It would explain why Tate looked nothing like the rest of the family and why Ketty despised him so much.

She shook her head. It was impossible. Fiona was too loyal to do something like this.

Isola went on, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence. “I found something in the cottage when I first discovered it. A book of mainland poetry.”

“I’ve seen it,” Leelo said. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“There was an inscription on one of the pages, and a pressed flower. It said...” Isola swallowed. “It said, ‘To my dearest love, Fiona. Yours forever, Nigel.’”

Leelo’s vision began to tunnel as the blood drained from her head. “I need to sit down.” She collapsed where she stood and Isola crouched down next to her. “There has to be some mistake. My mother loved my father. I know she did. She wouldn’t have done this. She couldn’t have.” She let her head fall into her hands.

Isola placed a tentative hand on Leelo’s shoulder. “I’m sure your mother did love your father. This doesn’t change that.”

Leelo’s eyes shot up. “Doesn’t change that? How?”

Isola shook her head helplessly. “I’m sorry.”

Leelo forced herself to take a deep breath. She was angry, but a part of her knew Isola was right. She’d seen it when her mother spoke of the different kinds of love. Fiona had cared deeply for Leelo’s father. She remembered her mother’s grief when he died. But was it the kind of love Leelo felt for Jaren? Or was it a love that had grown later, slowly, over their years together?

Isola waited a few minutes before helping Leelo to her feet. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. But you might want to consider telling Fiona the truth about Jaren. If she really did help an outsider get off this island, she could be your only hope for saving him.”



Chapter Forty-Three


When Leelo was gone, Jaren lay on his blanket, staring up at the ceiling and seeing only Leelo’s face. He wanted to memorize it because he knew there would never be another one so lovely.

It was growing dark outside when he finally forced himself to get up. He could still go to the pools for a bath tonight; the cold water would help clear his head. Even if he couldn’t fathom leaving Leelo, he liked having a plan. And besides, there was still a chance he could convince her to join him.

He stripped down and lowered himself into the water until it was over his head. The pool was small but deep enough for him to submerge completely, and he liked the feeling of weightlessness. It was quiet under the water, peaceful.

When he was finished washing, he reached for his clothing, only to find his tunic was not where he’d left it.

He ducked back down, scanning the woods, and noticed his tunic was just a few feet away. Still here, fortunately, but definitely not where he’d left it. It had to have been the wind, he told himself, or a curious animal. But everything was quiet and still, and he had the distinct feeling he was being watched.

He climbed out of the pool and dressed as quickly as he could with his skin still damp. Just as he was tying the laces on his boots, he saw something move in the bushes.

There. A face. Pale skin and freckles, yellow-green eyes that could have belonged to a wildcat as easily as a girl. She disappeared a moment later, silently. And Jaren knew that whoever she was, she had wanted him to know she was watching.



Chapter Forty-Four


When Leelo stepped into the house, she was relieved to see Sage peeling vegetables at the sink while Ketty cooked. Fiona had fallen asleep in an armchair.

“Where have you been?” Ketty demanded. “You’ve been gone for hours. I thought I made myself clear.”

“I was with Isola,” Leelo said, her eyes darting to Sage. But her cousin didn’t look at her.

She went to her mother and knelt down, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. She didn’t have a fever, but her skin was sallow and dull. It didn’t make sense. She had been fine last week. What could have changed since then to make her so ill?